Chile end Spain's reign at World Cup

Spain's six-year reign as the world's pre-eminent team ended on June 18 as Chile sent them crashing out of the World Cup with a 2-0 win in Rio de Janeiro.

Spain had been seeking a fourth consecutive major title, but instead they became only the fifth defending champions - after Italy in 1950 and 2010, Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002 -- to go out in the World Cup's first round.

First-half goals from Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz took Chile into the last 16 and saw Spain become the first team along with Australia to be eliminated from the 2014 tournament.

"It is a sad day for all of us," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. "We were too timid in the first half and did not react sufficiently in the second. The first goal really buoyed them and they really got into our faces.

"We are sorry we didn't succeed, (but) now is too early to analyse where we go from here." On the back of the 5-1 humiliation by Netherlands in their opening game, it proved a miserable return to the Maracana for Spain, who lost 3-0 to Brazil in last season's Confederations Cup final on their previous visit.

Del Bosque, architect of the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship triumphs, reacted to the Dutch drubbing by dropping Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez, but his side looked every bit as ponderous.

Instead it was Jorge Sampaoli's effervescent Chile whose football caught the eye, with the intricate build-up to Vargas's opener a cruel echo of the 'tiki-taka' football with which Spain once ruled the world.

Chile coach 'proud'

"I am proud of the way we played to put out the world champions," said Sampaoli. "It was a great win over a great team." With Xabi Alonso and Iker Casillas at fault for each of the goals, it...