Spain score SIX to thrash hapless Croatia

Spain smashed six goals past Croatia, with Marco Asensio sparkling in a dominant performance from Luis Enrique’s side against the World Cup runners-up.

The visitors actually started the better of the two sides, spurning a couple of early opportunities. From then on, though, Spain were rampant. Saul Niguez scored his second goal in as many goals to opening the scoring, powering home a header from an outside-of-the-boot Dani Carvajal cross.

Asensio struck Spain’s second, lashing home a finish from 25 yards, before forcing a third, finding the back of the net via the crossbar and the back of Lovre Kalinic in the Croatian goal. There was a fourth goal for Rodrigo after the break, with Sergio Ramos and Isco adding a fifth and sixth respectively.

This result means Enrique’s tenure as Spain manager has started in impressive fashion, with two wins from two in the Nations League. But it wasn’t just the result, but the manner of the performance which will cause the rest of European football to sit up and take note.

This Spain team should have won the World Cup. At the very least, they should have been among the frontrunners. However, their chances in Russia during the summer were sabotaged by the chaos that resulted in the sacking of Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the tournament. This performance proved just how good they could have been had they had a coach in the dugout. Spain will look back at the 2018 World Cup as a golden opportunity missed.

There were more than a few standout performers for Spain as they put the World Cup finalists to the sword, but Asensio shone brighter than anyone else. The Real Madrid man finished the match with four assists and a goal, although he will feel aggrieved that one of his goals was actually given as an own goal, with a thunderous strike coming off the bar and bouncing off the head of the goalkeeper on its way in. Some questioned how Spain would cope without Andres Iniesta and David Silva. On this showing, there’s one man who will step into that void.

Spain - De Gea 5, Carvajal 7, Nacho 6, Ramos 7, Gaya 7, Ceballos 7, Busquets 6, Saul 8, Asensio 9, Rodrigo 8, Isco 7. Subs - Thiago 5, Rodri 6, Azpilicueta 5.

Croatia - Kalinic 5, Vrsaljko 4, Mitrovic 5, Vida 4, Pivaric 5, Rakitic 5, Brozovic 4, Kovacic 6, Modric 5, Perisic 6, Santini 5. Subs - Pjaca 5, Rog 5, Livaja 5.

6’ CROATIA CLOSE! That could have been the opening goal. Busquets gives up the ball on the edge of his own box, Rakitic curls a shot towards the far corner, but puts it just wide.

13’ SANTINI SHOULD SCORE! That should have been the opening goal for Croatia. Vrsaljko's cross found Santini at the near post, but with De Gea off his line he shoots inches wide of the near post.

17’ WHAT A TACKLE! That looked like being the opening goal for Croatia, with Perisic clean through. But somehow Carvajal got across to make the last-ditch block on the slide!

18’ VRSALJKO INJURY? It looks like the former Atletico Madrid right back's evening could be over. Is it an ankle problem for Vrsaljko? Croatia are going to have to make the change.

24’ GOAL! Spain 1-0 Croatia: What a goal and it's Saul who grabs it on his homecoming to Elche! The cross from Carvajal was sensational and Saul rises highest to power home a header into the back of the net! Exceptional from the midfielder!

33’ GOAL! Spain 2-0 Croatia: Thunderous strike! What a goal from Asensio. Croatia gave up the ball inside their own half, with Asensio shooting from 20 yards out. It swerves left and then right and finds the back of the net! Magnificent technique!

35’ GOAL! Spain 3-0 Croatia: Another stunner and it's a second for Asensio and a third for Spain! It might actually go down as an own goal, as Asensio's strike from distance comes off the bar and back off the head of Kalinic and into the net. Wow!

49’ GOAL! Spain 4-0 Croatia: It's a fourth goal for Spain and Rodrigo has added his name to the score sheet! The Valencia forward was played in behind the Croatia defence, with Mitrovic keeping him on, and made no mistake in finishing low past Kalinic.

56’ GOAL! Spain 5-0 Croatia: Croatia are being battered here! Spain have a FIFTH goal! Ramos lost his marker and gets on the end of a corner kick delivery, directing a header into the far corner of the net. How many will Spain finish on here?

70’ GOAL! Spain 6-0 Croatia: It's six and it's another exceptional goal from Spain! This time it's Isco who finds the back of the net, setting himself up for a right footed shot inside the box and cutting a finish into the far corner. This is incredible.

Saul Niguez has now scored two goals in his three starts for Spain.

Spain have now won all six games they have played in Elche, keeping a clean sheet in five of those six games.

Marco Asensio is the second player to make three assists in a single game for Spain in the last 10 years (Nolito against Liechtenstein in 2016).