OUR MISSION: SAY ADIOS TO GERMANY!
Olmo spells it out for Spain
SPAIN are on a mission to send the Germans packing from the World Cup in Qatar.
That is the message from Luis Enrique’s players after they opened the tournament with a sevengoal annihilation of Costa Rica, just hours after Germany suffered a chastening defeat at the hands of Japan.
Spain know they could qualify for the last 16 by handing Mario Goetze (above) & Co another loss on Sunday – and that would spell the end for the four-time world champions if Costa Rica fail to beat Japan in the earlier game.
Dani Olmo, the livewire attacking midfielder who started the landslide against Costa Rica (right), has warned that Spain understand the ramifications for both nations. Olmo, who plays for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, said: “We know what a win for us will mean.
“We have made a good start but the thing we spoke about afterwards was that we must treat the game against Germany like a final. Qualification is our first aim but...”
Spain found the net with all seven of the shots they had on target against the Central American fall guys. And six of Enrique’s side were on the scoresheet.
Olmo added: “It is a good sign that six players scored goals in our first game. “It is the kind of thing that will give us confidence.”
Spain showed in 2010, when they lost to Switzerland, that it is possible to fail in the first game of the tournament and still lift the trophy.
Olmo’s teammate Marco Asensio sounded out a similar theme. “We want to make sure we reach the round of
16,” he said.
“We don’t want to go into the final group game with Japan needing something.
“The Germany match will be difficult because they are still a very good football team.
“We are taking it seriously and they’ll try to put us in trouble. But we want to get another three points.”