From an ageing goalkeeper to a tired midfieldand striking problems, Spain face a series of problems to solve ahead of the must-win tie against Chile on Wednesday

On his knees: Iker Casillas can only watch as Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben
celebrate Holland's demolition of Spain

The Casillas question

Iker Casillas once remarked that David de Gea, the Manchester United goalkeeper, would “retire us all” once he realised the potential he was displaying as a teenager at Atlético Madrid.

During De Gea’s traumatic start to life at Old Trafford, the prediction of Spain’s iconic No 1 appeared little more than warm words for the latest young pretender embarking on a futile attempt at dislodging him.

But with Spain’s elder statesman trudging off the pitch here following Holland’s brutal dismantling of Spain’s defence, the moment for De Gea to “retire” the Real Madrid goalkeeper may finally have arrived.

Earning his 155th cap against the Dutch, Casillas looked like a goalkeeper who had played less than half of Real’s games last season, having lost his position in La Liga to Diego Lopez.

As Jose Mourinho discovered when dropping Casillas at Real two years ago, the 33-year-old is a hugely influential figure and one who carries much support within the dressing room, so Vicente del Bosque would risk upsetting the mood within the camp by axing him in favour of De Gea.