RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- With its superstars aging and its loyal coach slow to blend in young talent, Spains glorious reign as the superpower of world football was bound to end. The Spanish werent favoured to repeat as World Cup champions. But few expected the utter collapse that ended Wednesday with a 2-0 loss Chile, knocking Spain from contention and ending the run of the greatest team of the century. Chiles pace and skill produced a dominating win similar to so many Spanish victories over the past six years. Spain was outplayed, out-run and out-fought. The 5-1 beating by the Netherlands Friday was shocking and foretold where coach Vicente del Bosques team was heading: Home. "If you think about everything accomplished, and you told me we would be eliminated in group stage, I wouldnt believe you," del Bosque said. "We have no excuses. Its a sad day for all of the players." Six of Spains squad has played at least 100 national team games while winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012. "Success is not eternal," said Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli, whose hyperactive energy around the dugout was shared by his team. "This generation could not continue with that success and you can understand it." "Its very special the fact we were able to play today against the World Cup champions the way we did," Sampaoli said, and "eliminate them with courage, intensity and attack." Del Bosque acknowledged that his players were "too slow, timid from the start." Chile twice came close to scoring in the first 90 seconds, and led in the 20th minute when Eduardo Vargas finished a slick move of incisive passing that was truly Spanish in its execution. The second followed in the 43th when Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas punched a free kick to the feet of Charles Aranguiz, who fired a rising shot right back past the veteran captain, who took much of the blame for the loss to the Netherlands. "I only ask fans for forgiveness, we did everything we could," said Casillas. The 33-year-old came to the World Cup after a second straight season as second-choice goalkeeper at Real Madrid and a glaring error in its Champions League final win last month. Spain came to Brazil with a very similar -- but older -- team to the 2010 squad. They added Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa, but he failed to score and was substituted in both matches. Spains "tiki-taka" style of play -- keeping the ball for long stretches with short passes, and only shooting when you had a clear opening -- had not been working as well in recent years. Brazil defeated Spain 3-0 in last summers Confederations Cup final, a warm-up for the World Cup. Spain became the third straight European defending World Cup champion to flop in the group stage. France in 2002 and Italy four years ago also failed to advance, or even win a match. Spain can at least end that streak in a consolation game Monday against Australia. Chile and the Netherlands will play to decide the Group B winner. Both will advance to the final 16 knockout round, but the winner will be seeded higher. Xabi Alonso, another Spanish veteran, will likely not start against Australia. He was replaced with 22-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke after an agonizing first half. Alonso gave away the ball to Alexis Sanchez to start the move down Chiles right wing by Arturo Vidal and Aranguiz, leading to Vargas score. Trailing behind the play, Alonso put his hands to his head. He was booked before conceding another foul, forcing a free-kick that led to the second goal. And his usual accurate passing was off. Other Spanish players were also guilty of wayward passing and woeful finishing. Early in the second half, potential momentum shifts were lost when Diego Costa was slow on Andres Iniestas threaded pass and Sergio Busquets volleyed wide in front of goal. "We didnt do anything different to what we did in South Africa or the two Euros," said forward Fernando Torres, ineffective as a second-half substitute. "We came with the same mentality, approaching the games the same way." Perhaps the Euro 2012 final was the high point of the era: A 4-0 dismantling of Italy on a similarly balmy evening in Kyiv, Ukraine. Then, the team was joined in locker-room celebrations by Crown Prince Felipe. He could not be in Rio de Janeiro. One hour after the match ended in the Maracana, at midnight in Madrid, he formally became king upon the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos. On Thursday, Spain will wake up to a new king, but no longer rulers of world football. Hockey Jerseys China . He was still a kid, going into his senior year of high school. Thursday, the point guard stood in front of a couple dozen members of the media and spoke with poise about how much hed grown since then, and how hes ready for the next level. Cheap Hockey Jerseys . Roma has a game in hand but now second place is even at risk for the capital side as Napoli moved to within three points with the win. "The result is not always fair," Roma coach Rudi Garcia said. "If we play like this until the end we will win many matches. https://www.fakehockeyjerseys.com/ . Thats what he did over the past 2 1/2 years with the Washington Wizards. Wittmans approach helped turn the Wizards from pushover to playoff winners. Authentic Hockey Jerseys . -- Felix Girard scored on the power play in the third period to lift the Baie-Comeau Drakkar past the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Friday. Hockey Jerseys Black Friday . -- The Oakland Raiders added a veteran presence to their young receiving group by signing free agent James Jones to a three-year contract Monday.ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – The Blue Jays remain hopeful that Jose Reyess and Casey Janssens stints on the disabled list will be brief and with that, roster decisions are looming in the next 10 to 14 days. “Ideally, we wouldnt carry three,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos of the clubs current catching situation. “Its really game-to-game right now.” Dioner Navarro is locked in as the starting catcher and Josh Thole broke camp as the back-up specifically because of his history and comfort level with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Erik Kratz, a late-camp cut, ended up beginning the season with the Blue Jays as Janssens roster replacement. If all else was equal, it would have been Kratz in Tholes spot. The prevailing opinion during spring training was that Kratz would be the backup because, while not a batting average or on-base percentage hitter, Kratz offers a power threat that Thole doesnt. Kratz hit 18 home runs in 375 at-bats playing behind Carlos Ruiz in Philadelphia over the last two seasons. In a pinch-hit at-bat on opening day, his first at-bat as a Blue Jay, Kratz launched a two-run home run over the centre field fence. Thole hit .175/.256/.242 for a .497 OPS last season. A left-handed bat, his insertion into the line-up on days when Dickey lines up against the divisions top left-handers like David Price, CC Sabathia and Jon Lester, creates a significant hole at the bottom of the order. The back-up catcher likely will have to play more this season – Navarro hasnt appeared in more than 89 games since 2009. One wonders if theres wisdom in tying another roster spot to Dickey, one pitcher who throws a specific pitch. “The thing is Josh has had some offfensive success,” said Anthopoulos.dddddddddddd “I know he didnt have it last year and the second half of the year with the Mets in 2012 but in the past, if you look at it, hes been a .700 OPS guy, he can draw some walks, low strikeout rate, he can put the ball in play and grind out some at-bats.” Anthopoulos cautions against jumping to conclusions, reminding that rosters can be changed in a heartbeat. The Blue Jays could play an 18-inning game, necessitating the recall of a reliever in support of a tired bullpen; somebody else could get hurt. There are a number of variables, a number of possibilities. “Obviously, Josh was the guy who made the team out of spring,” said Anthopoulos. “That hasnt changed at all and well see as the year goes along.” HAPPS ROLE J.A. Happ threw a light side session on Wednesday as he works his way back from a back problem. Hes eligible to come off the disabled list on April 13 and, at the moment, there isnt a spot for Happ in the starting rotation. Anthopoulos hasnt yet approached Happ about being a reliever. “Well deal with all that,” said Anthopoulos. “Hopefully, like anything, we have five starters that are rolling and theyre winning all their games and we have too many starters. Thatd be a great problem to have. Id sign up for that right now. You deal with those things as they come. Everyday something else can happen, in the next 10 days, two weeks. You cant plan that far ahead.” ANTHOPOULOS ISNT SHOPPING FOR INFIELDER A self-explanatory headline. Anthopoulos isnt looking to swing a deal for a middle infielder to support the club while Reyes is out. “We expect Jose to be back somewhat soon,” said Anthopoulos. ' ' '