World Cup holders Spain crashed out of the tournament after they were stunned 2-0 by a brilliant Chile side on Wednesday night.
After a 5-1 hammering against the Netherlands in their opening Group B clash, Vicente del Bosque’s side needed an immediate response, but fell short in another lacklustre showing.
Having fallen behind to Eduardo Vargas’ well-taken 20th-minute finish and been pushed to the brink by a second from Charles Aranguiz – helped by another Iker Casillas error – a comeback was never likely.
Del Bosque dropped Barcelona duo Gerard Pique and Xavi following the humiliation against the Dutch, but the change in personnel made little difference as they capitulated once again.
Busquets should probably have put Spain back into the contest early in the second half, but he inexplicably missed the target from close range, and from then on Spain lacked any real invention.
Victory for Chile means that their final group game against the Netherlands will determine who finishes top with both now through to the last 16, while Spain face Australia with nothing left to play for before heading home in despair.
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