Gary Neville blasts Costa Rica after they fail to have a single shot on goal in 7-0 rout by Spain

Costa Rica fail to have a single shot on goal in 7-0 drubbing by Spain – the first time in a World Cup match since 1990 – with Gary Neville blasting their toothless display as ‘bad as it gets’, while Graeme Souness, 69, claims: ‘I could’ve played’

  • Costa Rica were failed to have a single shot on goal in the World Cup defeat
  • Former England defender Gary Neville was bewildered by the performances
  • Fellow pundit Graeme Souness was equally scathing of their passive display

Gary Neville was bewildered by toothless Costa Rica after the 7-0 drubbing by Spain on Wednesday evening.

Costa Rica were failed to have a single shot on goal – the first time in a World Cup match since the Central American side drew a blank in 1990. 

And Neville, a member of the England side beaten by Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup, blasted: ‘Costa Rica, the first team for 32 years in a World Cup not to have a shot on goal, forget on target, not have a shot on goal all game, that can’t happen.

Gary Neville claimed Costa Rica’s toothless performance against Spain was ‘as bad as it gets’

‘Those players have had multiple World Cups, they’ve had experiences, they knocked us [England] out of a group, five of those players, in 2014, they were fantastic, great energy, there was nothing out there today.

‘I’ve no idea what just happened. We know Spain keep the ball, they had the most possession at the last European Championship with 76%, we know they do that game in game out, but that’s as bad as it gets from Costa Rica, a team who have got a lot of quality and experience in the last eight to 10 years.’

Fellow pundit Graeme Souness was equally scathing as the 69-year-old former Scotland midfielder claiming he ‘could’ve played in the first half’. 

‘There was no aggression in the defending, no aggression whatsoever, it was all too easy,’ Souness told ITV.

‘It was in the 96th minute when they put an aggressive challenge in, when I say aggressive I mean leaving a bit on a Spanish player.

Costa Rica failed to have a single shot on goal against Spain on Wednesday night

Costa Rica failed to have a single shot on goal against Spain on Wednesday night

‘I would describe it as a passive, woeful attempt to try to play football

‘For Spain it was an absolute doddle, the perfect game. If they had a match amongst the squad, a practice match, it would’ve been more competitive than what we saw tonight from Costa Rica.

‘I could’ve played in the first half where Busquets played, there was no one near him, he was getting the ball and being allowed to turn, no one putting a challenge in. It was an easy night’s work for Spain.’

Graeme Souness was equally scathing of Costa Rica's passive performance

Graeme Souness was equally scathing of Costa Rica’s passive performance



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