Joselu scores twice on long-awaited debut to ease Spain past Norway

Joselu had waited 15 years to make his international debut but he wasn’t about to wait any longer. Sent on with nine minutes left, the 32-year-old Espanyol striker was only two minutes into his first ever game when he scored the goal that finally secured victory for Spain and only three minutes into it when he scored his second, clinching a 3-0 victory over Norway on their first night under the coach Luis de la Fuente.

After the first had given Spain a 2-0 lead, Joselu had stood by the centre circle, holding his head, barely able to believe this but it was going to get even better. Next thing he knew, he was lying in the corner having only gone and done it again, while the Rosaleda chanted his name. This was not the way anyone had expected a sometimes nervy night to finish, but they were loving it. An old man had won it for a new team.

Only four of the starters had begun Spain’s last game, against Morocco in Qatar – and one of them, Rodri, did so in a different position. Sixteen of those who had been to the World Cup were no longer even in the squad. Not that the players were entirely unfamiliar, certainly not to each other. There were recalls for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Iago Aspas, Borja Iglesias and Nacho, while seven members of De la Fuente’s Tokyo Olympics team were called up, although Pedri and Bryan Gil subsequently pulled out. And it was one of those four repeat starters who gave Spain an early lead.

Mikel Merino had chased a lost cause, keeping the ball in play on the right. Dani Carvajal found Álvaro Morata, the new captain, who set off across the face of the area and rolled it into the path of Alejandro Balde. His cross, low and fast was turned into the net with a flick of Dani Olmo’s ankle, contact made with the