Spain are on the way to the World Cup, and it’s going to be fun watching them there. A 3-0 victory over Italy represents a huge step towards Russia 2018; just as significantly, it may represent another step towards Spain being Spain once again. As the final minutes ticked away, the Bernabéu bounced. They had enjoyed this and so had their team. Isco had just been withdrawn to a huge ovation. The man they call “Magic” had twice bamboozled Marco Verratti, first rolling the ball between his legs, then flicking it over his head. He had also scored twice to give Spain the lead before Álvaro Morata, on as a substitute, added the third.

As Isco departed, the embodiment of a new, exciting, skilful generation, he gave way for David Villa – back in the national team after 1,167 days. That mix – Iniesta, Silva, Villa, Asensio, Isco, Koke – is an impressive one. Here, they dominated Italy almost from the start. Without a striker for most of the night, Spain sought control. The goals came naturally. They also came early. Only 12 minutes had gone when Isco lifted a free kick over the wall and into the net. It was neatly struck but Gianluigi Buffon was a little slow to react.

They also had the ball, although Italy took a step forward, pressing with four men. It was striking to see how often Spain – marked man to man – went long from goal-kicks, bypassing a depopulated midfield in search of the front three. But goal-kicks were one thing, open play another, and once the ball was rolling, Spain usually played their way through or round. This may be a different generation, another era, but the touch and control that defined them is still there. In Isco and Marco Asensio, there is talent too – and of the purest kind.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Spain’s Isco gets the better of Italy’s Lorenzo Insigne, left, Marco Verratti and Daniele De Rossi, right. Photograph: Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Images

There were opportunities for the visitors though, particularly when they went wide. David de Gea made a sharp save from Andrea Belotti’s header and there would be more as the second half began, a hint of Spain’s vulnerability at times. By then, though, the lead had been extended and that feeling was fleeting.

At the other end, Gerard Piqué headed over while Dani Carvajal and Silva were almost on to an incisive pass from Iniesta. If, in truth, there were few clear chances, there was flow and the second came five minutes from half-time, when Isco received from Andrés Iniesta near the edge of the area. A swivel of the hips and he struck, left-footed, clean and low into a corner. Spain’s control was even more complete now, and Isco in particular was revelling in it. Olés rang round, accompanying every pass, many of them his. Or they did until the exchanges were too fast to keep up, and then the Bernabéu broke into applause instead. Ping-ping-ping, it went – and at the end of it, Koke almost nodded in a third.

De Gea made another save as the second half began, this time from Lorenzo Insigne. Then Belotti, dangerous throughout, headed over at the far post. Momentarily, the ball changed feet a little, but when Spain got it back, Isco drew roars as he slipped away from Verratti and found Carvajal dashing into the area. Buffon saved to avoid the third but it came anyway.

Not satisfied with one wonderful piece of skill, Isco left Verratti behind again soon after, flicking over his head and releasing Morata, who had just come on. This time it was Andrea Barzagli who ended the attack but when Sergio Ramos burst out from his own area minutes later, marauding through the middle, he exchanged passes with Morata and the Chelsea striker finished well.