Spain defeated and dethroned
“For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground, And tell sad stories of the death of kings. How some have been deposed, some slain in war, Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed.”
— Richard II, Shakespeare
RIO de JANEIRO — In a true world, a good world, a just world, they will be remembered for what they did, what they brought and the style in which they did it, rather than how they left. Limp. Lifeless. Old, slow, creaky, unsure. And, truth be told, maybe even a little bit frightened.
In days past, in their pomp and splendour, no occasion was too big for this Spain squad, no nation too fearsome.
Well, the greatest international side of a generation exited from contention at this World Cup with shockingly scant protest Wednesday, capitulating 2-0 to a younger, speedier, more determined Chile at the Maracana. They looked every bit as vulnerable, as un-Spain-like, as they did throughout the 5-1 mauling by the Netherlands in their opener.
Once again, La Furia Roja were a pale, thin shadow of their former glory. Conjecture become fact.
“It was a deserved elimination,” boss Vicente Del Bosque conceded. “Our rivals were superior and I have no excuses for the defeats. We showed character, we went forward but we weren’t fortunate in front of goal.
“We thought we had a very good chance, good players. But the reality was different.
“It’s not the moment to discuss my future, nor the team’s.”
For Spain, there is no recourse but to re-jig. And they possess a stockpile of fresh, young talent to do just that in relatively short order. Expect Del Bosque to go down with his ship.
The strange thing about Wednesday’s result was that it couldn’t be considered shocking. No, not really. Perhaps that caning administered by the revenge-hungry Dutch had prepared everyone for the inevitable.
No matter how great the athlete, how prolific the team, this is usually the way these dynastic things finish in this business. His final season, back in Boston, remember, Babe Ruth hit .181. Muhammad Ali was battered by a pug, Trevor Berbick, in his last, tragic fight.
Wednesday, in Spain’s hour of need, stalwarts Xavi and Gerard Pique found themselves stapled to the bench, start to finish. Striker Diego Costa, trumpeted far and wide, hither and yon, as the missing razor-edged striker needed for so long, fizzled horribly in his World Cup debut (Chelsea might want to reconsider that $58 million Cdn).
That back four, so desperately missing the marshaling of the now-retired Carles Puyols, were ripped apart easier than moist toilet paper.
’ Keeper Iker Casillas, chosen out of loyalty by Del Bosque in the wake of his shambolic performance against Holland, gifted Chile its second, punching a rather routine free kick directly to Charles Aranguiz to coolly slot home.
“If in a World Cup you lose the first two matches it explains everything,” Casillas said afterwards. “We ask for people’s forgiveness, though hopefully they know that we did everything possible to make them happy again. But it wasn’t to be. We are the first people responsible and we are very hurt. It’s been a tough blow and we need to take it.
“This is not the day to start blaming people and discussing whether to change or not change. There are some players who are over 30, the coach will make his decisions and we will respect them.
“Was that my last match? I don’t know, we’ll wait and see. This group doesn’t deserve an ending like this.”
Oh, but it did, on the night. But didn’t, in context of their incredible run.
The Chileans, quite rightly, were over the moon about a superb match. When you beat the champ, it’s often said, you’ve got to knock him out. And this was a clean KO.
“We put in a good performance and are a young side who want to win,” said the influential Arturo Vidal. “We can go all the way and will be the surprise package of this World Cup.
Echoed striker Alexis Sanchez: “We have the mentality to be champions. The Chilean has a winning mentality. My dream is to be world champion. We want to achieve something great with young players. It’s young people who want to triumph in life.”
Strangely, there was no room in Del Bosque’s side, even off the bench, for David Villa or Cesc Fabregas. Not that it really would’ve mattered.
Spain’s denouement was perhaps best symbolized by Sergio Busquets fanning on an absolute sitter from about four yards out in the second half, the ball pinballing over to him with Chile ’keeper Claudio Bravo a time zone or two away. Later, the largely ineffectual Andres Iniesta had a go from distance that Bravo had to palm away. Other than that ...
If Spain had somehow managed to win this tournament, become the first European nation to conquer South America, the title of greatest-ever on the international stage was theirs, guaranteed. In that quest, they fell short.
Still, two euro championships and the 2010 World Cup title in six illuminating years. By any criteria, a truly remarkable run.
Yes, it ended badly. These things usually do.
But in a true world, a good world, a just world, even in the stark reality of today, their glory is greater than their guilt.