The Europeans attacked with a lot of pace through
the middle with David Silva calling the shots in the middle trying to pry an
opening for the killer pass to Diego Costa. Both teams began to press each
other harder up-front being quick in the middle and final thirds of the pitch. Chile
was forced to play the ball early or long, but they kept their shape and
composure whenever the ball crossed the centre line.
Upon winning a fierce midfield battle around the right
side of the centre circle, the South Americans swiftly inter-passed the ball
intricately with Alexis Sanchez, Aranguiz and Vargas involved. It was Sanchez’s
ball into the box that was squared by Aranguiz to Vargas to touch it across a
recovering Ike Casillas who had tried to narrow the angle on Aranguiz. Vargas’s
second touch was a toe-poke as he competed with Xavi Alonso for the ball. Spain’s
central defence and midfield was guilty of being sucked into play to their left
and exposed their centre and their right. Casillas should not have tried to
come off his line until the first touch was made by an attacker.
As play progressed, Silva was neutralised by Vidal
as Mendel suffocated Costa. In trying to make amends, Spain composed their play
and effectively put Pedro into good use on the right. Chile began to chase each
and every ball, engaging in combative duels with Alonso, Busquets and Ramos.
The Chilean game plan revolved around doubling up on the Spanish engine room,
Iniesta, whom they made sure he drifted wide with each drive into the attacking
zones.
Sanchez won two consecutive free kicks on the right
side edge of the penalty box. He took the later around the wall, attracting a poor
punched effort by Spain’s number one. The ricochet generously fell to Aranguiz
who controlled and stabbed the ball past the diving Real Madrid keeper. Casillas
was the chief culprit punching the ball directly into play rather than fist it
long and wide.
Spain put in a man-sized performance at the
beginning of the second half, winning the free-kicks outside the penalty area.
Sergio Ramos took one pile driver that Bravo badly dealt with. He double-fisted
the ball high to his left, where it was bicycle-kicked across the goalmouth to
a free Busquets. The midfielder mysteriously squandered the opportunity with a
yawning net at his nose.
With less than two thirds of the match left, Chile
were coasting to a famous win and could have doubled the first half score line
but they wasted two beautiful chances after counter attacking moves. They
played with confidence and authority as the champions faded quietly and softly.
Somehow, Ramos a red card for a clever kick of the
opponent while retracting his foot after clearing a ball. Soon after, Chile let
Spain off the hook yet again when three players took turns to waste chances in
an embarrassing fashion. Mena, Isla and Gutierrez extravagantly spurned what
could have supped the already depleted energy levels of the Spanish. It was
more of mental fatigue than energy loss as the revered Europeans tucked their
tails between their legs.
Spain became the first reigning champions to lose
two consecutive matches in the Fifa World Cup. It was, however, the triumph of
the Chilean master plan, which bordered around retention of the ball, quick recovery
of possession, physical combating in midfield with many players around the ball, starving Iniesta of the ball,
showing the Spanish wingers down the touchline, deny crosses and then choking
the central position What a show by Chile and why don’t they go on and win this
thing? If you can dismantle the champions like this, why not? Not even the
Dutch could have survived this onslaught.
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