CADIZ, Spain – Spain has secured the top spot in Group F in style by defeating Malta 7-0 at home on Friday for the biggest win of their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign as seven players got on the scoresheet.
Spain sealed their spot at next year’s tournament last month in an unconvincing fashion by drawing 1-1 with both Norway and Sweden but they created a party atmosphere in Cadiz with a superb performance of attacking football.
The Spaniard team is leading the standings with 23 points from nine matches, this is five more than second-placed Sweden who booked their place at Euro 2020 with a 2-0 win over Romania.
Alvaro Morata put the Spaniards on their path to a resounding victory over Malta. He did this by netting midway through the first half, scoring for the seventh consecutive game for club and country.
Santi Cazorla doubled the lead a little before halftime with his first goal for his country in over four years, a special moment for the much-loved 34-year-old who has undergone a remarkable recovery from a career-threatening foot injury.
Robert Moreno’s side turned on the style in the second half of the match, with defender Pau Torres marking his debut with a classic goal in the 62nd minute and Pablo Sarabia also netting for the first time for his team lesser than a minute later.
Then, Dinamo Zagreb striker Dani Olmo came off the bench to make his Spanish debut and he marked the occasion a few moments later by scoring his side’s fifth goal, while Gerard Moreno soon followed by netting his first goal for Spain.
The most impressive strike of the evening was goal number seven for the team by Jesus Navas, finding the top corner from outside the area, while substitute Paco Alcacer was not far away from hitting goal number eight when he rattled the post.
“I leave here feeling very satisfied because we never lost our desire. Every time Malta took a centre to restart the game we felt compelled to go looking for another goal,” said Moreno.
Malta team coach Raymond Farrugia endured a painful night in more than one sense as in addition to the loss, he accidentally banged his head against the dugout in the second half and required medical immediate assistance, although he remained on the sidelines until full-time. From the little recollection he had of the game after the injury, he acknowledged that they were playing against the best team in the world.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.