Perfect Spain condemn Croatia
Spain's identity crisis looks to be well and truly over after Marco Asensio inspired a 6-0 thrashing of World Cup runners-up Croatia in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.
Defeat to Russia in July prompted a change of coach and doubts about the Spanish passing style but after an impressive win over England at Wembley, Luis Enrique has now overseen a demolition of Croatia too.
Asensio's two long-range shots, the second cannoning in off goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic, had Spain three up before half-time in Elche, after Saul Niguez had earlier headed home.
Croatia, abject at the back, were no better after the break. Asensio first threaded Rodrigo Moreno through to finish before supplying the corner for an unmarked Sergio Ramos to nod in number five.
Isco then flashed a sixth into the top corner, again Asensio the provider.
Two victories in four days mean Spain sit top of League A's Group Two, with a six-point gap over both Croatia and England, who play each other in Rijeka next month.
Brushing aside two of the World Cup's top four teams, and one so emphatically, sends out its own message, but just as satisfying for La Roja will be the sense of pride restored.
In particular, this display gave early vindication to Luis Enrique's methods. Spain still dominated possession but they looked forward faster, pressed Croatia higher up and stretched them with balls wide and over the top.
There was no sign of the ponderous build-up that suffocated them against Russia at the World Cup. There was no sign either of Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and David Silva, who all retired in the summer, and are not yet being missed.
Asensio was the star, his goal and trio of second-half assists fully justifying his start ahead of Iago Aspas.
But Saul, who shone against England, was excellent too in midfield, departing to a standing ovation at the Estadio Martinez Valero, in the town where he was born.
For Croatia, this was a humbling loss that leaves the current crop open to questions about how they sustain momentum following that superb run in Russia.
Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, still at the top of their games, embraced Real Madrid and Barcelona team-mates in the tunnel and Croatia started brightly, with Ivan Santini missing two decent early chances from close range. But they drifted away after Spain's opening goal. They had no response. The second half was painful; it was as if all they could aspire to was for the final whistle to blow.
LUKAKU BRACE INSPIRES BELGIUM
Romelu Lukaku scored two goals as World Cup semi-finalists Belgium began their Nations League campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Iceland on Tuesday.
Eden Hazard converted a 29th-minute penalty after a foul on Lukaku, with the Manchester United striker netting a quick-fire second before adding a third in the closing stages.
Lukaku, also on the mark in Friday's 4-0 friendly defeat of Scotland, was brought down by a clumsy tackle from Sverrir Ingason and Hazard rolled the resulting spot-kick to the left of Hannes Halldorsson.
He then got himself on the scoresheet two minutes later by following up a rebound after a powerful Vincent Kompany header was pawed into his path by Halldorsson.
Thomas Meunier struck the outside of the post on the hour, although Belgium ultimately transformed their dominance into a third with nine minutes to play as Lukaku slotted away a fizzing cross from Dries Mertens.
Roberto Martinez's side move level on three points with Switzerland, who demolished Iceland 6-0 in St Gallen on Saturday.
VITALS
Real Madrid's representatives outnumbered Barcelona 6:1 in the starting Spanish line up and ended up 6-0. Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Nacho, Dani Ceballos, Isco and Asensio up against Sergio Busquets, who was replaced by Rodrigo. It has been 16 years since Real has had six players in the national team.
Asensio got off the mark in the Spain shirt against Croatia on his 17th appearance for his country, and the wait was perhaps worth it.
6-0 was Croatia's heaviest defeat eclipsing the previous low of a 5-1 thrashing by England.