Vicente Del Bosque admits Spain must greatly improve following a decidedly mediocre performance against struggling Macedonia.

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Spain’s hosts are bottom of the group – even below Luxembourg – after losing six consecutive qualifiers, but the gulf between them and Del Bosque’s side was not particularly noticeable in a game which yielded hardly any chances.

The reigning European champions, who won on Tuesday thanks to a fluke goal from Juan Mata, now only need victory in their next game, at home to Luxembourg in October, to be sure of progressing. However, their normally protective boss was less than impressed with their latest showing.

“We didn’t play well,” he admitted. “We didn’t do any of the three basic aspects of football well: defending, creating and finishing. We were lucky to win.”

The only goal of the game was extremely fortunate as Mata’s mishit cross sailed over the home keeper’s head in the eighth minute. And Spain failed to build on that early opener and rarely threatened a second goal despite dominating possession.

Del Bosque identified a lack of tempo as their key failing, adding: “It was just a lucky goal, and after we scored, we stopped.

“We played at a very slow pace – everything was to feet and we offered no threat in behind their defence.”

One player who has received particular criticism for his performances in the last week is Diego Costa, who looked strangely toothless against both Macedonia and in the previous meeting with Slovakia.

Costa has only scored one goal in nine international appearances and won’t be able to immediately add to that tally because he is suspended for the clash with Luxembourg next month.

But Del Bosque was reluctant to criticise the misfiring Chelsea striker, preferring to focus his frustration on the team’s disappointing collective efforts.

“We can’t single out anyone who played better or worse than anyone else. Diego Costa was the same as the others,” the experienced boss said.

One player spared his wrath, however, was Manchester United keeper David De Gea, who looked confident and composed in his first appearance since the shambles of his collapsed move to Real Madrid.

“I was sure De Gea was going to be fine,” said Del Bosque.