End of the run. Or a cycle, if you prefer, since the team in question is not just any. After winning a World Cup and two Europeans in the last 6 years, Spain is once again tasting the sad taste of failure. This is what it is, because exiting the world cup after just two group games, with a deficit of 7 goals conceded and only one scored, cannot be defined otherwise. “We have no justifications, the elimination is deserved – admitted a never so heartbroken Vicente Del Bosque. – Cycle finished? This is not the time to talk about it, but we will do all the necessary reflections ".
In reality, the question is rhetorical, because it is clear that the dominatrix of the last 8 years has reached the end of the line. A question of men, but also of the game system. The famous "tiqui-taca" has given a show for years, both at national and club level: fast ball lap, unpredictable insertions, sudden verticalizations, goals in clusters. In short, exactly the opposite of what we saw last night. In the splendid setting of the Maracana, the Red Furies had only one result available: victory, which became indispensable after the victory of the Netherlands over Australia. For "el partido de la vida" Del Bosque decides to revolutionize la Roja by leaving out two sacred monsters such as Piqué and Xavi by virtue of Javi Martinez and Pedro. But the other Roja on the pitch, that Chile all muscle and running enhanced however by the class of Vidal and Sanchez, is definitely hungrier.
The coverage of the pitch is total, the pressing is asphyxiating, the restarts are lethal. In the 20th minute Edu Vargas, a brief appearance in Mazzarri's Naples, cold Casillas with a close touch and the fragile Spanish castle collapsed completely. In fact, at the end of the first half Casillas gave yet another indecision of this World Cup by badly rejecting a free-kick by Sanchez: Aranguiz pounced on the rebuttal and Chile made it 2-0. A recovery from old Spain would be needed, instead Vidal and his teammates manage without too many worries thus bringing home a very heavy qualification (the last match against the Netherlands will only serve to establish the order of the group).
Night from inside or outside also in Sao Paulo, where Uruguay and England will play their remaining hopes of qualifying in what appears to be a real playoff (21pm). In fact, both arrive with 0 points in the standings and a defeat on the back, albeit in very different ways. Honorable that of the English against Italy, as opposed to the decidedly more humiliating one of the Uruguayans against Costa Rica. Compared to the thud of Fortaleza, however, Tabarez recovers Suarez, who will thus complete the stellar attack pair with Cavani.
Hodgson, on the other hand, seems intent on fielding the eleven already seen in Manaus against Italy, with some tactical modifications. Rooney, highly criticized at home, should act as an attacking midfielder behind Wellbeck while the wingers should be Sturridge and Sterling. In short, we should see some good ones also because a draw could really be of no use to anyone. Italy aside, which in that case (but even if the English win) would find the match point for the round of XNUMX in hand with one round to spare.
