BRAZIL 2014: Chile may spoil World Cup run for Spain, Holland

AFP Sports looks at why things went pear-shaped in Brazil for reigning World Cup champs, Spain. 

It was Spain's worst defeat in more than half a century, coming 51 years after a 6-2 defeat to Scotland in 1963.

Brazil’s President Dilma Roussef vowed that her country is ready to host the most trouble-plagued World Cup in history from today as she confronted public anger at the multi-billion-dollar price tag.

What better platform to make a statement than one watched by billions around the planet?

Chelsea midfielder Oscar put the seal on the win with a late strike from distance to trigger delirium.

>The pretenders are gone. The 16 teams remaining in Brazil are the best sides in the world, the outstanding sides left in what is shaping up to be a tournament for the ages.

President Dilma Rousseff: “I hear and respect those opinions but I don’t agree with them. It is a false dilemma” Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff says her country is ready, on and off the pitch, for the football World Cup which starts on Thursday. In a TV address, she said “the pessimists” had been defeated by the determination of the Brazilian people. She rejected criticism of overspending, saying that the tournament would leave a lasting legacy of infrastructure. Brazil has seen a year...

>If Brazil and Holland had their way, both teams would have not featured in today’s third place playoff game.

Players expected to figure prominently would mostly be from up and coming developing countries!