Spain showcased their World Cup credentials with a five-star, five-goal performance in Auckland this morning which stunned Switzerland as Group C’s runners-up booked themselves into the quarterfinals in style. 

A brilliant brace from Aitana Bonmati added to Alba Redondo and Laia Codina goals cancelled out the latter’s own goal before Jennifer Hermoso made it five in the second half. 

With both nations hoping to make history by advancing beyond the last sixteen for the first time, team news jarred with Switzerland settled and again unchanged.

Spain, meanwhile, changed five from the Japan horror show including a debut for Cata Coll in goal and Alexia Putellas deployed as a substitute.

Five minutes in though, and manager, Jorge Vilda, was vindicated as his side prized the Group A winners wide open, Switzerland’s perfect defensive record wiped out.    

Alba Redondo’s header brought the best from Gaelle Thalmann in the Swiss goal, her save tipping it onto the post.  From which, Spain regathered and worked it to the coolest player positioned to pounce, midfielder, Aitana Bonmati, rifling home excellently for her second strike at the tournament.

In a frantic early pace, Esther Rodriguez headed high before in the eleventh minute, Switzerland levelled but were indebted to a Spanish error. 

One of those five changes, on debut, defender Laia Codina, disastrously overhit a backpass to Coll from just inside her own half and the ball sailed past the helpless goalkeeper, all square!

Despite that setback, Spain had started superbly, finding plenty of room to play in and manoeuvre Switzerland’s sturdy defence, their positivity put them back ahead soon enough with Redondo turning scorer as she steered a deadly accurate header into the corner from a pinpoint pickout by Ona Batlle.

Having not created much themselves, Coumba Sow showcased her speed, flashing a deadly shot just past the post, Spain replying in kind with a spell of possession which culminated in Teresa Abelleira punching in a powerful pildedriver which flew just over.

The onslaught kept coming as Bonmati drilled a ferocious half-volley in, well saved by Thalmann.

But she was powerless to prevent Bonmati punishing another tame clearance, the Barcelona player demonstrating her prowess with her second, terrifically taken, strike into the net and just reward for a sublime opening half performance by Spain, her tournament tally trebled!

Icing the cake on a first half of dreams for Spain was redemption for Codina before the break, the defender profiting from soft Switzerland marking as she rammed home from close-range from a corner, the cherry on a considerably tasty Spanish cake!

Switzerland switched three at the interval and seemed intent on not letting Spain canter through.

One almost made a scoring impact registering Switzerland’s first, official, shot, as Meriame Terchoun connected but found Coll, steely and calm, to claim the effort.

Maria Perez was introduced for her World Cup debut in Spain’s midfield as they chased a fifth, Thalmann though far better protected from shots than earlier on! 

Fellow replacement Eva Navarro whistled one effort wide before, with twenty minutes remaining, Jennifer Hermoso pounced onto a poor pass at the back, finishing, with ruthless finesse for goal number five, Spain controlling the second half’s pace. 

Switzerland match their last showing on this stage in 2015 but this was a harrowing manner for their tournament to be dismantled. 

A sad way for Thalmann to depart the international scene as the Swiss netminder retires after their involvement in the tournament ends, although with three clean sheets prior to this, she can be proud, but the bruising nature of this defeat will sting the Switzerland squad.

Vilda’s squad will now play the winners of the Netherlands South Africa clash this evening/tomorrow morning, regardless of opposition though, they will be fearsome opponents for whoever awaits next, their tournament hopes reborn, and with plenty of panache, too.