I would have bet the bank in Vegas the Spanish futbol club would have survived group stages in pursuit of a second consecutive World Cup Trophy. Good thing I've never been much of a gambler. Spain became the first defending World Cup Champion to lose its first two matches in history.
Prior to World Cup 2014 the Spaniards captured three consecutive major international tournaments. Spain defeated the Netherlands by a slim 1-0 margin in the 2010 World Cup Final in South Africa. The undermanned Netherlands squad played Spain to a standstill until Carlos Puyol scored the winning goal in extra time. This time around the Netherlands would be ready, ringing up Spain to the tune of 5 goals. Iker Casillas and company didn't know what hit them until it was too late.
This loss marks the end of a golden age in Spanish futbol. The Spaniards have always been a traditional world power, yet 2010 was the first time they've been able to outclass the entire world and bring home the most prestigious trophy in the sport.
A bundle of questions surround this squad moving forward. David Villa and Fernando Torres may not be back in 2018. Casillas was a huge disappointment in this tournament. His future as keeper has to be in question.
Spain's early exit places more of an emphasis on the host nation to perform. Excellence in futbol is a tradition in Brazil. The fans are eager for their first World Cup Championship since 2002.
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