Thanks to all for your support because #WeAreOne. Thanks as always! pic.twitter.com/PRhMqhFD4M
- Selección Española (@SeFutbol) June 18, 2014
FULL-TIME. Champions Spain are out of the World Cup.
It's all over for the reigning champions. A truly sad end for a side who have dominated football with so much ease for four years. Footballing decline can be slow and incremental, but this has been a sudden death. And they can have no complaints. Spain have come up against two very strong sides in the group stages, but came up with no answer when on the ropes. Insipid in attack, often laughable at the back and lacking leadership on the field.
The hosts aren't sympathetic to say the least...
90 (+5) min The Chileans are lining-up on the touchline waiting to run on at the final whistle. It can't come soon enough for the Spanish, who are going through the motions. A sad sad end for this squad of players.
'We've had a moth fluttering around the TV. Has shown more movement than Spain has this match.' More Spanish sadness from@SannaWaseem.
90 (+3) min CHANCE. For Spain. Ramos again in the box, should really score as it falls to him. But it's blocked. Resulting corner is blazed over by Jordi Alba. So much so, it looks like they've lost the ball. Chilean fans moved onto giving the cheerios. Probably in Spanish too.
90 (+1) min Somehow, someone has found 6 minutes of added time.
90 min Alexis Sanchez shows no sign of tiring as we enter the 90. Chile fans sing out the ole's now, and rightly so. They look comfortable.
89 min Sergio Ramos scores big goals for his club. He tries bicycle kick that his high, wide, and not as handsome as him.
88 mins Final sub for Chile. My MoTM Arturo Vidal comes off. He's been all over the field tonight. Is replaced by Carlos Carmona. Cazorla,takes a free-kick, it's on target but the keeper claws it out.
85 min Iniesta collects the ball in the centre, and takes a hit at Bravo's goal. It's a brilliant effort, heading towards the top corner, but Bravo is equal to it. Goalscorer Vargas comes off for Valdivia.
83 min Chile's keeper Claudio Bravo, who has very very little to do this half, collects a cross but goes down under a challenge. He's back on his feet now.
81 min Pass, pass, pass from Spain who attack with pace, but resist shooting. It goes from Iniesta to Torres, to Silva, back to Torres, but he can't take it. Eventually, finally, Santi Cazorla takes a pop from outside the box. Wide.
79 min The Chilean defenders have been bordering on the heroic tonight. This time it's Mena who gets the tackle in as Santi Cazorla threatens to put a ball into the box for Torres.
76 min Santi Cazorla, remember him? Well he's on for Pedro. The Barcelona man hasn't had the desired effect after being bought in, but has been one of the rare Spanish players whose tried to take the game to Chile.
75 min CHANCE. Another for Chile, and this time it's Alexis Sanchez who does Ramos like a kipper on the wing. It finds its way in the box to the brilliant Vidal, but he just can't find the finish.
73 mins Alan Mullet is a man who believes in miracles, albeit a very cynical one:
'Both Torres and Robben did sweet FA at Chelsea. Expect a brace from Fernando any time soon, then.'
Matthew Bathurst prefers to keep things straight
'The tiki-tak is the sound of the Spanish world cup clock running out of time'
71 mins Another fast counter-attack from Chile as the Spaniards press forward. Sanchez rides a great tackle from Martinez, but his cross is just too high and his headed over.
69 min CHANCE. For Chile. Great break of play, Vargas screws his shot wide, it finds its way to Isla but he can't finish. Spain have fizzled out again after a fast start to the half. Chile look more and more comfortable dealing with their attacks and if anything, are more likely to score.
67 min Less than 30 mins to go, and the ruminating over the causes of Spanish decline have set in.
Ravi Kalyan Bhakat says: Seems hard to believe that this team was unbeatable in the past three international competitions they took part in. It's almost as if the others tiptoed upon them while they were busy staring at the three trophies.
65 min Chile still threatening. Vargas is played through but his shot, well-struck, is straight at Casillas.
64 min That's Costa's last action of the game. Another disappointing hour for him. Fernando Torres comes one.
Injured Aranguiz can't stay on the pitch and is replaced by Gutierrez for Chile.
62 min The break is on for Spain who are 3 vs 4, but Diego Costa is muscled off it and the move breaks down.
59 min Cardiff's Medel has had Diego Costa in his pocket all night. Chelsea fans be thankful the Bluebirds won't be in the Premier League. Chile now flooding their half in white shirts and forcing Spain to try and break through them.
58 min Small break in play as scorer Aranguiz is down. Looks like he won't be able to continue but he's limped back onto the pitch.
57 min Spain optimists still around in the nether parts of the internet.
Spain will get a win this 3:2. They will take the win during the last 10 minutes of the game, says Charly Omer on the 'ol snail email.
53 min CHANCE. Huge chance for Spain. Sergio Busquests misses from all of two years. He doesn't even shin it the touch is so bad.
50 min Koke tries to thread it into Silva in the box, but it's not on target. Most of the half has been played in the Chilean part of the pitch thus far. Still nothing clicking for Spain
48 min CHANCE. Diego Costa recieves a great pass in the box from Iniesta, but he can't take it in his strike. Costa can't get it out of his feet, and a Chilean defender gets back to block. Looking a shadow of his Atletico self so far.
46 min Spain start with good intent at the start of this half. Koke intercepts with his first touch. Spain try to work it around Chile's third but nothing comes of it.
KICK OFF We're back underway at the Maracana. Could be the last 45mins for a Spain side that has dominated the last three international tournaments.
SUBSTITUTION Xabi Alonso's misery is over. He's off for Atletico's Madrid very impressive and much in-demand, Koke.
21.02
6 - In winning Euro 2008, WC 2010 and Euro 2012, Spain conceded a total of six goals, one fewer than they have so far at WC 2014. Decline.
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 18, 2014
21.00 The game in a pic...
(Credit: Getty)
20.56 Difficult to see where the goals will come from to get Spain back into this. They've yet to score a goal from open play this tournament.
Casillas should be dropped. #ESP #CHI
- Ben Rumsby (@ben_rumsby) June 18, 2014
Csaba Bekesi writes intoring the death knell for the holders...
The tiki-taka is obsolete, took long enough to discover for the rest how to counter it. New winds are blowing nowadays.
HALF-TIME Wounded Spain show no signs of life. We're only a week into the tournament, and Spain are on course to be the first holders to be dumped out after only two games. Chile were never going to be an easy ride; their diligence and strength have disrupted Spain at every opportunity. The back-line looks as vulnerable as ever, while the likes of Busquets, Silva, Iniesta, and Alonso have been second-best to everything. Del Bosque may well ring the changes but the Chileans rightly have their tails up and the Maracana is behind them.
It's a lonely game sometimes...
45 (+1) min Xabi Alonso is having a mare. His tackle led up to the free-kick as well as the first goal. The Real Madrid man's also on a yellow and his dead-balls just haven't been upto scratch. Good contender to come off at half-time.
43 mins GOAL. 2-0 CHILE. Oh Iker Casillas. A good free-kick from Sanchez is punched, inexplicably, by Iker Casillas. Falls to Aranguiz who buries the finish with a great toe-poke. Iker should've caught it or hit it out wide. The captain's mistake may well have sealed Spain's fate in this World Cup.
40 mins Confirmation that Sergio Busquests is on the pitch. Has had a total of about two touches. Xabi Alonso gets a yellow after a strong challenge borne out of frustration on Isla. 'It's naughty' declares Danny Murphy.
39 mins Alonso crosses into the box, looking for Diego Costa, but Bravo plucks it out of the sky. Nothing seems to be doing for the Spaniards right now. Bad touches abound.
35 min The Chileans so far very successful in quickly pressing Spain and stopping them from playing in those neat little triangles. Pedro tries to stretch his legs down the left but is obstructed. Gesticulates for a yellow card. Not cool, Pedro.
32 min Another Alonso free-kick is dealt with by Chile. Iniesta tries to keep the attack alive but is surrounded and hounded by Chilean players. Chile have started fast, furious, and totally undauted by the opposition. Their fans also seem to have made it from the Maracana press room and into their seats and are jeering at every available opportunity when Spain have the ball.
30 mins Chile's Eduardo Vargas has now scored 13 goals in 17 matches under coach Jorge Sampaoli. Here is he, celebrating his latest
27 mins BIG CHANCE. Big miss, from Diego Costa. He hits it into the side-netting as it falls to him in the box. Can't help thinking that in a striped shirt, he may well have buried it.
24 mins Diego Costa picks up the ball in the box, but his touch smacks it in his face. Comes out to Xabi Alonso, who uncharacteristically, smashes one into row W. Pretty much sums up Spain so far. It was Alonso's loss of possession that led to the Chilean goal. The Real Madrid man just not at the races so far.
20.23 'Wake me up when it's all over? I can't take it anymore.'
@SannaWaseem sums up the mood in the Champs camp
GOAL. 1-0 CHILE. Well well well. Brilliant work from Alexis Sanchez who takes on Alonso. He finds Aranguez in the box and Vargas, takes a touch to fool Casillas, looks like he may have missed his opportunity but finds his composure to hit it into an open net. Tiki Taka may well be at crisis point.
17 mins Again, Spain's centre-backs look like they're stepping on each others toes as a ball goes up. Ramos gets it away and out of danger this time.
15 mins CHANCE Spain. Costa charges through the Chilean defence, but steers his shot too wide. It pings around the box and falls for Xabi Alonso eventually, who, at point-blank range, hits the keeper with the goal beckoning. Brilliant block from goalie Bravo.
13 mins Alonso whips in another free-kick, but this time it sails over the head over a red shirt. Del Bosque looks miffed
12 mins David Silva again opts for a through ball. Costa makes the run in the box, but a vital interception again from Chile.
11 min The holders have yet to carve out a clear opportunity. Some nice passages of play in the final third, but Chile are set up well for the counter-attack
8 min Decent chance for Spain. Alonso pings a high free-kick into the box. Ramos makes good contact but steers it wide under pressure.
6 mins David Silva looks like he's been given the freedom to roam behind Diego Costa. Chile lose the ball in the middle of the park, but Iniesta can't find Costa as his through-ball is intercepted.
3 mins Ball goes long from Chile. New centre-back partnership Javi Martinez and Ramos bump heads as they both go for it. Could be ominous.
2 min CHANCE. Great build up from Chile. Sanchez switches the play wide to Mena. His strike partner Vargas can't get it out of his feet in the box however. Resulting corner is badly cleared by Casillas, but eventually headed over by former Forest defender, Jara.
1 min And we're off...
19.59 Chileans are lining up with three at the back, wingers Isla and Mana should be bombing forward. Juventus's Arturo Vidal plays behind the front two.
19.58
#CardiffCity, World Cup, Brazil, Maracana... All goes together quite nicely don't you think?! Good luck Gary and #CHI
- Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) June 18, 2014
19.56 South Americans proving yet again, they are the national anthem kings. Chileans roared out their cheery little number and in the time-honoured tradition of this World Cup, gave us an a capella second verse. The Spaniards, understandably, a bit subdued and got it over with as soon as they could
19.54 I've been wrong throughout the tournament, says Thierry Henry on his score predictions. Not that any of us care, Thierry. Keep doing what you do.
19.50 Right, back to the football. Diego Costa starts again for Spain. He won the penalty against Holland, but generally looked nervy and indecisive in possession. Fernando Torres' woeful cameo may well be the reason Del Bosque adopted for the Atletico man, rather than going for a false no. 9. Pedro should also provide some much needed pace in the middle of the park. Spain will be out to prove they're not just a Plan A sort of team tonight.
19.45 Ben Rumsby has just sent through through on MaracaMadness:
Chile fans wreaked havoc at the Maracana tonight as dozens of them stormed the stadium's media centre after breaching security ahead of their World Cup match with Spain.
Spectators clothed in replica jerseys went on the rampage less than an hour before the Group B game was scheduled to kick off in what appeared a desperate attempt to watch the game
After gaining access to the media centre, they smashed through its temporary walls separating it from the main concourse, causing several minutes of mayhem.
Stadium security tried frantically to round up the invaders as journalists, photographers and cameramen waded in to capture footage of the amazing scenes.
19.38 In the interest of fairness, here are some Chile fans behaving impeccably.
19.26
Chile con carnage!
- Donald Vass (@donaldvass) June 18, 2014
19.20 Not entirely sure why, but it's all gotten a bit Bullingdon Club at the Maracana. Madness as Chile fans have invaded and proceeded to smash things around in the press room. Pic via@WorldSoccerEd on Twitter
They're trashing the place. This is chaos, complete chaos.
- Ben Rumsby (@ben_rumsby) June 18, 2014
19.12 Our man Ben Rumsby reporting the Chilean fans really can't contain themselves. Really
Massive security breach at the Maracana. Dozens of fans invade the press room. Amazing scenes.
- Ben Rumsby (@ben_rumsby) June 18, 2014
19.10 A peek inside the Spanish changing room. La Furia Rojas will be in red. Looks like they've also nabbed the BBC's faux aggressive arm-crossing headshots to hang above their shirts.
19.04 Determined not to be outdone in the photoshop wars, the Chilean squad image has both the subs and the manager featuring. One-nil to Chile.
18.58 So the Dutch are all but through bar some improbable mathematical fluke. Not a good result for the reigning champs who will now have to beat Chile and then the Australians by some margin to get out of the group. Still it's been a tournament where all the books seem to have been turning up.
Whatever the outcome, football will prevail.
Del Bosque looking for a fitter centre back and more depth. Everything will go through Iniesta in a more central position. I like it
- Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) June 18, 2014
18.51 Here are both teams in full:
Chile: Bravo (c), Mena, Isla, Silva, Sanchez, Vidal, Vargas, Medel, Jara, Aranguiz, Dias
Spain: Casillas (c), Martinez, Azpilicueta, Sergio Ramos, Iniesta, Pedro, Xabi Alonso, Busquets, Jordi Alba, Costa, Silva
18.45 Spain's team news is out, and as suspected, Xavi and Pique are both left out. Javi Martinez is in at centre-back alongside Ramos, and the pacy Pedro is in the middle. Diego Costa keeps his place ahead of Torres, while the susceptible Casillas remains in goal.
In pictorial form, here's what that all looks like
18.20 So in answer to the 'who will wear red' question, from the look of the Chilean changing rooms, it won't be them. Fetching baskets however.
18.13 Some potentially huge news from the Portuguese camp, and Ronaldo's prospects for the rest of the World Cup
Ronaldo's WC in balance, sat out most of training and doc quoted saying if he play so. I will end career. Great shame for him & tournament
- Paul Kelso (@pkelso) June 18, 2014
18.05 So what to make of the Chileans? Well, unlike their big FIFA14 rivals Belgium, Chile have so far lived up to the hipster hype, putting three past a very stubborn Australia. Their efforts look even more impressive after the Socceroos have just played out a very impressive first 45min against literal world-beaters, the Dutch.
Chilean Alexis Sanchez should know all about what his side are up agains, as he's likely to come face-to-face with some his Barcelona team-mates. He's the stand-out player in this side, while the very impressive Arturo Vidal came off after an hour in the last game, so may well be a doubt for today.
Plenty of reminders that, yes, Spain lost out in their first group game in South Africa. But that was a tight one-nil against Switzerland. After a complete tonking by Holland on Friday, and now a match-up against a team who play with plenty of pace and power, and then the mighty Australia to come, that historical comparison is all but redundant. So lets stop repeating it please.
Here's what happened that last time the two sides met in a World Cup. Tekaboo David Villa...
17.56 Greetings, live-blog faithful.
We're back in the Maracana tonight, and amazingly, could well see the elimination of the world and European champions. If Spain lose against Chile, and Holland avoid defeat to Australia (currently 1-1 at half-time), the champions will have done a France in 2002, and an Italy in 2010.
But just to make it a little bit worse, of the previous holders two who've been knocked out in the group phases, no defending champions have ever been eliminated after only two games, which could make tonight the earliest exit in history. Madness.
These two sides played out a stonker four years ago, a match where Chileans can count themselves pretty unlucky to have lost 2-1 after they went down to ten men.
Spain boss Vicento Del Bosque said pre-match: 'Tactically it will be a different game from Holland because Chile are brave and quick and risk attacking all the time.' Not sure how much that makes them too different from the Dutch, but lets hope his side are better equipped to cope with it this time round.
The official teams are not yet out, but some murmurings that both Xavi and Pique have been left out by Del Bosque. We should have confirmation soon enough though.
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