ISCO STRUCK HIS first international hat-trick as Spain extended Julen Lopetegui’s unbeaten run as coach to 18 matches with a supreme 6-1 demolition of Argentina in Madrid on Tuesday.
Spain were pegged back by Germany for a 1-1 draw on Friday but Argentina – without Lionel Messi due to injury – fared far worse than the reigning world champions.
Diego Costa put Spain in front, Marco Asensio then adding his second assist of the game by setting up Isco, although Nicolas Otamendi headed one back for Argentina before the break.
That proved a mere consolation for the visitors at the Wanda Metropolitano, though, with Isco on target again shortly after the restart to put Spain in total control.
The Real Madrid playmaker continued to build on an eye-catching individual performance by helping to tee up Thiago Alcantara for Spain’s fine fourth, Lopetegui’s side sending a warning shot ahead of the World Cup with a fifth via substitute Iago Aspas, who set up Isco to claim the match ball soon after.
Argentina defender Javier Mascherano endured a miserable night to overshadow a proud landmark as he equalled Javier Zanetti’s national record of 142 caps, while Jorge Sampaoli’s men were shorn of attacking threat in Messi’s absence.
The visitors should have taken the lead in the eighth minute, Gonzalo Higuain getting in front of Sergio Ramos in the box but cushioning his effort from a left-wing Maximiliano Meza cross wide.
Spain soon punished that miss as Costa scored from close range, although he was hurt in the process by colliding with Sergio Romero.
Andres Iniesta won the ball deep in Argentina territory, with Asensio poking a pass through for Costa to beat Romero to the ball and finish bravely. Both players were initially able to play on after a lengthy delay for treatment, although Romero was then substituted.
Meza almost marked his first international appearance with a goal but Ramos made a fine interception after the debutant swapped passes with Higuain and shaped to shoot.
Spain’s greater incision in front of goal saw them double their lead, Asensio playing a perfect low cross for Real Madrid team-mate Isco to slot past substitute goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
Argentina grabbed a goal back in the 39th minute as Ever Banega’s left-wing corner enabled Otamendi to beat Ramos in the air and power a downward header through David de Gea’s grasp.
Isco restored Spain’s two-goal cushion in the 52nd minute. Iniesta’s superb lofted throughball sent half-time sub Aspas clear, the striker teeing up Isco for a first-time finish.
Spain were suddenly rampant with Isco turning provider, the midfielder finding Aspas, who touched the ball on for Thiago to slam home.
Ramos appeared to have tucked away another for the hosts, firing in Asensio’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for a push, Otamendi then close to a second but seeing his header clip the outside of the post.
Spain are known for possession football but a long De Gea kick down the middle allowed Aspas to add his name to the scoresheet, Caballero beaten far too easily after racing out of his area, with the striker then teeing up Isco to steer home his hat-trick goal.
Tempers threatened to boil over in the closing stages as Argentina lost their composure, while Dani Parejo came off the bench to make his Spain debut and cap a fine night for Lopetegui, whose side look the team to beat in Russia.
For Sampaoli, he can only hope the Messi factor will provide the spark his side clearly needs to be a threat come June.
- Omni
Argentina fell apart in the second half .. 10000 of their supporters in the stadium , tough to swallow . But in the end it’ll have no bearing World Cup wise .
@Limón Madrugada: going on the last 20 years of Argentina massively underachieving, i think you are right.
@Limón Madrugada: They’ll do nothing in the world cup. They’re the south American English
@Carl Johnson: yeah you’re probably right but my comment was more directed at the Spanish team . Beating Argentina in a friendly at home doesn’t mean anything for Spain’s WC possibilities …
@Limón Madrugada: I’d disagree tbh. They’ll go in with confidence
@Limón Madrugada: some of their football was fantastic last night
@Carl Johnson: They made it to the final last time out. Calling them England is a bit harsh.
If messi somehow drags this team to lift the world cup he will be the greatest of all time by a country mile. I’d love to see him do it.
Argentina squad is so unbalanced. Probably best forward options of any team in world football but defensively they are a mess.
@Gareth Kennan: the more I see of Argentina the more I’m impressed by messi dragging these bums to the World Cup, some great attacking talent but a mess in midfield and defense, even in attacking they have maybe too similarly minded players. Aguero in particular has never showed up for Argentina and never gets criticized for it as its all directed at messi, the less said about higuain the better
I couldn’t believe in the commentary on TV and again in this article how nobody has mentioned how badly at fault De Gea was for the Argentina goal. If it was one of the English keepers, they’d be slaughtered forevermore for it.
@Adrian O’Farrell: quite simply it’s a regular thing for English keeps and not for De Gea
@Johnny Bravo: True. Not saying he’s a bad keeper, far from it. But it’s like when you get to his level, your errors just get ignored. Which is wrong.