Holders Spain kicked off their title defense in style after a cheeky Sergio Ramos penalty set up a 5-1 victory over Macedonia in their opening Euro 2016 Group C qualifier on Monday.
Looking to bounce back from their World Cup debacle in Brazil, Spain were much too strong for the 76th-ranked Macedonia as Paco Alcacer, Sergio Busquets, David Silva and Pedro also scored in La Roja’s biggest win since they beat Tahiti 10-0 at last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup.
Ramos’ dinked spot-kick down the middle came in the 15th minute and Alcacer, making his competitive debut, volleyed home from close range two minutes later, before Macedonia pulled a goal back with a 28th-minute penalty from Agim Ibraimi.
Photo: EPA
Busquets struck with a deflected effort in first-half stoppage-time, Silva made it 4-1 five minutes after the break and after numerous chances, including a Cesc Fabregas effort that struck the frame of the goal, Pedro scored the fifth with a cute chip in stoppage-time.
“This team has a lot of quality and excellent players, and it was just a matter of time before we scored,” Valencia player Alcacer told TV station TVE. “I am very pleased with the match, above all for my competitive debut here at home in Valencia, and the goal and victory.”
Spain were missing injured playmaker Andres Iniesta at Levante UD’s Estadio Ciutat de Valencia and coach Vicente del Bosque handed Fabregas his job instead.
Photo: EPA
Alcacer started in a three-pronged attack with Pedro and Silva, while Busquets and Koke completed a three-man midfield in the absence of Xavi and Xabi Alonso, who both retired after the World Cup finals.
Fabregas went close with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area in the ninth minute, before Daniel Mosjov felled Silva and Ramos stepped up to take the spot-kick.
The Real Madrid defender’s clever chip, which fooled Macedonia goalkeeper and captain Tome Pacovski, was almost identical to his successful effort against Portugal in a shootout in the semi-finals of Euro 2012.
Spain went 2-0 ahead when fullback Juanfran beat Pacovski to the ball at the far post and hooked it back across goal for Alcacer to tap a simple volley into the net.
Although clearly the inferior side, Macedonia mounted the occasional foray forward and were awarded a penalty of their own when Juanfran clumsily brought down Aleksandar Trajkovski.
Ibraimi sent goalkeeper Iker Casillas the wrong way to make it 2-1 and Spain had a number of chances before a long-range Busquets drive clipped defender Vance Sikov in the third minute of first-half stoppage-time and arrowed into the bottom corner.
It was the Barca midfielder’s first goal for Spain on his 70th appearance.
The hosts, knocked out in the group stage of the World Cup finals, seemed to lose concentration at the start of the second half and Casillas produced a superb block with an outstretched foot in the 47th minute when Adis Jahovic looked certain to score.
With victory assured, Del Bosque handed debuts to centerback Marc Bartra and teenage forward Munir el Haddadi, both products of Barcelona’s youth academy.
Munir, who turned 19 a week ago, became the third youngest player to represent Spain when he replaced Koke in the 77th minute, having been brought into the squad as a late replacement for the injured Diego Costa.
Group C also includes Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia and Luxembourg. Spain’s next qualifier is in Slovakia on Oct. 9.
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