World Cup 2014, Day 7: Heartbreak...

...I prefer surprises, actually.  :(
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by PAM


And so, the current World Cup holders, the Spanish La Roja, were shown the exit by the Chileans in another humbling defeat, 2-0.  Just when you thought that, after that 5-1 defeat from Oranje, there was no other way but up for the defending champs! 

It was heartbreaking... awfully so. :( I wish I could say that I was horribly surprised to see Spain getting eliminated by Chile... but that would be being unrealistic.  They performed so badly in their first Group Stage Game against the Dutch, losing in a humiliating manner

Self-doubt:  what's goin' on? (Getty Images)

.  Naturally, they were a bit broken, and filled with self-doubt.  On the other hand, Chile was victorious over Australia, in spite of a spirited challenge from the Socceroos. So, naturally, they are all fired up by a strong belief that they can beat the mighty Spanish side. 

The current champions' game plan and players combination were suspect... and so was their defense, and especially their goalkeeping (dang, Iker, sorry I have to say that). Okay, let's just say that their quality now was definitely way below theirs in the last six years when they were winning left and right.  Well, yeah, the grande Spanish coach, Vicente del Bosque, tweaked a few things here and there from their match with Oranje, to face Chile... and yet, he didn't address the biggest weakness: there was no chemistry among his players on the pitch.  The big guy, Diego Costa, was sticking out like a sore finger in the Spanish system. He was unable to finish... period.  And, Iker obviously have not regained his self-confidence after failing to stop five Dutch balls from hurting his side.  And without the natural defensive leadership of Carles Puyol in front of him, he had no one reliable enough to hold on to.   

I am not sure whether the decision to drop Xavi was a good idea... the man's movements have become slower, I give del Bosque that, but without Xavi, the Spanish side were running around without clear purpose, without clear form and shape, without clear game plan... 

The chilling grip of defeat. (Getty Images)

and, naturally, without the possibility of winning against a ferocious side like Chile.  Of course, Andrés Iniesta  and Xabi Alonso were there... but those two, for all their strengths and talents, do not have Xavi's sense of the game, its spontaneity, its dynamic transitions.  Xavi has the whole system running in his head, and he can see each one as a gear, and he can click something to snap them to connect and run like one piece.

To be fair, it wasn't just the coaching that was flawed... the guys didn't seem to be having fun, the way Chile were.  This was their biggest strength in their previous three outings, when they took home the prize: they were having so much fun on the pitch!  Their joy was so incredible, lady luck was absolutely mesmerized by them, like all of us!  I think it was this joy that made Xavi more receptive of each one on the pitch... he can feel them.  And with him conducting the play, everyone is connected to him and they played with a single mind. Tremendous teamwork that was absolutely beautiful to watch... and that's how they showed the world how beautiful a game football truly is. I hope that, in spite of this tragic result of them getting debarred from the Round of 16, the world does not forget this.

Whatever, they're out!  Nevertheless, I will always be a big La Roja fan.  Now though, I only have four in my list of faves in this World Cup... and I won't say which sides are these lest I jinx them, too! ;)  

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