World Cup: Defending champion Spain exits Brazil 2014

World Cup: Defending champion Spain exits Brazil 2014
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World Cup: The best photos from June 18

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
World champion Spain is out of the tournament
Spain beaten 2-0 by Chile in Rio de Janeiro
Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz scored the goals
10-man Cameroon also out after Croatia loss
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(CNN) -- So goodbye.
Nobody wanted it to end this way -- the embarrassment and humbling of a side which has brought so
much joy to the world.
"You cannot consider that this generation is finished," said Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso ahead of its
crunch game against Chile. "On the contrary, we are still alive."
But Alonso's words rang hollow Wednesday as Spain sank to a 2-0 defeat by Chile at the Maracana --
almost as if this generation has now received the last rites.
Dumped out of the World Cup after just two group games on the same day that King Juan Carlos
abdicated his throne and signed it over to Prince Felipe, the nation's footballers have now
relinquished the crown they once wore with distinction.
Those fortunate enough to have a ticket for the potential dethroning came wearing red -- Chilean
red.
Read: What went wrong for Spain?
Goooal! Keeping score at the World Cup

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Even before kickoff, there was a sense of something special -- a wind of change, a new era about to
be ushered in.
This was a moment nobody wanted to miss -- including the 85 Chilean fans who were apprehended
by military police after trashing the stadium's media center.
While the spine tingling a capella version of the Chilean national anthem galvanized those in white
with a call to arms, Spain shrunk away almost apologetically.
It was left to Eduardo Vargas and Charles Arranguiz to put the final nails in the coffin-- both men
scoring in a high-octane first half.
There was no fightback -- no last stand, no heroics from Spain. Those who had once thrilled and
mesmerized for so long, slowly and silently slipped away into the Rio night.
This was not a mere collapse -- this was an implosion of seismic proportions.

"We cannot complain we did not deserve to go out, they were better than us," Spain coach Vicente
del Bosque told Spanish TV.
"The team showed character, we pressed forward but we had little luck in front of goal.
"We were certainly inferior to our rivals here at the finals. It is not the moment to think about the
future. Little by little we will make the necessary assessments."
Spain had left Salvador last Friday, beaten, thrashed and humiliated after being dismantled with
ruthless efficiency by a Dutch side set on revenge following its defeat in final four years ago.
It was a defeat which not only brought a shattering halt to the domination it had enjoyed on the
international stage -- it was a defeat which signaled the end of an era.
For the past six years, this Spanish side has thrilled those who marveled at its tiki-taka passing and
ability to make the game look so effortless.
For so long a perennial failure, its victory at the 2008 European Championship finals ushered in a
period of almost flawless football.
Victory at the 2010 World Cup was secured courtesy of a win over the Netherlands, while it retained
its European crown comfortably two years later.
But the signs of weakness have been growing ever since it was swept aside in last year's
Confederations Cup in Brazil.
The 3-0 defeat by the host nation in the final shocked not only seasoned observers but also those
who had believed Spain's domination would surely continue.
A year on, and the weaknesses which were so ruthlessly exposed were laid bare for all to see.
After the 5-1 defeat by the Dutch, the Spanish players spoke of how this current generation were not
yet finished.
Cesc Fabregas, the Chelsea midfielder, philosophized over how this occasion would mean "life or
death" for his side.
But while coach del Bosque would have hoped to revitalize his team by resuscitating his ailing
players, Chile arrived hoping to inflict the mortal wound.
Where Chile appeared hungry and sprightly, Spain looked slow, cumbersome and leaden footed.
The removal of Xavi, for so long the dominant force of the Spanish midfield, already hinted at the
start of something drastic.
Gone too was Gerard Pique, the Barcelona defender, who endured a difficult time against the Dutch
-- not that he was alone.
While 11 men in red Spanish shirts made the short walk onto the Maracana field, their minds
appeared to be clouded, fuzzy, full of the doubt.

No more so than goalkeeper Iker Casillas -- the captain, the man who despite having not featured
regularly for club side Real Madrid kept his place in the team.
A dismal showing in the previous game had led to calls for him to be replaced -- but on form or not,
there was nothing he could do about Chile's opening goal.
Jorge Sampaoli's side, playing with a joyful and often naive innocence, roared into action with a
thrust which would not look out of place on the dancefloor of a club in Santiago.
With 20 minutes played, Chile's ability to combine pace and intricacy cut through the Spanish
defense and Vargas rounded off a wonderful flowing move.
The goal came with a sense of inevitability -- Chile, roared on by the majority of the stadium, were
rampant.
Where Spain faltered, Chile stood strong. Where Spain was wasteful, Chile cradled possession like a
mother holds its small child. Where Spain sporadically threatened, Chile moved to strike down each
and every attack.
For a World Cup champion to exit the tournament at the group stage is not unheard of -- France
were embarrassed in 2002 and Italy barely competed four years ago as it exited with a whimper.
But neither of those teams managed to dominate like this Spanish side.
Perhaps had Spain managed to arrive at the interval just one goal behind it may have been different
-- but what transpired was nothing short of disastrous.
With three minutes of the half remaining, the much maligned Casillas, the man who lifted the trophy
four years ago, all but relinquished his and Spain's grip on the crown.
Alexis Sanchez's 20-yard free kick appeared simple enough to save but Casillas contrived to punch
the ball straight into the path of Aranguiz, who fired home from close range.
That self-inflicted wound proved fatal -- Spain never recovered.
It tried to fight back, Sergio Busquets missed a great opportunity from five-yards and striker Diego
Costa, one of the biggest disappointments of the tournaments, also went close.
But it was more in hope than expectation.
Each and every time Chile moved forward, Spain fell away seemingly unable to cope with the pace of
its opponents.
Mauricio Isla should have rubbed salt in Spanish wounds with 20 minutes remaining only to send his
effort wide of the post with the goal gaping.
Del Bosque even sent on Koke as substitute -- a man whose surname is ResurrecciÃ³n.
Not that it mattered -- the curtain had already been brought down, the mourners had left -- the
cortege was already on its way.

Cameroon 0-4 Croatia
Cameroon suffered a nightmare evening in Manaus as it exited the World Cup with a whimper.
Two goals from Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic ensured Croatia won at a canter after Alex
Song was sent off for Cameroon.
Ivica Olic gave Croatia the perfect start, turning home from close range after 11 minutes.
Cameroon was reduced to 10 men when Song inexplicably elbowed Mandzukic -- and Ivan Perisic
added a second eight minutes later.
Mandzukic headed home a third just after the hour mark before clinching his second of the evening
to seal the rout.
The result leaves Croatia needing to defeat Mexico in its final Group A game to qualify for the last
16.
Cameroon will finish its campaign against host nation Brazil on Monday.
Read: Netherlands edges out Australia
Read: Chilean fans 'invade' Maracana stadium
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/18/sport/football/spain-chile-world-cup-football/

World Cup: Defending champion Spain exits Brazil 2014

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