Reality bites hard for La Roja

Spain’s previously all-conquering players have not reacted well to their shock early exit from this summer’s World Cup.

After the 5-1 humbling by Holland and 2-0 defeat to Chile ended any hopes of progression to the last 16, further embarrassment was avoided by Monday’s 3-0 win over also already eliminated Australia.

But even that result could not take away the pain, playmaker Andres Iniesta admitted on Monday night in the mixed zone of Curitiba’s Arena de Baixada.