Spain are red-hot favourites for the European U21 Championships currently taking place in Poland this month, and they laid down a marker by putting Macedonia to the sword with an effortless 5-0 win.
Marco Asensio will easily be in the running for player of the tournament if he can stay fit, and he has done his chances of scooping the top scorer award no harm at all by bagging a hat-trick in his nation's opening game.
The Madrid star was given more and more gametime by Zinedine Zidane as the season went on, and even popped up with a goal from the bench in the Champions League final to seal the win at 4-1, so it's clear that he is going to be very difficult to defenders contain in this tournament.
That point was hammered home with his bamboozling first goal, which was just missed by the cameras before the replays showed how ridiculous a strike it was.
His second goal was a thunderous finish after making space for himself in the box.
And the third was also outstanding as he simply decided he was scoring his hat-trick.
Tremendous goals, Marco Asensio really is a frightening talent.
Spain's squad is a bit of a pisstake for the tournament, as they were able to field the following starting lineup against Macedonia featuring Saul Niguez of Atletico, Hector Bellerin, Gerard Deulofeu, and Sandro Ramirez.
Spain u21 to play Macedonia u21: Kepa, Bellerin, Vallejo, Mere, Gaya, Llorente, Niguez, Asensio, Suarez, Deulofeu, Sandro #SPAMAC
— Sky Football ⚽️ (@SkyFootball) June 17, 2017
Wow.
[via r/soccer]
