THE STORY
In June 2014, Spain, the defending World Cup champions, were eliminated from the tournament after consecutive defeats in the group stage. They lost 5-1 to the Netherlands and 2-0 to Chile, finishing third in Group B with three points. This marked the end of their four-year reign as world and European champions. (cbsnews.com)
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Spain
WHY IT MATTERS
Spain's unexpected early exit from the 2014 World Cup ended their dominance in international football, highlighting the challenges of defending a title and the unpredictability of the tournament.