Spain need to rebuild after surrendering World Cup crown

Rio de Janeiro - There was a time that Spain appeared invincible, but that seems almost a distant memory.Signs that their supremacy was beginning to crumble came a year ago in the Maracana stadium when they were brushed aside 3-0 by hosts Brazil in the final of the Confederations Cup.
They returned to the Maracana Wednesday to a wall of sound which must have appeared familiar - this time from tens of thousands of red-shirted Chileans packing the stadium - and which they were incapable of silencing.
The Spain that won the World Cup four years ago in South Africa - in between two European Championship titles - was no more. Some people may even celebrate the fact. The tiki-taka style of close passing which was a feature of both Spain and Barcelona's successful years has not been to everyone's liking.
Yet in reality, it hardly really existed on Wednesday's evidence. Xavi, the metronomic passer in midfield and a symbol of the tiki-takaphilosophy for both club and country, was left on the subs' bench ascoach Vicente del Bosque reacted to the 5-1 defeat by the Netherlands.
At 34, Xavi's international career now looks over. Defender Carles Puyol has already gone. Others such as keeper Iker Casillas,midfielder Xabi Alonso, defender Gerard Pique and striker Fernando Torres may have to join him.
Striker David Villa already says he is retiring from international duty.It truly looks the end of the most successful cycle in Spanish football. Unlike 2010, when Spain lost the first game of the World Cup against Switzerland and responded, there was no coming back.
From the Swiss defeat in 2010 to the loss to the Dutch on Friday,Spain went 12 games unbeaten and conceded just two goals in the process.In Brazil, they have now conceded seven goals in 180 minutes - one more than they allowed in 19 games en route to the titles at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Their only goal in Brazil has come from an Alonso penalty.Mistakes were made in defence - centre-back Pique was left outagainst Chile and his placed filled by Javi Martinez, a holding midfielder, as a result - but also in midfield.
Cesc Fabregas, who had played a key part in past tournaments, often as a withdrawn striker, made only a brief appearance as a substituteagainst the Dutch.Del Bosque did not use the no-striker tactic he had deployed at Euro 2012 at all, preferring Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa up front either with Villa, against the Dutch, or Pedro, against Chile.
It turned out to be a  mistake. The Brazilian-born Costa, who had recovered from injury in time, did not gel at all."We have not been able to stay hungry, to keep up our conviction togo for the championship," Real Madrid's Alonso said.
"The joy and success quota was covered, exhausted."Captain Casillas also questioned whether, after all the glory years,the team had been saturated by success.The analysis will have to be done later, del Bosque said, knowing full well that his own position is now up for discussion.
Del Bosque, who took over from Luis Aragones after the Euro 2008 title, had only in November renewed his contract until 2016.
It is thought unlikely he will now be dismissed, but  the 63-year-old coach will probably want to consider if he wants to rebuild a fresh team ahead of the 2016 European Championships in France.
A period of reflection would now be needed after the two defeats. "Of course it has consequences, but I would not like to go into that analysis right now, because we have lots of time to do it," he said.