Spain 3-0 Italy: 5 Talking Points, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

2) Isco thrives in a false-nine role while Iniesta bosses midfield

Isco dropping deep helped Spain keep the ball moving in Italy's half

With Diego Costa dropped from the squad (understandably so as we are yet to see him play this season due to the current impasse with Chelsea), Julen Lopetegui opted to start Isco up top instead of going with a striker such as Alvaro Morata or David Villa.

The plan worked as Italy's midfield and defence couldn't get near the ball. The crisp passing between Andres Iniesta, Koke, Sergio Busquets, Isco, Marco Asensio and David Silva saw Spain control the game, taking it away from the Italians.

It was classic Spain, the style of play that won them two Euros and a World Cup. Some of the personnel were the same but this was tiki-taka refined; married to a philosophy of direct football and using the best of both.

Iniesta's delicious through-ball saw Bonucci commit a foul which led to Isco's free-kick goal

Iniesta looked like a man reborn, making those devastatingly incisive through-balls that carved open Italy's defence. It was those passes that saw Spain win two free-kicks, the first sent over the bar by Sergio Ramos before Isco beat Gianluigi Buffon with the second.

The Real Madrid man did not stop there. Playing in a deeper role compared to the traditional forward, Isco was able to find space, get free of his marker and the second goal from the edge of the box as he received the ball between the lines only proved how indecisive the defence was when it came to marking him.