Jordan - Spain, live online: Goals from Ansu, Gavi and Nico, summary, stats, highlights, pre-World Cup 2022 friendly
Jordan - Spain: as it happened
FT: Jordan 1-3 Spain
Everything will be fine, won't it?
Spain had control of the game from minute 1 until minute 90. They let it slip at the end with a silly error in a clearance from César Azpilicueta but apart from that, they had this result in the bag from the beginning. Goals from GaviandNicosealed the deal in the second half after a bit of an Ansu masterclass in the first, and by the end they were coasting to the finish line. Jordan threatened a few times but never looked like getting anything from the game. The changes in the second half broke up the flow as typically happens, but everyone got a decent run out and in the end there are a lot of positives to take from tonight.
Luis Enrique will be happy with the intensity, the link-up play and the lack of injuries, perhaps not so with the lapse of concentration at the end. But the point is Spain arrive to play Costa Rica next Wednesday with a good result behind them and a solid performance.
Now it's time to instantly forget that result and look ahead to Qatar, where the aforementioned Costa Rica sit alongside Germany and Japan. If there was ever a banana skin group, it would be this one and Spain will know that: they will have to take the good feelings from tonight with them and I'm sure they will.
Now let's all look forward to the tournament and Luis Enrique's Twitch streaming.
OK, that's all from me tonight, everyone! Thank you for joining me.
Enjoy the World Cup and make sure to check out what we've got going on over at AS USA!
Here are some links for you to check out:
- Benzema a doubt for World Cup opener
- Where does Qatar get its food and water from?
- World Cup countdown: LIVE
Aaaand we've finished!
Time's up and Spain's next game will be at the World Cup against Costa Rica
GOAL FOR JORDAN
It's a mistake from Azpilicueta but a great goal from Al-Daradreh, who steals the ball inside the box and pokes it over Unai Simón.
2 minutes added.
A man in a pink jumper has run onto the pitch, pointing at the Jordan goalkeeper. He ran on from the other side of the pitch, crossing the entire length, past all the players.
Why didn't he do it in the first half?
Into the final minute now, Spain holding onto the ball well, taking any potential danger out of the game.
GOOOOOOOLLLLLL NICO WILLIAMS
Ball worked from right to left, Yeremy slots the ball to Williams who takes a touch on the edge of the box, shapes his body and whacks a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. Great goal.
Can we have a Ghana vs Spain World Cup Final? Please?
Iñaki vs Nico would be amazing.
Play has been stopped and I have no idea why. The referee sprints to the ball, picks it up and immediately drops it on the floor. Maybe he just felt left out.
We're back underway. Ten to go.
CHANCE FOR SPAIN
Great play from Spain. Nico played it into Ferran on the edge of the box; Ferran spun with the ball and rifled a low shot into the grasp of the grateful goalkeeper.
Dangerous free-kick for Jordan, here, on the left of the box.
High, wide and weak effort. Three things you don't want when shooting.
Nico Williams has done well so far to attack the space behind the defenders, as he does. He's definitely an interesting second option in attack for Spain. Similar to Fernando Llorente in 2010, but different in every way.
Pau, Soler and Asensio are the only players to still be on the pitch.
Does this mean they won't play in the World Cup opener? I have no idea; I stopped trying to predict Lucho years ago.
Nico has the ball in the net at the other end but the referee judges it to be offside. No VAR today so no complaints from me.
Great chance for Jordan!
A free kick is whipped in from the left and the header zips just over. Spain caught napping there. Close.
Rodri is in at centre-back. Just under 20 minutes to go.
More changes for Spain
You keeping up OK?
OFF: Eric, Ansu
ON: Rodri, Nico
The subs are breaking the game up now, Spain controlling possession but it feels like we've had 15 minutes without any football.
Nico Williams and Rodri coming.
Changes for Jordan
OFF: Al Mardi, Al-Naimat
ON: Al Daradreh, Zraig
Play stopped for an injury to a Jordan player
I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOAL.
A counter-attack that seemed to take 3 years ended with Ferran on the left getting the ball from Ansu, but his shot hits that part of the net that makes you think it's in, and it's not.
Jordan subs:
OFF: Nasib, Al Samrieh
ON: Rateb, Ayed
So now we've got:
Soler as the deepest midfielder with Asensio and Olmo as the two other central players.
Ansu is on the left wing as before; Ferran is the new centre-forward and Yeremy is on the right wing.
Spain subs
OFF: Gavi, Koke, Sarabia
ON: Yeremy, Olmo, Ferran
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLL GAVI
2-0!
Good work from Soler on the right wing. He plays it in towards Sarabia who scuffs a shot to nowhere; Gavi picks up the pieces from the penalty spot and slots it in the right corner with his left foot.
Ferran, Yeremy and Olmo are getting changed on the bench.
Another chance for Jordan. Naimat gets the ball on the edge of the box after another Spain error but his shot hits Pau and goes out for a corner.
Close for Jordan after Pau steps up as Al-Tamari runs in behind, but Raya steps out to gobble up the ball.
The same thing happens at the other end: a good ball from Soler almost reaches Ansu but the goalkeeper is first to it.
Spain trying to calm things down with some lovely triangles and link up play, moving through the lines *chef's kiss*
Jordan with a counter-attack behind Azpilicueta and David Raya forced into a save.
They've had their half-time oranges and have come out flying.
And instantly, Jordan have a dangerous free-kick after Raya handles the ball outside the box after coming out to collect a long ball.
Gavi is the draft excluder at the bottom of the wall.
And we're underway again.
Substitutes!
Spain
OFF: Sánchez and Carvajal
ON: Raya and Azpilicueta
An interesting musical show here: Rodge, entertaining us all with fire and singing. Lovely.
Teams back out.
Pedri doing some lovely kick-ups at half-time. Making us all look talentless.
HT: Jordan 0-1 Spain
So, this is playing out pretty much how we expected it to. Spain have had 80% of the ball and Jordan have been limited to pot shots and half-chances (except for the Pau mistake).
Normally, in a game like this for Spain, I'd be saying how they're playing really slowly, not creating enough and don't have anything about them up front. Instead, today I'm going to praise Mr. Goals (obviously) and Asensio, who seems to have taken some of his recent Real Madrid confidence with him in his presumably very expensive suitcase. And good for him: he's looked lively, linked up the play well and had a few decent-ish chances.
The midfield have been OK; they haven't had to battle for anything and the pressure Jordan are putting on them is non-existent. Gavi has been the brightest of the three and Carlos Soler probably should have a goal to his name. So far, so easy.
Laporte has been fine (except when he thought Gavi was the height of a fully-grown man and so has Carvajal. The two centre-backs 'han cumplido' as they say in Spanish. They've done fine.
Oh, and Robert Sánchez saved the one thing he had to. So fair play.
That's all for now! No added time today.
Play was resumed just long enough after the injury for Al-Naimat to have a long range effort go wide.
Centre-back Nasib is down, holding his knee.
The doctor gives the all clear and sticks his thumb in the air.
Nasib takes two steps and falls over. He's not going to continue.
CHANCE FOR ANSU
He's the man. Gavi lets the ball run under his legs and Ansu collects it on his own just inside the box on the left side. He whips one of those curling efforts towards the far post but a defender does well to get in the way and keep the score to 1-0. That was going in.
Ansu nutmeg alarm! Beautiful stuff.
CHANCE FOR ASENSIO
Low shot from inside the box. Great feet to find an inch of space and put it on his left foot but the goalkeeper gets down well and puts it out of play.
Gavi finds Laporte who sends it to Ansu on the left wing. The forward plays it in but Omar Hani clears the ball.
Spain with 79% possession so far. They've had 5 shots to Jordan's 2.
Olés from the crowd as Spain ping-ping-ping the ball between each other. They're having a great time, and so are Spain.
Ansu with a great shot!
From absolutely nothing, Mr. Goals (if you can think of a better name then I'm all ears) curled a beautiful effort from the left. Just over, bouncing on the top of the net. The goalkeeper is delighted.
If Asensio's shot ended up in Qatar, Sarabia's ended up in the 2018 World Cup.
Gavi did brilliantly (showing us he's not really a tiny child) and hopped and skipped past a hundred challenges, before laying it off to Sarabia.
Calm possession from Spain, of course. Waiting for the right moment to turn and pounce.
Spain's attack breaks down after Laporte forgets that Gavi is literally a tiny child and kicks the ball over his head and out of play.
Half chance for Spain as Asensio skies a shot that I think has actually landed in Qatar. Again, nice, zippy link-up play from the guys up front. Asensio doing well so far, very involved in everything Spain do.
I must say, Gavi wearing 9 does not sit well with me at all.
This is getting me excited for the World Cup. All of it. Mexico v Portugal? Uruguay vs South Korea? Yes please.
Lovely work on the edge of the box between Asensio and Sarabia, who gets taken down. Referee decides it all legal and play continues. That was a lovely bit of build-up, with a nice one-two between the forwards.
Spain have had a decent rhythm going forward so far.
Eek. Carlos Soler is on the floor, holding his left knee.
Phew. He's OK.
HUGE CHANCE FOR SOLER
The ball came in from the right and the PSG midfielder hit a slightly bouncing ball over the bar from 12 yards out. He'll think he should've scored that.
Good work from the side to get through the defensive block.
BIG SAVE FROM ROBERT SÁNCHEZ
Oh my... Pau gives the ball away on the edge of the box and Sánchez saves a one-on-one against Al-Naimat. Scary.
The striker, to be honest, should have done a lot better. Hit it straight down the throat of the Brighton keeper.
GOOOOOOOLLLLLL ANSU FATI
Marco Asensio plays the ball out to the left wing and Ansu, who does very well to stay onside, takes a touch before slipping it under the goalkeeper.
It sounds simple (and it is) but Ansu Fati scores goals. He's so crucial to this Spain side.
Half a half-chance!
Carlos Soler receives the ball on the edge of the six-yard box after a low cross from Asensio from the left channel. He's facing away from goal and is forced to play it away from the goal. Chance gone.
Spain have arrived at the box a few times now and on each occasion they've been surrounded by defenders and had to work backwards.
Spain's first shot of the game: Sarabia from distance; easily saved.
Jordan win the ball back and immediately look to play it in behind Laporte, who's started as the left-back. Pau is the left-sided centre-back and Eric's over on the right.
For now, Koke is the deepest of the midfielders.
Ansu with some lovely touches on the edge of the box and the ball gets sent out wide to Sarabia, who puts in a cross.
Cleared away by the Jordan defence.
Jordan look keen to sit off the midfield and jump to press at certain points. They're staying very tight to Spain's front three as the midfield pass it around to each other.
Spain with a few vertical passes that are cit out by Jordan. They too have started with a lot of intensity.
Asensio gets a few touches inside the box.
Jordan make a run for it down their left and make it all the way to the corner. The crowd loves it. A bright start for the home side.
Gavi kicks us off!
And a huge long ball from Pau after 6 seconds.
Spain kicking from right to left in the first half. A quick team huddle from Jordan and we'll be ready to rock and roll.
Jordan in all white; Spain in a lovely shade of red with navy shorts and socks.
Spain's national anthem 'lo-lo-lo-ed' very well there. Solid performance all round, extra points for some good flag-waving.
Jordan now, smiles all round. Very loud singing and clapping. They take the early lead on that one.
The big blue flag has been taken away.
A large, blue flag comes out onto the pitch (nearly taking some poor man's head off), then the referees, now the players.
All lined up, national anthems incoming.
The stadium is full to the brim.
Here come the players...
We're almost ready for kick off!
Tick, tock...
Fifteen minute warning! Run and get your snacks now! The players are finishing their warm ups and are heading back down the tunnel.
Warm-ups underway
The Spain team head on onto the pitch in a, let's say, 'interesting' training shirt. I won't be buying it.
Jordan Starting XI:
Waheey! Good things come to those who wait! We have the Jordan starting XI:
Laila (GK); Hasheesh, Yazan, Hadad, Dameiri; Al-Hourani, Saleh, Rawabda, Olwan, Dardour; Naimat
Look who's on the pitch
Just over half an hour to go.
Jordan team news coming up.
The countdown is on!
The Amman International Stadium is filling up nicely...
Pub quiz answer
It was... Marc Bartra!!
Yes, the ex-Barcelona defender played 90 minutes against Equatorial Guinea that day but unfortunately had to wait 10 months to play 'officially' for Spain (he got 22 minutes in a 5-1 thrashing of Macedonia).
On a more serious note:
Luis Enrique will be keeping a very close eye on everyone during the game today, after revealing that "the conclusions of this game will be important. You become a starter from how well you do in training, so imagine how important it must be to perform well in a match."
In case you missed it...
Oh my, you've still got time to jump aboard if you missed the announcement: Luis Enrique is going to be live-streaming every day during the World Cup.
As if we didn't have enough #content during this World Cup, now we've got Lucho to keep us going.
"Now I have followers and subscribers, I'm not going to give you a spoiler [of what I'm going to do]" he said.
Here we go! Spain's starting XI
Ansu, Asensio and Sarabia up top with Soler, Gavi and Koke behind.
Pau at left back (?) with Eric and Laporte alongside Carvajal.
Robert Sánchez is the man between the sticks.
Pub quiz time!
Today's match is going to be a curious oneas both teams will be allowed, wait for it, 12 (twelve) substitutions!
Both National Federations have agreed to this and therefore *shouldn't* be sanctioned by FIFA. Those terrific people over there surely wouldn't do that now, would they.
Here's your pub quiz question: In 2013, Ecuatorial Guinea lost 1-2 to Spain, with Vicente del Bosque in charge.
But the game was declared null and void after it was revealed that the referee was actually from Equatorial Guinea.
Your question: which player made his debut in that match that subsequently didn't count as his debut?
Jordan are an interesting side. They have gone 5 matches unbeaten without conceding and in 2014 came very close to qualifying for their first World Cup. They managed to get through to the Play-offs but were drawn against Uruguay, who weren't kind enough to let them through. Nope, they got smashed 5-0.
This time around, they didn't manage to get through to the final round of the Asian qualifiers as the pesky Australians beat them to it.
Team news: putting the pain in Spain
This is Spain's final game before the World Cup begins and to start I'll bring you the team news:
Ansu Fati is the only confirmed starter today with Luis Enrique saying "he will start and will hopefully play 90 minutes". The Barcelona winger has played4 times for the national side and his last appearance was a whopping 2 years go!
Marcos Llorente, Hugo Guillamón and Álvaro Morata are out with niggling injuries. The manager seems to think they're not too serious and said "if the World Cup were tomorrow then they'd be OK to play".
The big one is José Gayà. The Valencia left-back got injured at the end of the last training session and it has been confirmed that he has sprained his ankle.
He will be out for 7-10 days and will miss Spain's opening game at the World Cup against *checks notes* Costa Rica.
Hola hola! Welcome to the AS live feed of Jordan - Spain! It's Joe here and I'll be talking you through the action and excitement tonight.