Day Seven - Chile v Spain

Pre-Match Thoughts
Both teams, you would expect, will be going for this. Spain desperately need the points and a win for Chile will put them through to the next round and put the Spaniards out.

The Spanish have had a few days to consider the disaster of their opening day and the constant questioning of their tactics and approach since. A win today will go a long way to answering the critics, especially a convincing performance. They'll be favourites, but should be wary of a side capable of taking on the best on their form days. Alexis Sanchez, coming off the back of a good season at Barcelona, will be their danger man and main source of threats.

I'm banking on desperation leading the Spanish to sort their shit out and scrape a 2-1 win, despite the partisan atmosphere creating by a very strong Chilean presence in the stadium. Some even attempted to force their way in without tickets, and their communal belting out of the national anthem was actually spine-tingling.

Drink?
Just a Pepsi, for me.

First Half
Dearie me, Spain. I don't know if they expected to turn up to this World Cup and have no problems, only for the second half of the game vs the Dutch to destroy all confidence and morale. Though seeming to have most of the possession, they've offered next to nothing when close to goal and Chile have picked them off twice.

The hope for Spain is that Chile's nerve doesn't hold and they are unable to hold possession, offering a way back into the game. Two goals for Spain or that's your lot for the holders.

Second Half
It'd be hard to give enough credit to Chile. I can't think of many (if any) times I've seen a team work as hard over a whole game as them. They should get whatever they eat for breakfast on the NHS - national productivity would go through the roof.

Spain had their chance to get a beachhead on a recovery, only for Busquets to miss an absolute sitter. Bar that, Chile defended superbly, worked like their lives depending on it and are full value for the result and their qualification into the second round.

Result
Chile win 2-0. Spain and Australia are both out.

Know any Spanish?
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazon. Cheers, Joe!