Spain 0, Chile 2: Spain will not advance after loss to Chile

There will be a new World Cup champion in 2014. Spain have been vanquished.

The 2010 winners were defeated 2-0 by a Chilean squad that, much like the Dutch, used space on the flanks, and pace up front to put down a side that had won the last three major tournaments it entered. With two losses, they will leave Brazil without advancing past the group stage.

While the focus of the match will be on Spain’s lack of speed at the back and inability to finish, Chile is due a good measure of credit. The Chileans showed more than just the great attack for which they're known, holding off Spain in the second half when the former champion's desperation matched their frustration.

The Goals

GOAL! Eduardo Vargas, 20 min. Xabi Alonso's pass was beautiful in its placement. Unfortunately, it was placed right at the feet of an opponent. Vargas takes the gift, performs a give-and-go with Charles Aranguiz, and puts it away at the back post on a helpless Iker Casillas.

GOAL! Charles Aranguiz, 43 min. A free-kick blast from Sanchez is punched by Casillas straight to the feet of Aranguiz who hits it straight back into the top corner of the net.

*****

Man of the Match - Charles Aranguiz

A goal, an assist and a nutmeg. Aranguiz’s day was the exact opposite of Xabi Alonso’s. It was disappointing when the midfielder had to come off in the 64th minute due to injury.

The Controversy

Is Spain done? There seems to be a race among pundits and fans to be the first to declare tiki taka football dead. As easy as it is to dismiss their over-eagerness, there’s a strange feeling that emerges from watching Spain lose.

You start to wonder how it ever worked for them. For long stretches of today’s match, they controlled possession in the attacking third, but rarely created a legitimate scoring chance in the process. That’s kind of what they always did, but somehow the goals would eventually come. Today, and last Friday, they didn’t.

How did Chile win?

Vicente del Bosque made two changes ahead of today’s match against Chile, bringing in Javi Martinez and Pedro to replace Pique and Xavi. It made little to no difference. Just like the Dutch did against Spain in the Group B opener, Chile’s used width, pace up front and holding midfielders to minimize the effect of their opponent’s possession.

Both goals that Chile scored came as a result of individual mistakes on the Spanish side — Alonso’s awful give away and Casillas’s failure to clear a free-kick directed right at him.

The Takeaway

Chile and the Netherlands will play for first place in Group B next Monday. With Brazil the likely winners of Group A, both teams will want to avoid having to face the hosts in Round of 16.

Spain are out.

The 1,000 Words

Stray Thoughts

Another very well-refereed match from Mark Geiger of the MLS.

It was just that kind of day for Spain:

Too soon. Have a little respect for the recently fallen.

Diego Costa had another bad match, missing on the only opportunity he had, and just not being involved enough at all.

Del Bosque still has another year on his contract. He was loyal to a fault with his roster selection, but at the same time, who would've stepped in before this, and not taken these same players?