Spain's World Cup reign ended by 2-0 loss to Chile

June 18, 2014: Chile's Eduardo Vargas, right, scores the opening goal during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and Chile at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

RIO DE JANEIRO –  Defending champion Spain, the dominant global football power for the past six years, was eliminated from World Cup contention Wednesday with a 2-0 loss to Chile.

Spain's famed passing game failed against a high-tempo, tenacious Chile team, its era ending in the storied Maracana Stadium filled mostly with Chilean supporters.

Eduardo Vargas tricked goalkeeper Iker Casillas into diving the wrong way, then shot into an unguarded goal in the 20th minute. Charles Aranguiz scored in the 43rd when the ball landed at his feet after Casillas punched out a free kick.

Spain's second loss, after a 5-1 rout by the Netherlands, ended any hope of advancing. Chile and the Netherlands will both advance, regardless of who wins the game between them.

Spain won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, in addition to the 2010 World Cup.

Spain came to Brazil with a very similar -- but older -- team than the one that won those titles. They added Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa, but he failed to score a goal.

Their "tiki-taka" style of play -- keeping the ball for long stretches with short passes, and only shooting when you had a clear opening -- had not been working as well in recent years. Brazil defeated Spain 3-0 in last summer's Confederations Cup, a warm-up for the World Cup.

Spain became the third straight European defending World Cup champion to flop in the group stage. France in 2002 and Italy four years ago also failed to advance, or even win a match.

Badly needing a win, del Bosque stayed loyal to captain Casillas despite the veteran goalkeeper's errors against the Dutch.

Two pillars of Spain's title runs, Barcelona pair Xavi Hernandez and Gerard Pique with a combined 194 appearances, were left out.

Xabi Alonso probably should have joined them. His agonizing first half typified Spain's problems and his errors led to both goals.

And Alonso's selection left a younger version of his former self, Atletico Madrid's Koke, on the bench until the logical change was made at half time.

Alonso gave away the ball to Alexis Sanchez to start a move down Chile's right wing by Arturo Vidal and Aranguiz, leading to Vargas' score. Alonso trailed behind the play and put his hands to his head.

Alonso was booked in the 40th before conceding another foul, on Sanchez, three minutes later 22 yards (meters) out.

When Casillas punched away Sanchez's curling free-kick, Aranguiz trapped the ball then flicked a rising shot spinning away from the goalkeeper's reach.

Alonso had Spain's best early chance, a 15th-minute shot smothered by Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Often wayward in its passing, Spain missed two clear chances early in the second half.

Costa was slow on Andres Iniesta's threaded pass in the 49th, and Sergio Busquets was guilty of a glaring miss, volleying wide from five meters in the 53rd.

After Bravo pushed away shots by substitute Santi Cazorla and Iniesta, Chile's win was sealed.

World Cup 2014 : Wonder goalie Ochoa leaves hosts Brazil frustrated with 0-0 draw

Guillermo Ochoa threw up an impenetrable shield around his goal as stubborn Mexico frustrated World Cup hosts Brazil to earn a 0-0 draw on Monday.

Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa (L) deflects the ball during a goal attempt by Brazil's Thiago Silva (top R) during their World Cup Group A match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (Reuters Photo)

Ochoa pulled off an incredible diving stop from a Neymar header and a series of other incredible saves, holding up Brazil's march toward qualification from Group A.

The 28-year-old Ochoa, who plays in France for AC Ajaccio, produced the performance of his life at Fortelaza's Castelao Stadium as Mexico held on for a result which leaves them level with Brazil on four points from two games.

Brazil's Paulinho (8) watches as Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa punches the ball clear of the goal during their group A World Cup match at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza. (AP Photo)

While Ochoa deservedly grabbed the headlines, Brazil finished the game relieved to have earned a point.

Mexico had several late chances to score a shock upset, with Brazil grateful to their own goalkeeper Julio Cesar for keeping the match goalless.

The draw maintained Mexico's impressive recent record against Brazil following their shock victory in the final of the London Olympics football tournament in 2012.

The result leaves Group A finely balanced. Brazil face Cameroon in their final match while Mexico play Croatia.

Brazil's Neymar reacts during their 2014 World Cup Group A match against Mexico at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (Reuters Photo)

Highlights:

90+3 - REFEREE BLOWS THE WHISTLE!  Final score : 0-0.

90+1 - Cesar makes his first real save of the day. Jimenez fired it in.

89' - Corner to Mexico. Guardado's shot inches off the goal.

86' - NOTHING GETS PAST OCHOA! Denies Silva a goal after he makes an amazing header of a Neymar free-kick.

85' - Maza fouls Luiz Gustavo. Free kick to Brazil.

83' - Brazil sub : Willian in, Oscar out.

 83' - Mexico sub:  Dos Santos out, Jimenez.

81'- Free kick for Mexico, 23 metres from the goal. Dos Santos fails to clear the wall.

79' - YELLOW CARD for Brazilian captain Thiago Silva. He brings down Javier Hernandez a few yards away from the box.

76'- Mexico sub: Fabian in, Hererra out.

76' - Jo squanders a chance to score after beating the last line of defence.

73' - Mexico sub: Hernandez in, Peralta out.

72' - Dani Alves floats in a cross. Aguilar intercepts and clears the ball.

69' - Ochoa comes up with a spectacular save third time in the day. Neymar's had fired in a cross from Fred.

68' - Brazil sub : Fred out, Jo in

63' - Neymar steps up to take the free-kick. Shot flies wide.

62' - VAZQUEZ gets a YELLOW CARD!! Neymar on the receiving end again.

58' - YELLOW CARD! For Nicolas Aguilar.

57' - Mexico on the offensive. Herrera shoots one from 20 yards away.

56' - Dos Santos tries his luck. Cesar collects the shot.

54' - Vazquez fires one wide off the goal from outside the box.

53' - Corner for Mexico. Easily cleared.

49' - Bernand showing some serious pace. Cleared away by Rodriguez.

48' - P Aguilar is penalised after committing a foul. Neymar on the receiving end this time around too.

45' - Second half begins. Bernand in, Ramires out (Brazil)

             HALFTIME

45' - The first half comes to an end. The home team have had 53% of possession compared to the away team's 47%.

45' - YELLOW CARD TO RAMIRES! Referee penalises Ramires for foul on Aguilar.

44' - Neymar crosses in from a free-kick and David Luiz shoots. Ochoa to the rescue again. He collects it with ease.

41' - Aguilar, Guardado and Vazquez trouble the Brazilian defence with aerial crosses.

39' - Marcelo misses the goal with a shot from outside the box

35' - Neymar floats in a corner, Fred heads it towards the goal only to see Ochoa making another fine save.

25' - TERRIFIC SAVE FROM OCHOA! Neymar is picked out at the back post, rising majestically to steer a header towards the near post! Ochoa is at full stretch to palm the ball away, as Brazil go extremely close!

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a save on a shot by Brazil's Neymar (not seen) during their 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza (REUTERS photo)

23' - Shot from Perelta goes inches above the crossbar. Peralta makes a dangerous entry into the box, dribbling past the Brazilian defenders.

17' - Maza brings down Neymar. Third time in the game that he's been fouled upon.

Brazil's Neymar (10) is tripped by Mexico's Francisco Rodriguez (AP Photo)

15' - Brazil dominating the game so far.

14' - Fred and Marcelo intercepted in the box by Paulinho. The duo was looking dangerous.

11' - Fred rules offside as he lands a Oscar cross into the back of the net.

8' - David Luiz takes the free-kick but it is blocked.

7' - Giovani dos Santos fouls Neymar

3' - Andres Guardado from Mexico tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent.

FIFA World Cup Preview: Brazil Train Guns on 'Revamped and Revived' Mexico

A year after his team struggled to beat old rival Mexico in the Confederations Cup, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is bracing for another tough time when the two sides meet in the World Cup on Tuesday.

File photos of Mexicos forward Javier Hernandez (L) and Brazils forward Neymar.

© AFP

The match comes with both teams having their eyes set on a place in the second round after making winning starts in Group A. With Brazil beating Croatia 3-1 and Mexico edging Cameroon 1-0, the winner will advance to the round of 16 if Cameroon and Croatia draw on Wednesday in Manaus.

Brazil labored to a 2-0 victory in the 2013 warm-up tournament, sealing the victory with a late second goal in a match which was also played in Fortaleza and was also the second game of a group stage.

"We know that it's never easy when we play Mexico," Scolari said. "It's always very even. Brazil's second goal against them in the Confederations Cup wasn't scored until late in the second half. It's always difficult."

Mexico has won seven of the last 15 matches against the five-time world champion, including two of the last four. And to make it even more challenging for Brazil, Mexico has changed a lot since the teams last faced each other.

"We can't forget that Mexico's national team has had three coaches in the last 12 months," Scolari said. "That means they also changed the way they play. The team that will play here is not the same that played us in the Confederations Cup. It's going to be a lot different."

Scolari noted that Mexico has been revamped after Miguel Herrera took over the team in the final stages of World Cup qualifying last year.

"The players will remain with the same characteristics, but their positioning will change with a new coach," Scolari said.

Herrera took over El Tri after the team struggled in qualifying, but he helped the team advance to the Brazil tournament and was officially named coach in January this year.

"He organized his team very well and he knows how to motivate his players," said Scolari, who is trying to repeat as champion after leading Brazil to the World Cup title in 2002.

Brazil's last loss to Mexico came in the final of the 2012 Olympics in London, when the Brazilians — led by Neymar and Oscar — were trying to win the nation's first gold medal in football.