Just days ago, something catastrophic happened to the football world, or at least to Spain.
The defending world champions, who won everything and destructed teams with clinical precision over the past six years, got knocked out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
All thanks to the defeat to unheralded underdogs Chile. But what led to this sad demise of a world football superpower?
Perhaps it was their rapid short passing style, or rather, the waning influence of their midfield masters.
The reasons are many, but one thing is true. The era of tiki-taka is over.
Everyone expected Spain to bite back in style, considering their fairytale run to the World Cup four years ago despite losing their opener.
But the loss to Chile showed that this Spanish team is simply not up to the task anymore. No Xavi on the field probably signalled the end of the road for “El Maestro” and Diego Costa simply couldn’t settle in.
Xabi Alonso’s faults in the midfield inevitably led to both the Chilean goals, and Iker Casillas was a shadow of his former self.
Andres Iniesta was the only one on the field who probably had some wits about him, but even he looked lonely on the pitch.
Xavi, Casillas, Alonso, Villa, Fernando Torres, Gerard Pique and quite a few others’ glory days may be over, but what they contributed to world football will never be forgotten.
Their glorious, short passing style will stay etched in our minds forever.
This is not the time to condemn, but sympathise. An era in the beautiful game is forever over.
But I do hope that there will someday be another Spanish legend waiting in the wings. Spain, you redefined the notion of the game. Thank you, for tiki-taka.
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