Spain are on a mission to send Germany packing from the 2022 World Cup.
The message from Luis Enrique’s players after they opened the tournament with a seven-goal annihilation of Costa Rica just hours after the Germans had suffered a chastening defeat at the hands of Japan.
Spain know they can qualify for the last 16 by handing Hansi Flick’s side another loss on Sunday - and that would spell the end for the four-time world champions. Dami Olmo, the livewire attacking midfielder who started the landslide against Costa Rica, has warned that Spain understand the ramifications for both nations.
Olmo, who plays for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, said: “We know what a win for us will mean. We have made a good start but the thing we spoke about afterwards was that we must treat the game against Germany like a final. Qualification is our first aim but….”
Spain found the net with all seven of the shots they had on target against the Central Americans. And six of Martinez’s side were on target. Olmo added: “It is a good sign that six players scored goals in our first game. It is the kind of thing that will give us confidence.”
Spain showed in 2010, when they lost to Switzerland, that it is possible to lose the first game of the tournament and still lift the trophy.
Marco Asensio sounded out a similar theme. "We want to make sure we reach the round of 16,” he said. “We don’t want to go into the last game needing something against Japan because they are very orderly and disciplinine.
a powerful team with great players. The game will be difficult because they play “Germany are still a very good football. We're taking it seriously and they'll put us in trouble. But we'll try to win and score another three points.”
