Spain - Chile

The battle of Los Rojos. World Champions and double European Champions Spain faced the South American Reds, Chile. Spain were looking to bounce back from their embarrassing 5-1 defeat against Holland in their opening game of the campaign, while Chile looked to build on their victory over Australia. Following Holland’s win over Australia earlier in the day, a Chilean victory would condemn Spain to the pits of despair and throw them out of the competition.

Both teams started brightly and the game was a lively affair. Spain wore their red kit, hoping to banish the demons of the white kit they wore against Holland. Chile dressed in all white. The stadium was awash with red, from both sets of fans supporting their own favoured rojo. Barcelona midfielder and Spanish superstar Xavi was dropped to the shock of many. It looked to have paid off as Spain were on the ascendency but were unable to convert from the errors that Chile were forced into. Diego Cost hit a wayward shot, while Claudio Bravo was equal to Xabi Alonso’s close range effort. But this was as good as it got for Spain.

Chile found their feet, and over powered their opposition. They counter attacked quickly and Spain’s lack of pace was exposed. Vidal and Alexis Sanchez neatly worked the ball through to Charles Aránguiz. His cut back found the composed Vargas who took a touch to fool the panicking Casillas and placed it past him before Ramos recovered. It was no less than Chile deserved.

Vargas wheels away to celebrate his opener as Casillas despairs

Spain got worse from then on in. Alonso couldn’t find a pass, Diego Costa struggled up front and Javi Martinez and Sergio Ramos got in one another’s way. That’s not even considering the decline of Casillas in goal.

Chile capitalised on Casillas’ dreadful form. Alexis Sanchez curled a free kick toward Spain’s goalkeeper, but he decided on punching the ball clear when it was easier to catch. The punch fell to the feet of Chilean Charles Aránguiz . He hit a right footed shot that swerved away from the keeper into his net to put the underdog South Americans 2 – 0 up, and the World Champions 2 – 0 down.

Chile were more hungry, and you would be too if you’d been trapped in a mine for 69 days. This match and the tournament in general is a chance for Chile to pay tribute to those miners that were trapped in 2010. The whole country is urging them to do well and the passion in the stands and on the field shows the unity of the nation. Spain on the other hand were slow, lax and uninterested. The majority of the squad have won the World Cup and the Euros (twice). They’ve been playing every summer since 2008, except for 2011. One must wonder whether they have lost the drive and hunger to play for their country. Maybe a more youthful, less capped squad - or starting 11 - would have provided more fight. There was no hunger, no desire; no fight. The Spanish were there for a siesta rather than a fiesta.  

Del Bosque soon brought on Torres for Chelsea-bound Diego Costa, but he was unable to score for the Spaniards either. £80 million worth of Chelsea strikers were kept quiet by a Cardiff City midfielder playing centre back (Gary Medel) and a right back released by Nottingham Forest (Gonzalo Jara). Mr Mourinho will sort that you’d hope.

So defeat saw Spain go crashing out, having conceded 7 goals in 2 games, and only scoring once –a stark contrast to four years ago when they only conceded twice in the entire competition en route to lifting the trophy in South Africa. The Spanish reign has fallen. Chile are the real Los Rojo’s.

 Spain 0 – 2 Chile 

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Spain - Holland

Next up, the holding champions, Spain, faced the boys in Orange, Holland. Few people gave Holland a chance, their young squad doesn’t possess the great quality known by the Dutch teams of the past, no Van Nistelrooy, Seedorf, Jaap Stam, Bergkamp or Van der Sarr. Instead they start Ron Vlaar of Aston Villa, and Swansea’s De Guzman. Meanwhile Manchester United fans eagerly waited to see what Van Gaal could do.

Spain started off well, as expected. Free-flowing tika-taka football at it’s finest. The battering ram, Diego Costa started up top for the Spanish, and he was involved in the first goal. Xavi slid a neat through ball in behind the defence to Costa who shimmied and turned the onrushing Dutch defender, de Vrij, who caught the attacker and brought him down for a penalty. Xabi Alonso, and his glorious beard stepped up to the spot kick and smashed it home. The spectators assumed that was it, that Spain would win this easily now.

And when David Silva broke through, one on one with Ajax keeper Cillessen, it would be hard to think of anything other than a goal would occur, but Silva tried a cheeky trademark chip only to have it easily collected by the keeper. At this stage the Dutch were beginning to find their feet, or clogs… Could that miss be costly?

Yes, it could. Within a few minutes the Dutch equalised. A long cross field pass found the prolific Van Persie who flopped a looping header over the on rushing Iker Casillas from just inside the box. A magnificent goal. Man united fans will have been delighted to see their man score, and more delighted to see his rapport with Van Gaal, albeit via the worst high five in history.

The Flying Dutchman, Robin Van Persie equalises for Holland

Spain would up the ante after the break surely and the Dutch would be defeated as expected. But they didn't read the script. The dutch defence held strong, Vlaar proving me wrong and kept Costa quiet. Blind dispossessed Xavi and played a long ball and picked out Robben, who turned Ramos and smashed home to put Holland ahead. And it wouldn't end there.

Sneijder whipped in a free kick to the back post and the victim became the hero as de Vrij made the score 3 – 1. Although it is argued that it should have been ruled out for a foul on Spanish captain Casillas. It was more of a foul than the one that seen Croatia’s ruled out on the opening day.

The most capped player at this world cup, Iker Casillas made a huge mistake, another high profile mistake following his error at the Champions League final. Sergio Ramos laid an innocent back-pass to the goalkeeper who took a very heavy touch which saw it roll toward the pressing Van Persie who nicked it away from the Spanish keeper and passed his second, and Holland’s fourth into the empty net.

Holland weren’t done. They craved blood, a team clearly seeking revenge for their World Cup Final defeat in South Africa against the same opponents four years ago.  Robben picked the ball up at the half way line and burst passed Ramos leaving him in his wake, before turning Casillas and left him scrambling before cooly slotting it home. Five – one. An absolute hammering and a master class from Van Gaal. If you listened closely you could hear the red half of Manchester growling in anticipation of what this man could bring to them.

An obligatory open-goal miss from only a few yards out by Fernando Torres finished proceedings and the Dutch skipped off delighted with their performance whilst the Spanish slumped away to begin an inquisition.

Probably the best game of the World Cup, so far, and certainly the biggest shock so far.

 Holland 5 – 1 Spain 

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