Spain hammers Argentina in World Cup warm-up

Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli will need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan after the Albiceleste were routed 6-1 by Spain in a pre-World Cup friendly at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Tuesday.

A hat-trick by Isco and one each from Iago Aspas, Thiago Alcantara, and Diego Costa - the latter's sixth goal in his last seven appearances - reflected Spain's dominance.

Without Lionel Messi - absent due to a minor muscular issue - Argentina was limited in its attacking opportunities, with centre-back Nicolas Otamendi scoring his side's only goal in the 39th minute to cut the scoreline to 2-1 before half-time.

The second half proved humiliating for Argentina, as Spain scored four unanswered goals before referee Anthony Taylor mercifully blew the final whistle. The result equals Argentina's worst in history, alongside a thrashing by Bolivia in 2009 and a loss to Czechoslovakia in 1958.

Though it was in less-than-ideal circumstances, this match was also a milestone for Argentina veteran Javier Mascherano, who equalled Javier Zanetti as the team's most-capped player in history with 142 appearances.

Meanwhile, Chelsea left wing-back Marcos Alonso made his Spain debut and will surely be monitored by coach Julen Lopetegui as he shapes his final 23-man roster for the summer's affair in Russia.