Two goals by Isco and an Álvaro Morata strike help Spain sink Italy

Spain are on the way to the World Cup, and it’s going to be fun watching them there. A 3-0 victory over Italy represents a huge step towards Russia 2018; just as significantly, it may just represent another step towards Spain being Spain once again. As the final minutes ticked away here, the Bernabéu bounced. They had enjoyed this and so had their team. Isco had just been withdrawn to a huge ovation. The man they call ‘Magic’ had twice bamboozled Marco Verratti, first rolling the ball between his legs, then flicking it over his head. He had also scored twice to give Spain the lead before Álvaro Morata, on as a substitute, added the third.
As Isco departed, the embodiment of a new, exciting, skilful generation, he gave way for David Villa. That mix – Iniesta, Silva, Villa, Asensio, Isco, Koke – is an impressive one. Here, they dominated Italy almost from the start. Without a striker for most of the night, Spain sought control. The goals came naturally. They also came early. Only 12 minutes had gone when Isco lifted a free kick over the wall and into the net. It was neatly struck, but Gianluigi Buffon was a little slow to react and Spain had the lead.
It was striking to see how often Spain – marked man to man – went long from goal-kicks, bypassing a depopulated midfield in search of the front three. But goal kicks were one thing, open play another, and once the ball was rolling, Spain usually played their way through or round. This may be a different generation, another era, but the touch and control that defined them is still there. In Isco and Asensio, there is talent too – and of the purest kind.
There were opportunities for the visitors though, particularly when they went wide. David De Gea made a sharp save from Andre Belotti’s header and there would be more as the second half began, a hint of Spain’s vulnerability at times. By then, though, the lead had been extended and that feeling was fleeting.
At the other end, Gerard Piqué headed over while Dani Carvajal and Silva were almost onto an incisive pass from Iniesta. If, in truth there were few clear chances, there was flow and the second came five minutes from half time, when Isco received from Iniesta near the edge of the area. A swivel of the hips and he struck, left-footed, clean and low into the bottom corner by the near post. Spain’s control was even more complete now, and Isco in particular was revelling in it. Olés rang round, accompanying every pass, many of them his. Or they did until the exchanges were too fast to keep up, and then the Bernabéu broke into applause instead. Ping-ping-ping, it went – and at the end of it, Koke, almost nodded in the third.
De Gea made another sharp save as the second half began, this time from Lorenzo Insigne. Then Belotti, dangerous throughout, headed over at the far post. Momentarily, the ball changed feet a little, but when Spain got it back, Isco drew roars as he slipped away from Verratti and found Carvajal dashing into the area. Buffon saved to avoid the third, but it came anyway.
Not satisfied with one wonderful piece of skill, Isco left Verratti behind again soon after, flicking over his head and releasing Morata, who had just come on. This time it was Barzagli who ended the attack, but when Sergio Ramos burst out from the edge of his own area a few minutes later, marauding through the middle of the pitch, he exchanged passes with Morata and the Chelsea striker finished off a night of optimism.

SOURCE : GUARDIAN SPORTS
posted by CAMPUS94