Rio De Janeiro: 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 (early Thursday in India) game with Chile here.
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 who fell 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 scrutiny after an error-strewn display against the Dutch. (AFP)