Rio de Janeiro: Spain were dethroned as world champions in football on a night the country got a new king, Felipe VI. The tiki-taka experts’ bid to win back to back titles went up in smoke after a second straight loss in Group ‘B’.
Chile delivered the knockout punch with a 2-0 win in a breathless match at the Maracana on Wednesday. It was the South American country’s first competitive win over the Spaniards.
Chile joined the Netherlands in the round of 16. The top two, who have six points each, will meet in Sao Paulo on Monday to decide the pool winners. Who would have believed two weeks ago that Spain’s final group match against Australia would only be of academic interest?
Funny game, football. Spain can have no complaints because they have conceded more goals (7) in two matches here than the combined tally of six from Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and 2010 World Cup.
The Maracana has inflicted pain on Spain just as it had done to Brazil 64 years ago. It seems the iconic stadium has an abiding love for the underdog. After shattering the dreams of champions in waiting in 1950, the Maracana planted a kiss of death on the holders on Wednesday.
It would, however, be grossly unfair to credit the inanimate object for Spain’s ouster. A group of warriors from another Spanish-speaking country were the heroes.
Chile’s youthful and technically accomplished team had too much energy for Spain. They didn’t lack in enterprise either. Every member of Chile played as if his life depended on the result and the incredible support of their supporters kept them on a high throughout the riveting match.
The desperation of Spain from the outset became obvious when their stoic coach Vicente del Bosque left the comforts of the dugout to shout instructions from the touchline. He had sprung a surprise in his starting XI by leaving out Xavi in midfield and centre-back Gerard Pique.
Chile’s opener resulted from Xabi Alonso’s sloppy pass near the half-way mark. Alexis Sanchez pounced on the gift to initiate the move on the right. The Barcelona winger slipped a perceptive ball to Charles Aranguiz inside the box. Aranguiz found Eduardo Vargas with a square pass.
Vargas wrong footed Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas to roll the ball into the net. The stadium, which was full of Chilean fans, exploded in joy.
Spain’s best chance of the half fell to Diego Costa but the Brazil-born striker could only find the side netting after Iniesta had threaded a beautiful pass. The match turned from bad to worse for the champions at the stroke of half-time. Sanchez was once again in the thick of proceedings. He whipped in free kick from the right and Casillas, a pale shadow of his former self, parried the ball into the path of Aranguiz.
After controlling the spherical object with aplomb, the midfielder sent it soaring into the net with the outside of his right foot. Game almost over for Spain.
Del Bosque sent on Koke for Alonso after the break. Costa, who didn’t have a shot on goal in two matches, was replaced by Fernando Torres. Nothing worked. Had Sergio Busquets not wasted an easy chance early in the second half, Spain might have smelled a comeback chance. But it was Chile’s day.
The South Americans got their pound of flesh after losing to the same opponents in the group stage of the previous World Cup. Adios Spana.
