2014 World Cup - Can Spain Turn It Around?

For starts, it was probably about the worst imaginable for any side, let alone the reigning World Cup winners - and European champions.

So what now for Spain following their shock 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands, the same team they vanquished to win the world crown 4 years ago? Can they turn it around?

Here's how -

1. Drop Casillas for de Gea - Casillas is clearly out of form after three glaring mistakes in the last two competitive games he's taken part in for club and country - there's no doubt he's one of the best ever to stand in goal but it is difficult to find your best form when you're not even first choice for club. His mistakes clearly put pressure on his usually steady defence. de Gea on the other hand, has been in form this season and is clearly emerging as Spain's next man in goal. It would be a big shift in faith but it wouldn't be misplaced if de Gea can get Spain back on track.

2. Drop Diego Costa - Diego Costa has been in great form for Atletico Madrid this season but he is used to a more direct approach to football rather than the tikka-takka football that has long been the ethos of this Spanish side. Given he has hardly featured in this system, it was a huge gamble to start him particularly considering he was just recovering from injury and while he did win a penalty, the rest of the time, he looked quite out of place. The trouble with Spain is that they don't really have any other options with Torres quite wasteful in front of goal when he came on. Llorente or even Fabregas as a false 9 could be another option to Costa.

3. Drop a central midfielder - The tactic of having two defensive minded midfielders in Xavi and Sergio Busquets worked marvellously in 2010 but appeared to be a luxury the Spanish couldn't afford in the 2nd half as the defence behind them fell apart. Xavi is clearly in the autumn of his fine career and can't really play 90 minutes so often so Busquets may be the man needed to step up. Dropping one of them could allow for another attacking player, i.e. Pedro.