Spain become the 5th World Cup holders to crash out in the group stage after Brazil, France and Italy (twice) Wednesday June 18,2014

 

Chile beats Spain 2-0 at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro

Goal Scorers -EduardoVargas (19) and CharlesAranguiz (43)

The Defending world champions are out after two consecutive defeats from The Netherlands 1-5 and Chile 0-2. Spain are gone
Vicente Del Bosque watched his Spain side crash out of the World Cup

Spain joined an unwanted list in the history books by becoming the 5th world champions to be knocked out in the group stage

Vicente Del Bosque made two changes for their second group game against Chile, not that it helped. Barcelona pair Gerard Pique and Xavi were replaced by Bayern Munich utility man Javi Martinez and their speedy club teammate Pedro.

Spain become the 5th World Cup holders to crash out in the group stage after Brazil, France and Italy (twice)

Italy 1950

The Italians were the long-standing defending champions, having won the World Cup in 1934 and 1938 - with a 12-year gap until the next tournament in 1950.

Their national team was weakened with some of the side sadly dying in the Superga air disaster a year before the start of the tournament and the champions were not keen to attend the finals

After some persuasion they travelled to Brazil, but by boat rather than plane.

They lost 3-2 to Sweden before beating Paraguay 2-0 but it wasn't enough and the Italians were on their way home - again by boat.

Brazil 1966

The Selecao won their second World Cup in 1962, beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final, but failed to clear the first stage at the following tournament in England, despite a star showing from Pele and Garrincha in their opening 2-0 victory over Bulgaria.

That win was marred by an injury to Pele, and the forward missed their second match, a 3-1 defeat to Hungary.

He recovered to start in the third and all-important game against Portugal, only for sidekick Garrincha to be ruled out.

Without the two working in tandem Brazil were easily beaten by a Portugal side inspired by Eusebio and with that Vicente Feola’s side were out. 

France 2002

After thrashing Brazil in the 1998 final in front of their own fans in Paris, France began the following tournament in the worst possible fashion.

Tournament debutants Senegal pulled off one of the biggest World Cup upsets ever in the opening match, as Papa Bouba Diop scored in a shock 1-0 victory over Les Bleus.

In their second Group A match, France failed to find a way past Uruguay, with the game finishing 0-0. The holders’ star striker Thierry Henry was sent off in that game to compound their misery.

A limp 2-0 defeat to Denmark sent France crashing out after just three games. Their failure to score a single goal earned them the record of worst ever World Cup performance by a defending champion.

Italy 2010

Four years on from the drama of their penalty shootout win in the 2006 final against France, Italy flew to South Africa with a strong squad intent on defending their crown.

Drawn in a seemingly easy group with Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia, pundits tipped Italy to saunter into the knockout stages.

How wrong they were.

After being held to 1-1 draws by Paraguay and New Zealand, they lost 3-2 in their final group game to Slovakia, becoming the third nation to be eliminated in the first round as reigning champions.