It is the end of an era, that much is obvious.

Spain has left supporters, critics and neutrals shocked, happy and surprised with their performances over two games in the  2014 World Cup. Even if they had failed to keep their title, a highly unlikely prospect most would admit, for a team of this quality and experience to play as they did is inexcusable.

While I was, as I stated in Mea Culpa Netherlands, Mea Culpa, completely shocked at the result in Spain’s game against the Netherlands, I’m not anymore.

I’m sure none would want to take anything away from either the Netherlands with their impressive 5 goals unanswered or Chile with their pressing, teamwork and finishing.

We can talk about tactics and player selection but the real fault lies in the seeming arrogant mentality the players displayed on the pitch.

Yes,”tiki-taka” was in its dying days as was clear by Barcelona’s fall in recent seasons. Vicente Del Bosque wanted the side to stick to his way of playing, which is commendable, but then he also wanted to show he was willing to change. That’s why Diego Costa started two games despite being unfit and unsuitable for the Spanish style.

He then did the expected against Chile and added another more direct threat in the form of Pedro, as well as solidifying, at least the choice indicated things should have been solidified, the defense with Javi Martinez. You can also point to Iker Casillas’ poor end to the season as well as his lack of playing time throughout. I would still have kept the captain in the squad, he’s still my favorite goalkeeper after all, but would have expected a better second showing.

From a mental standpoint it’s as if the Spanish players were expecting teams to run scared and that their possession and passing would to continue to overwhelm. It’s as if they felt, “We’ve won it all before, we can do it again without much sweat.” They came up against two opponents, the Netherlands and Chile, they defeated en route to their 2010 World Cup success.

It was obvious that both those teams, especially the Netherlands, would be looking for some revenge. Spanish players didn’t seem to care until the second half of their match against Chile.

Which makes things even more annoying/frustrating.

Where was that from the start? Maybe Spain wouldn’t be facing all the backlash if they actually played with heart, and played like reigning champions even if they did still fall. The game against Australia doesn’t matter and no one interested in Spanish football should be happy if they dismantle the Socceroos. Neither side would deserve that result.

It’s a sad way for Spain to end this run but even sadder still the vehement delight of the masses at their downfall.

I guess that’s always the case when sports dynasties, or potential sports dynasties, fall. Everybody else now has the chance to win, and it feels good. It’ still seems a bit much.

There’s no denying that this team was the undisputed No.1 side from Euro 2008 until this very day June, 18 2014. Some may have disliked their style from the outset but most would say it was brilliant and beautiful at its best.

They are no longer the best team in the world. The winner of this World Cup will take that title. And as much as I’d like them to, they probably won’t bounce back right away in Euro 2016.

Funnily enough, just as the penultimate nail in the coffin was placed in that Confederations Cup final against Brazil in 2013 in the Maracana, the final nail was knocked in by another South American team at the same venue.

It was a good run Spain, and you don’t deserve all the critics. I hope you don’t fall back into the realm of constant underachievers after this.