Sevilla: Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick while Alvaro Morata, Rodri Hernandez and Mikel Oyarzabal scored one goal each as Spain thrashed Germany 6-0 in the Nations League match on Tuesday (November 17) and qualified for the semifinals from Pool A along with France.
This has been one of the biggest victories for Spain against a top-tier side after they thrashed Argentina 6-1 two years back. Germany were powerless to stop Luis Enrique’s relentless side as the visitors suffered their worst defeat in a competitive game and the most humiliating since losing by the same scoreline against Austria in a friendly in 1931.
It was a do or die match for Spain as they had to win to qualify for the final four. For Germany, they just needed a draw to qualify for the finals. Spain opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Morata broke the deadlock. Torres scored his first and team’s second on 33 minutes. Five minutes later Hernandez scored tripled the lead.
Torres scored his second in the 55th minute before completing his hat-trick in the 71st minute. Oyarzabal came up from the bench to put the final nail in the coffin in the 89th minute thus making a statement as a team. An old Spanish flare was witnessed and this might be the start of another era of dominance in world football. Germany looked lost for ideas throughout the match and might be a matter of concern for Joachim Low as a manager of the side.
As a team, Spain have been a strong side for the last 12 years. Players like Morata, Torres, Rodri, Koke, Dani Olmo, Pau Torres have shown their class and played as a team. Torres has been a find for Spain, his gameplay has been totally different, swift movements with a knack for scoring goals. He had a dominating performance and is a star in making for the future.
The Spanish team has shown their class and after this performance, they will feel happy as a side. In all these captain Sergio Ramos got injured in the second half, it will be a matter of concern for Real Madrid as they will miss their club captain in the upcoming fixtures. Enrique will be a happy man after this performance. A performance which has shown how to play as a team. Good days are back to Spain.
Low’s men have been very poor to play as a unit for a long time now. They have been failing to win games against strong opponents and things haven’t changed in the course of time. Manuel Neuer has been poor under the goal on Tuesday. This has been the first time he has conceded six goals as a keeper. Toni Kroos, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane, Timo Werner, Serge Gnabry have played one of the worst games of their career.
With so many stars in the squad, they couldn’t play as a team against a young Spanish side. This might be the beginning of the end for Low as a German manager. They have been playing lost for ideas and lost all their dominance in football. With the likes of Portugal and France in their Group on Euro’21, it will be difficult for Germans to get past the group.
In other matches, France won 4-2 against Sweden and have been the second semi-finalist with Spain from the Pool A fixtures as the top two teams from their respective groups. Portugal won 3-2 against Croatia in another match. With the likes of Italy, Netherlands, Belgium still to play this will be a rollercoaster of a tournament to witness.
