Spain beat Germany 6-0

Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick to help Spain steamroll Germany 6-0 in their 2020-21 UEFA Nations League Group 4 finale on Tuesday night at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville. The Manchester City forward was joined on the scoresheet by Rodri, Alvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal in what was a superb performance from La Roja, who punched their ticket to next autumn’s Nations League Final Four thanks to a first-place finish in the group. The only down note for Spain on the night were the hamstring injuries sustained both by Sergio Canales and Sergio Ramos before half time.

Meanwhile, it was one of the poorest displays from any Germany side ever and could well result in the final match in charge for long-time national team head coach Joachim Low. Spain head coach Luis Enrique made five changes from the team that eked out a 1-1 draw at Switzerland on Saturday, as Jose Gaya was back in the mix at left-back, while Koke, Rodri and Canales slotted into midfield, and Morata got the nod up top in attack.

Luis Enrique had to go to his bench far earlier than he would have liked when Canales had to limp off the pitch with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Fabian Ruiz. Bringing on the Napoli man would pay off handsomely for the Asturian boss, as his out-swinging corner met the rising Morata, who smacked in a header at the far post past Neuer for a 1-0 Spain lead.

Spain were playing their best football of the international break and on his third chance of the first half, Ferran rippled the back of the net to make it 2-0 with a hard-hit right-footed shot after a Dani Olmo header had glanced off the crossbar.Germany weren’t doing themselves any favours with their defending and a lack of pressure on a corner kick allowed Rodri to spin in a header to give La Roja a 3-0 advantage shortly before half time.

No reaction from Germany

But it wasn’t all roses for Spain in the first half and the sight of Ramos sitting on the La Cartuja turf holding his hamstring was the last thing Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane needed to see, as the veteran centre-back yielded his spot to Eric Garcia. There was no reaction from Germany to start the second half and the Spanish field day motored on with counter-attack ending with Gaya squaring to Ferran, who had enough time to take a siesta before slamming a shot into net to make it 4-0.

Spain were running circles around Germany with their movement and one-touch football and could have easily poured in another three or four goals with some better finishing in the box. As it were, one more goal would be tacked on, as Ferran completed his hat-trick by latching onto a pass from Fabian and curling in a shot past Neuer to complete the emphatic 5-0 scoreline.

Right after his third goal, Ferran was given a hero’s welcome back on the Spain bench after being replaced by Mikel Oyarzabal. Also coming on for Luis Enrique were Marco Asensio for Dani Olmo and Gerard Moreno for Morata. Outside of a Serge Gnabry effort that rattled the crossbar, Unai Simon enjoyed an uneventful day in the Spanish goal and the home side would complete their memorable evening thanks to a bit of hustle from Gaya, who beat a pair of German defenders to a loose ball and poked a ball across so that Oyarzabal could complete the 6-0 scoreline.

source: Marca