After their 5-1 annihilation by
Holland, the spectre of a humiliating World Cup group-stage exit hangs over
champions Spain ahead of Wednesday’s game with Chile in Rio de Janeiro.
While the nation is still reeling
from Spain’s heaviest defeat in 51 years — a result branded “a catastrophe” by
the Spanish media — there could be worse to follow at the iconic Maracana.
If Spain lose again and Holland
avoid defeat against Australia in Wednesday’s other Group B game, Vicente del
Bosque’s side will join Brazil (1966), France (2002) and Italy (2010) in the
list of defending champions to have fallen at the first hurdle.
The same set of results would take
Chile through, and Jorge Sampaoli’s aggressive, hard-working team, who go into
the game on the back of a 3-1 win over Australia, have lost only twice in their
last 16 outings.
Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas has
described the fixture as “life or death”, but Del Bosque — architect of the
triumphs at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 — says there is no need to panic.
“The hours go by and the mood gets
better,” the Spain coach told Spanish television channel Cuatro.
“We have the challenge of winning
our next two matches. It won’t be easy, but it is possible. We are trying to
prepare as well as possible and not be too sad.
“The first half against Holland was
good. The problem was the second half. Now people are more optimistic. We need
to remember that it is a game and we need to enjoy ourselves.”
Del Bosque has suggested that he
will make “two or three changes”, with goalkeeper Iker Casillas’s position
under particular scrutiny after an error-strewn display in the capitulation to
the Dutch.
Pepe Reina, the Liverpool goalkeeper
who spent last season on loan at Napoli, is in line to step in, but
third-choice goalkeeper David de Gea is struggling with a muscle problem.
Pedro Rodriguez and Juan Mata could
also come into the starting XI and the Barcelona forward is eager to erase the
memory of Spain’s last trip to the Maracana, when they crashed 3-0 to Brazil in
last year’s Confederations Cup final.
“It is a mythical ground,” said
Pedro. “Every player would love to play there because of its history. It is a
big pitch and that could help us with our style of play.
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