Isco showcases superstar repertoire

Mercurial midfielder tallies twice in 3-0 victory over outclassed Italy

MADRID - Spain coach Julen Lopetegui believes Isco is finally making his abundant talent count after scoring twice as La Roja thrashed Italy 3-0 on Saturday to close in on qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

Following a difficult start to his career at Real Madrid after joining in 2013, Isco has blossomed under the tutelage of Zinedine Zidane in the past year and took his club form onto the international stage with a virtuoso performance.

His measured freekick opened the scoring in the 13th minute at a packed Santiago Bernabeu stadium before he doubled Spain's lead with a fierce strike on his weaker left foot just before the break.

"Playing regularly, gaining important experience with his club and with us means that as a footballer he is growing," said Lopetegui.

"It is one thing to have quality and another to be a great player.

"Isco has always had quality. Now he is becoming a great player."

Alvaro Morata rounded off a perfect night for Spain as it moved three points ahead of Italy at the top of Group G of European qualifying with just three games to go - against Liechtenstein, Macedonia and Israel.

"We are happy - not yet satisfied because we are not qualified - but happy because the team responded very well against a difficult opponent," said Lopetegui.

"I have always been very satisfied with the response of the players and their mentality and commitment to wanting to be a great team.

"We are on the right track, but we have three more games to go."

Injection of youth

Spain's injection of youth since losing to Italy just over a year ago at Euro 2016 was evident.

Isco, Koke, Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio, in his first competitive international start, added a missing spark as an Italian side managed by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte dominated in a 2-0 win in Paris 15 months ago.

"We've seen a match in which there was a huge difference in the quality and physique of the sides," said Italy boss Giampiero Ventura.

Ventura was left impressed by Isco's skills as he wriggled free from three Italian players in the second half with a nutmeg on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.

"You only have to see the technical touch, his vision, with the nutmeg on Verratti when surrounded by three players to see he has incredible quality," said Ventura.

"I love moments of technique like that. Even though I am on the opposing side, I have to congratulate him."

Italy is now likely to face a tricky two-legged playoff in November to book its place in Russia next year.

Ventura said it will be difficult to close the gap at the international level while Spanish teams continue to dominate in European club competition.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have combined to win the Champions League in each of the past four seasons and provided four players each to Spain's starting lineup.

"It is simple. You only have to look at almost any Spanish player to see they have played in three Champions League finals and in our side there are very few with that experience," said Ventura.

"That is the reality. We need to work step-by-step to improve so that the players can begin to get that same experience.

"It will not be an easy journey."

Agence France-Presse