If following the 5-1 drubbing by Holland there was any doubt that Spain’s tiki-taka had died, those questions were erased on Wednesday when Chile comprehensively defeated the 2010 World Cup champions, 2-0.
With a goal and an assist to his name Charles Aranzguiz led the Chileans on paper but it really was a team effort from La Roja that dismantled Spain. Things got started in the 15th minute when Diego Costa dribbled his way into the box only to mishit his shot low and wide of the far post. Andres Iniesta collected it and served it back in the mix where Xabi Alonso emerged unmarked only for his point-blank shot to be well saved by Claudio Bravo.
Five minutes later and the high press of Chile paid off. Xabi Alonso picked up Claudio Bravo’s clearance to midfield but his back-pass was intercepted by Alexis Sanchez, who quickly found Arturo Vidal on the one-two pass. Sanchez then brilliantly split the Spain defense to find Charles Aranzguiz, who cut a pass to the back post for Eduardo Vargas. Iker Casillas challenged, Vargas pivoted to the right and dispatched low to score from 6 yards out. 1-0 Chile.
With Spain controlling possession things went back and forth for the next 20 minutes before Chile were awarded a free-kick 25 yards outside of Spain’s box. Sanchez stepped up and unleashed a swerving shot that was punched by Casillas into the middle of the box where Aranzguiz stood and hit a one-time, outside-of-the-foot stab that doubled Chile’s lead.
At halftime, Koke was introduced for Xabi Alonso and the Atletico Madrid immediately affected the match, intercepting a pass down the right side to find Iniesta who slipped a beautiful ball through Chile’s defense only for Diego Costa to once again flub his effort.
In the 52nd minute a Sergio Ramos free-kick was punched out by Bravo and the ball bounced to Costa to bicycle a cross to an unmarked Sergio Busquets, who missed an open goal from two yards out. Spain continued to press but had nothing to show for it and in the 64th minute Vincente del Bosque had seen enough of the out-of-sorts Diego Costa, who was taken off in favor of Fernando Torres.
Four minutes later and Chile nearly had a third as Vargas broke down the right side to find Eugenio Meno, who tore his shot wide of goal. A sliding Mauricio Isla found himself unmarked at the back bar but his shot skyrockted over the bar. Seven minutes later it was Sanchez dazzling through the Spanish box and making it all the way to the by-line but his pull-back was unable to find Gutierrez or Isla.
Despite sloppy play and looking a shell of their former selves, Spain continued to press forward with substitute Santi Cazorla, on for Pedro, ripping a left-footed effort inches wide from 20 yards out. With five minutes remaining a flurry of decent chances ensued for Del Bosque’s men including a Cazorla free-kick that Bravo did well to push wide and a Sergio Ramos flailing side-volley that flew over the bar. In the extra time it was Ramos again who found himself on the end of a good opportunity only for the Chilean defense to block wide.
Spain continued to poke and prod but the Chilean defense remained resilient and just like that, Spain were eliminated from the 2014 World Cup.
LINEUPS:
Spain – Casillas, Azpilicueta, Ramos, Javi Martínez, Alba; Busquets, Xabi Alonso (Koke 45′), Iniesta, Silva, Costa (Torres 64′), Pedro (Santi Cazorla 76′)
Chile -Bravo, Jara, Silva, Medel, Mena, Aránguiz (Felipe Gutierrez 64′), Díaz, Isla; Vargas (Valdivia ’85), Vidal, Sánchez
Goals: Vargas 20′; Aranzguiz 43′
