Since Friday’s shock 5-1 World Cup reverse to Group B rivals Netherlands, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has been bombarded with advice about personnel changes he needs to make before today’s Chile clash.
It remains to be seen whether the genial 63-year-old will make any adjustments following the holders’ woeful second-half performance in their opening match in Salvador but he certainly has plenty of talent to call on if he decides tweaks are needed.
Although the scale of Friday’s thrashing was truly shocking, Del Bosque reacted with much the same calm as when Spain slipped to a 1-0 defeat in their opening game in South Africa four years ago before they went on a six-match winning run that secured their first world title.
“We may make two or three changes. If I make changes we are not pointing the finger at anyone,” Del Bosque said.
“None of the players should be worried, they all have our affection. But the team is more important than that fondness. We are flexible but we will also keep certain things in place.”
Captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas looks certain to keep his place despite an error-riddled performance against the Dutch.
One area where Del Bosque could introduce fresh blood is in central defence, with the versatile Javi Martinez waiting in the wings to replace either Sergio Ramos or Gerard Pique.
Playmaker Xavi, who at 34 is nearing the end of a glittering career, may make way for young pretender Koke, 22, who had a breakthrough season with Atletico Madrid and whom Xavi himself recently named as his natural successor.
Chile forward Esteban Paredes said the South Americans, who began their campaign in Brazil with a laboured 3-1 win against Australia in Cuiaba, had been practising their pressing game before the Spain game in Rio De Janeiro.
Chile lost 2-1 to the Spanish in the group stage in South Africa and caused the world and European champions problems in a couple of subsequent friendlies, losing 3-2 in September 2011 and drawing 2-2 last September.
“We have played a few matches against Spain,” Paredes said.
“It is going to be a matter of life and death for them and a genuine final for us because a win would practically see us through to the next round,” added the 33-year-old.
“We are working intensively on our pressing game. No team pressures their opponents like we do and against Spain it won’t be any different.”
Key statistics
• Spain have never lost two games in a row under coach Vicente del Bosque since he took over after Euro 2008.
• Spain and Chile have met 10 times, with Spain winning eight and two draws.
• The last time the teams met, in a friendly in Geneva last year, Spain needed a Jesus Navas goal in stoppage-time to rescue a 2-2 draw.
• When Spain and Chile met in their final game of the group stage at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Spain won 2-1 and both teams went through to the last 16.