Spain: tired, obsolete and out of the World Cup after six days

Champions out as another lacklustre show ends in defeat at the hands of vibrant Chile

Javi Martinez and Sergio Ramos of Spain
(Image credit: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Chile 2 Spain 0. Spain's dream of becoming the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 was left in tatters as they were humbled for the second time in six days, this time by Chile in the febrile atmosphere of the Maracana.

Having been humiliated 5-1 by Holland in their opening group B match, the holders and number one ranked team in the world had to get a result against the Chileans to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the last 16. But first-half goals from Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz gave the vibrant South Americans an unassailable lead against a Spain side that looked tired, unimaginative and obsolete.

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.