Chile Sends Spain Packing in Stunning World Cup Defeat
Thousands of people in Santiago watch Chile beat Spain 2-0 in their Group B FIFA World Cup match. Photo by Fernando Lavoz. Copyright Demotix.
Chile's national football team knocked out the defending champion Spain in a 2-0 win during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil at the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, with goals by Eduardo Vargas in the 20th minute and Charles Aránguiz in the 43th.
Almost immediately on June 18, 2014, Chileans around the world took to the streets to celebrate. The commentary online began to roll out in earnest, as well. El blog de mi fútbol ecuatoriano (My Ecuadorian football blog) recalls some history:
La Roja, humillada por Holanda en la primera jornada (5-1), consumó la debacle este miércoles al caer derrotada por Chile y se queda ya sin opciones de clasificarse, incluso antes del tercer partido ante Australia.
El equipo de Vicente del Bosque se convierte en el cuarto campeón en la historia en despedirse a las primeras de cambio al no haber sumando un solo punto tras dos partidos.
La Roja [The Red, a popular name given to both national teams, the Chilean and the Spanish], humiliated by the Netherlands in their debut (5-1), cemented their collapse on Wednesday June 18 after being defeated by Chile and has no more options to move forward to the second stage, even before their third match with Australia.
The team coached by Vicente del Bosque become the fourth world champion in history to say goodbye in the beginning after not being able to score a earn a single point in two matches.
Website Florida Diario summed it up:
España, el último campeón del mundo que prometía en Brasil, fracasó en sus primeros dos partidos y terminó eliminado por una destacada selección de Chile.
Spain, the current promising defending world champion in Brazil, failed in its two matches and ended up knocked out by a remarkable Chile national team.
Twitter users also weighed in, some celebrating the victory of “their” red-shirted team:
#EliminamosAlCampeonMundial #CopaMundialEspanaChile #EspanaVsChile #LaRojaEsChilena ajjaaj los paseamos en la cancha!!!
— ♡rusher (@rusherforevah2) junio 19, 2014
LOL!!! We breezed right by them on the field!!!
Qué lindo ver al pueblo chileno festejando! pic.twitter.com/HQ9a9Vn7T3 #LaRojaEsChilena . Desde Argentina es hermoso verlos así!
— Fans de Benja Vicuña (@VicunaMORIfans) junio 18, 2014
It's so nice to see Chilean people celebrating! From Argentina, it's just wonderful to see them like this!
#EliminamosAlCampeonMundial En la Antártica también lo festejan pic.twitter.com/6KVhryyPY3 @deportes13cl vía @riveros_freddy #LaRojaEsChilena — Prensa Antártica (@prensaantartica) junio 18, 2014
In the Antarctic, we are celebrating too.
Some Spanish fans tried to be positive in the loss:
Querer a un equipo va más allá de derrotas o victorias. @SeFutbol, gracias por estos años. Los campeones siempre se levantan. Ánimo.
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) junio 18, 2014
Loving a team goes beyond defeats or victories. Spanish national team, thanks for all these years. Champions always get back on their feet. Cheer up.
Pau Gasol, a popular Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, offered his words of support:
Mucho ánimo a nuestra @SeFutbol . Nos habéis hecho vivir momentos muy especiales y estoy seguro que nos los volveréis a hacer sentir. #Vamos
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) junio 18, 2014
I encourage our national team. You've given us very special moments and I'm sure you'll make us live them again.
Sports news organization Fútbol Mediaset quoted Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas apologizing after the match:
Iker Casillas: “Pedimos perdón a la gente, pero hemos hecho todo lo posible” http://t.co/AmSR48ixuB #Mundial2014 pic.twitter.com/LAROzfLJpl
— Fútbol Mediaset (@FutbolMediaset) junio 18, 2014
Iker Casillas: “We apologize to the people, but we've done everything that we could”.
Some people weren't so forgiving, like sarcastic Twitter account @iauraB:
Oye Iker Casillas si quieres unas clasecitas de como ser un buen portero te puedo contactar con Memo Superman Ochoa.
— La Dra (@iauraB) junio 17, 2014
Hey, Iker Casillas, if you want to take some lessons about how to be a good goalkeeper, I can put you in contact with Memo Superman Ochoa.
