Spain were the team to beat in international football a decade ago. But after La Roja won the 2010 World Cup, they endured the ignominy of exiting Brazil 2014 in the group stage.
Vicente del Bosque took Spain to Brazil eight years ago striving to defend their maiden FIFA title. La Roja held the golden gong aloft for the first time in South Africa to cap a dominant spell in their history. They won the European Championship in 2008 and retained it in 2012.
Their brand of tika-taka football was often too much for many nations to handle with Xavi and Andres Iniesta pulling the strings. Add in Sergio Busquets shielding a defence of Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique with Iker Casillas in goal, another World Cup bid was on the table.
But Spain’s dream of defending their 2010 World Cup title soon turned into a nightmare at Brazil 2014. Del Bosque’s men could not muster the magic that saw Iniesta score an extra-time winner at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. Instead, their run lasted two fixtures.
The Netherlands left Spain shell-shocked the first time the reigning champions stepped on the pitch at the 2014 World Cup. La Roja’s tournament would not improve against Chile in their second tie, either. A 2-0 loss in Rio de Janeiro meant their run was done and dusted.
Chile and the Netherlands then duked it out in Sao Paulo for the top spot in Group B with Oranje winning 2-0. Spain, meanwhile, put their first points on the board with a 3-0 win in Curitiba to avoid finishing in last behind Australia. But there was no honour in one victory.
The Netherlands took revenge on Spain for the 2010 World Cup final at Brazil 2014
The opening Group B tie at the 2014 Brazil World Cup between Spain and the Netherlands was a repeat of the 2010 final. La Roja had triumphed through Iniesta’s 116th-minute goal in Johannesburg. The Barcelona icon drilled home beyond Maarten Stekelenburg at the death.
Iniesta’s shot sent Spain into delirium and crushed Dutch hearts with Oranje losing in more World Cup finals than any country. But Louis van Gaal would see that the Netherlands took their revenge on La Roja in Salvador. A match that had started well for Del Bosque’s squad.
Xabi Alonso put Spain ahead at the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova with a 27th-minute penalty. Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli wasted no time in pointing to the spot when Diego Costa went down under the challenge of Stefan De Vrij. Yet replays suggested Costa stood on his foot.
Nonetheless, Alonso sent his spot-kick past Jasper Cillessen to show why Spain were one of the favourites to win the 2014 World Cup. But Del Bosque’s side made their first mistake by sitting in and trying to defend, rather than keep attacking in search of their second goal.
Spain’s sudden defensive approach proved costly on the cusp of half-time when Robin van Persie escaped Ramos’ clutches. The forward snuck clear behind the centre-back to collect Daley Blind’s lofted ball and score one of the goals of the tournament with a diving header.
Van Persie set the wheels in motion for the Netherlands to destroy Spain in Brazil
Casillas stood helpless as Van Persie’s header nestled into the back of his net. The goal was the turning point of the game and it took the Netherlands just eight second-half minutes to go ahead. Blind played another stunning pass to assist Arjen Robben, who stumped Pique.
Spain were shell-shocked at the ease Robben and, earlier, Van Persie had gotten clear of Pique and Ramos. And it was only to get much, much worse for La Roja after De Vrij made amends for the penalty. Van Persie and Robben then hit home again to win a stunning 5-1.
De Vrij took full advantage of Casillas failing to deal with Wesley Sneijder’s inswinging free-kick under pressure from Van Persie. And another mistake from the goalkeeper gifted the Dutch captain his double when Casillas failed to control Ramos’ pass and left an empty net.
Casillas and Ramos were pillars of the Spain team expected to lead La Roja at Brazil 2014. But instead, they were among the architects of their own undoing and helpless to prevent Robben getting a second. His pace and calmness were unrivalled to run rings around Spain.
Chile had no chill as La Roja sent La Roja home from the 2014 World Cup
From being the dominant force in football, Spain found themselves booted out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after just two ties. Chile showed no chill as the South American La Roja dumped the European La Roja out of the competition through a 2-0 win in Rio de Janeiro.
Eduardo Vargas put Chile ahead on 19 minutes before Charles Aranguiz piled the pressure on Spain two minutes from half-time. Chile had never previously beaten Spain in 11 games across all competitions. Spain had won in nine meetings, including two ties at World Cups.
But Chile found ways to raise questions over Spain’s experienced heroes like Casillas, with the goalkeeper again left scrambling. His mistake left Vargas with an open goal to prod the ball home. The forward sat Casillas down when he failed to intercept Aranguiz’s delivery.
Casillas could only push Alexis Sanchez’s free-kick back into the centre of the box on the verge of half-time, too. There, an unmarked Aranguiz brought the ball under control and floated it home with the outside of his boot at Casillas’ near-post with the ultimate ease.
Spain improved after the break but it was all too little, too late for Del Bosque’s side. Their failings were also laid bare when Busquets missed an open goal from five yards out. While Mauricio Isla – whose earlier tackle had denied Costa – should have found Chile’s third hit.
Claudio Bravo ensured Spain would see their World Cup defence finish after two games at the 2014 edition. The goalkeeper did well to keep his clean sheet intact against late strikes by Iniesta and substitute Santi Cazorla. While Spanish tails were firmly between their legs.
Del Bosque rang the changes for Spain’s only win at the 2014 Brazil World Cup
David Villa, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata would offer Spain’s B-team some glee in their final game against Australia. Del Bosque made seven changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Chile. Only Ramos, Jordi Alba, Alonso and Iniesta retained their place from the second tie.
Villa broke the deadlock at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba nine minutes from the break. While Torres and substitute Mata found the net on 69 and 82 minutes to avoid ending the first round last in Group B, as well as going home after falling at the first hurdle in Brazil.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, would build on winning Group B with victories over Mexico in the Round of 16 and Costa Rica in the quarter-finals. Argentina curtailed Oranje’s run in the semi-final before losing to Germany. While Chile went out in the last 16 to the hosts, Brazil.
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