How fitting it was for the Tiki-Taka to be read its funeral rites at the hallowed grounds of the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Chile came, saw, and dismantled a Spanish side which failed, quite simply, to perform.
It was a sad end for a golden generation of players first put together by the late great Luis Aragones before he retired from international football – helping the La Roja to win their first ever major title, the European Championship in 2008.
The Chileans' opener was something the Spaniards are (or should I say, were) experts at – quick interception thanks to piling on the pressure high up the pitch.
With runners moving off Alexis Sanchez' brilliant slip through, Emiliano Vargas calmly took an extra step to take Iker Casillas, the recently maligned Spanish captain and goalkeeper, onto his wrong foot.
The knife had been plunged into Spanish hearts, and Vicente Del Bosque now had to take further impetus in ensuring La Rojas progress in Brazil.
But then the knife was twisted in the most horrifying of ways in the eyes of football purists (and devotees of this free-flowing style of football) – through a toe poke!
A manoeuvre seen as utterly crude (but deadly efficient in the right circumstance, and a must-have move in any futsal enthusiasts repertoire) eliminated the "death by a 1,000 passes" way that had dominated international football from its inception not 10 years ago.
The truly scary part of this story is that La Rojas had no way back.
No individual inspiration to spark a comeback and dreadfully poor in front of goal, the defending World and European Champions crashed out of the Brazil 2014 with an embarrassing whimper.
Ultimately, it was like a curse over the presence of Diego Costa, the Brazillian-born Spanish footballer who was back in his homeland but in foreign colours. After all, he was just playing for Brazil last year, before becoming a Spanish citizen in September and switching colours.
Costa is (was?) considered by many to be La Rojas' solution to their recent striking woes, but was guilty of a crucial miss soon into the second half.
Soon thereafter, Sergio Busquets was guilty of the biggest miss of his career, maybe even in recent Spanish history, with Chilean backs to the wall early in the second half.
There can be no complaints about a lack of clear-cut chances.
Questions must be asked about Del Bosque's selections – why was David Villa never considered an option?
Spain's all-time leading goal-scorer may have been going through a lean spell at club level for Primera Liga champions Atletico Madrid (though not without instrumental contributions against Barcelona in the league and throughout the Champions league knockout stages), but to not even be given a shout over three hours of dour football is bewildering.
To see Xabi Alonso, the heartbeat of European Champions Real Madrid, let emotion get the better of him was heartbreaking too.
It was a display which deteriorated as the first half went by, a seeming helplessness apparent in his body language (topped up by a few clumsy fouls).
Withdrawing him for Koke was a wise decision as the Atletico Madrid midfielder's introduction provided Spain with a fresh set of legs and ideas.
However, the aforementioned misses happened, and the rest is history as are the Spaniards in this World Cup, as well as the international careers of Del Bosque and many of the players.
German efficiency vs Portuguese emotion
Now for a brief view on Germany's demolition of Portugal.
Four-nil may sound one-sided but at least the Portuguese were still creating chances. But they just could not rally a comeback after "Sergeant Pepe's Lowly Head Butt Ban".
Cristiano Ronaldo also needs more help across the pitch but just does not get it here like he does in abundance in the Real Madrid line-up. How he must have wished Mesut Ozil was in the Portuguese shirt instead of laying more of the usual great assists for Thomas Mueller.
Incidentally, Mueller's finishing was from the Fillipo Inzaghi Institute of Goalscoring – being at the right place at the right time, all the time. He even chided his teammates for not seeing his runs. Oh, how the one known as the "space interpreter" in Germany (Raumdeuter) moves.
Portugal now face an uphill task to make it out of their group, and the USA could very well knock them out this week.
Germany once again look set to advance far into this competition, seemingly having figured out the 7-game tournament that is the FIFA World Cup.
Hosting with benefits
And finally, the hosts.
Thiago Silva miraculously avoided a straight red for his horror challenge on Javier Hernandez in what was an exciting goalless draw, and there can only be one explanation – FIFA's soft gloves for the benefit of the hosts.
Being 30 yards away from his goal, and with the striker's back towards goal, last man Thiago Silva lunges in recklessly from behind, with no genuine chance of winning the ball.
Thankfully "Chicarito" Hernandez had neither leg planted on the ground, else the first broken leg of the tournament and/or torn knee ligaments would have been a foregone conclusion.
It is understandable for referees to feel pressure, after all this is the biggest sporting event in the world, but for crucial decisions to go for the home side in two consecutive matches is suspicious. – June 20, 2014.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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