Spain vs Chile: will champions be first side out of World Cup?

Defeat to Chile could send Spain the way of France in 2002 and Italy in 2010

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas of Spain
(Image credit: David Ramos/Getty Images)

In 2002 France went to the World Cup as reigning champions and finished bottom of their group. The same thing happened at South Africa in 2010, when the 2006 World Cup winners, Italy, were sent packing. And if Spain fail to beat a well-fancied Chile side in Rio tonight it will surely happen to them too.

The world champions' 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Netherlands on Friday night was the shock of the tournament so far, and unless Las Rojas bounce back against Chile they could well have lost their crown after just 180 minutes of football.

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