Spanish Armada knock German juggernauts for six, their worst defeat in 89 years

Gulf Today Report

Spain dealt Germany their worst defeat in 89 years on Tuesday and booked its place in the Nations League Final Four in style.

Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick in a stunning 6-0 victory in Seville sent them through to the Nations League semi-finals. The win showed off Spain's strength in depth to keep scoring after a raft of substitutions in attack.

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Germany have not been beaten so heavily since losing to Austria by the same scoreline in a friendly in 1931.

"That hurt," said German midfielder Toni Kroos. "The Spanish team showed us at every turn how it's done -- with and without the ball."

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal (left) celebrates his goal against Germany with teammate Jose Luis Gaya in Seville, Spain. AP

Serge Gnabry added: "There are no excuses. Now we know where we stand."

Spain were as sublime as Germany were abysmal in Seville, where Ferran Torres scored a brilliant hat-trick to justify his reputation as one of football's most exciting prospects.

Alvaro Morata and Rodri were also on target to make it 3-0 even before half-time and while Sergio Ramos went off with a hamstring strain, Germany failed to stem the tide.

Instead, Torres grabbed two more and Mikel Oyarzabal added a sixth late on to put the finishing touches to Germany's second heaviest ever defeat, the only one worse being a 9-0 loss at the hands of England Amateurs in 1909.

Germany's players react following the match between Spain and Germany in Seville, Spain, on Tuesday. AP

Joachim Loew oversaw Germany winning the World Cup in 2014 but, after 14 years in charge, even he will be under serious pressure after a humiliation like this.

"It was a night where we did nothing well," said Loew. "We lost every important battle."

Asked if his job was under threat, Loew said: "I trust the players. They are a young team. I am not worried about my job."

The only negative for Spain was that captain Sergio Ramos went off with an apparent thigh muscle injury, adding to the rash of injuries for various countries' players during the international break amid a packed schedule this season.