YOUNG GUNS LOOK FOR SPAIN'S OLD SPARK

Enrique Banks On Fresh Faces In Cup Opener Vs Experienced Costa Rica

Doha: A new era is about to start for Spain at the World Cup, with a generation of talented young players taking centre stage in their quest to win a second world title.

Spain’s revamped squad, led by back-to-back Golden Boy award winners Pedri and Gavi, will begin being put to the test on Wednesday against an experienced Costa Rica who are bringing back some of the players that helped them make a surprising run to the quarterfinals eight years ago.

The Costa Ricans hope to repeat the success of the World Cup in Brazil and avoid the debacle of four years ago in Russia, when they didn’t win any matches and were eliminated in the group stage.

Spain also want to avoid a repeat of their campaign in the 2018 tournament, when they were ousted by the hosts in the round of 16 after going through an embarrassing coaching change just days before their debut.

Many of the veterans from that tournament are gone, including Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Andrés Iniesta and David Silva. Instead, coach Luis Enrique is betting on the likes of 19-year-old Pedri, 20-year-old Ansu Fati and Nico Williams, and 18-year-old Gavi, Spain’s youngest-ever goalscorer.