Attacking, attractive, and free-flowing football are some of the common traits of any Spanish side that takes to a football pitch, but what transpired for the defending champions in their game against Chile was very unlike of them. But take no credit away from a spirited Chilean side, which meant business and did everything in its armory to put the dazzling playmakers in the Spanish side out of their comfort zone. In the end, it was down to a shambolic, clueless, and an appalling display from the Spaniards that played it into Chile’s hands.
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Chile, without a smidgen of skepticism, were the better team in the earlier tussles of the match as they looked menacing on the counter-attack, and in Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez – Chile found much needed pace and verve to penetrate the Spanish backline. Sampaoli, the Chilean manager played with a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Vidal playing behind the two strikers, Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas.
When Spain had the ball though, the Chileans became narrow and denied the likes of Andres Iniesta and David Silva the space to pick out the killer passes they are so renowned for. Diego Costa, who was playing up top for Spain in their preferred 4-3-3 formation, couldn’t weave his physical magic on the night, as he was inept at holding up the ball and allowing his midfielders to conjure up those incisive passing moves they so often come up with.
Xabi Alonso, playing alongside Sergio Busquets in the midfield for Spain, found it hard to stamp his authority and render any kind of a supply to the Spanish front-line. It meant that Iniesta, on more than one occasion, tried to drop deep and string together a few quick passes, but as was mentioned earlier, the Chileans were adept at denying space and time to the Spanish playmakers. And, even when Spain did come up with a couple of good passing moves, the Chileans were very good at breaking up the play and stifling the rhythm that Spain so badly wanted.
Pedro Rodriguez, who was holding the right flank, was very well looked after by Gonzalo Zara playing as the third CB in Chile’s 3-man defense. Pedro found it hard to get his crosses into the 18-yard box, and hence the purpose of having a wide-man to provide crosses and much-needed width could never be realized by the defending champions.
To rub salt into the wounds of a beleaguered Spanish side, Chile were good value for their attacking prowess as they scored two crucial first-half goals, which further dithered Spain’s chances of staying in the world cup.
The first goal, scored by Vargas was brought about by a tackle on Xabi Alonso, and from there the pace of Vidal and Sanchez on the break was pivotal to get around the Spanish defense, and when Sanchez played Charles Aranguiz in, the midfielder was clever to pick out one more pass to the eventual goal scorer Vargas, who took a touch, set himself up beautifully, and poked it pass Casillas on the 20th minute of the game.
And then a minute before half-time, a free-kick from Alexis Sanchez was not parried away safely by Casillas, and the punch from the Spanish stopper fell kindly for the creator of the first goal, Charles Aranguiz, who was calmness personified, and hit a precise strike with the outside of his right-foot to find the back of the net, and send Chile 2-0 up – a score line that sealed the fate of a delicious football outfit that Spain is.
Spain also had to contend with a ridiculously dry pitch, which is something that the 11 men in the Spanish side last night would never have come across when they play for their respective clubs. The ball bobbled, bounced, and took an eternity to reach the target, and that further slowed down Spain’s free-flowing game.
To sum things up: It wasn’t about tiki-taka football, wasn’t about delightful passing moves, and certainly wasn’t about adulation from the Chileans for their Spanish counterparts. It was a tale of one side not being at their game we know they can be, and at the end of 90 minutes, you had to say that it was more down to a spirited, pressing football from Sampaouli’s men that caught Spain napping.
