Xavi and Pique dropped by Spain


Spain coach Vicente del Bosque axed Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez from his starting XI for the World Cup Group B game against Chile in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.

The Barcelona pair, centre-back Pique and long-serving midfielder Xavi, paid the price after defending champions Spain were humiliated 5-1 by the Netherlands in their opening game on Friday.

Javi Martinez of Bayern Munich took over from Pique alongside Sergio Ramos in central defence at the Maracana, while Xavi was replaced by his Barcelona colleague Pedro Rodriguez.

Del Bosque kept faith with captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas despite the veteran Real Madrid shot-stopper producing an error-strewn performance against the Dutch, for which he later issued an apology.