Tonight is the night for the champions of the world to show their class, as amazing as it may seem, and if Spain should fail to do so against Chile there will likely be no way back for the current dual holders of the biggest titles in international football. The defeat against Holland may have been symbolic and shambolic, but in defending so badly when the game was gone Spain may also force themselves to attack more intensively and directly to make up their goal difference, and that is good news for us neutrals at least.

David De Gea injured buttock means Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has a straight choice between keeping faith in Iker Casillas or putting Pepe Reina in goal after the Real captain slipped up vs the Netherlands.

At the World Cup four years ago Chile faced Spain in the final round of group matches knowing that a win would almost certainly eliminate Vicente del Bosque’s men.  As things turned out in South Africa in 2010, Spain won 2-1 and both countries qualified for the knockout stages. This time round a win for Chile would all but confirm their presence in the last 16, while almost certainly eliminating the world champions.

Chile opened this tournament in typical barnstorming style, grabbing an early two-goal lead and, despite Tim Cahill’s header, they ended up beating Australia 3-1. That was in stark contrast to Spain’s thrashing by Holland and those results have left Spain’s future in Chile’s hands again.

Arturo Vidal has been a key component in Chile’s rise to something approaching the status of third-best team in South America, behind Brazil and Argentina. The Juventus midfielder, 27, helped his country to the semi-finals of the 2007 Under-20 World Cup, he played in South Africa, where they lost in the last 16 to Brazil, and now the man with 55 caps has grander ambitions in this tournament beyond simply exacting revenge on Spain.

“We have our style and we will keep to it. We keep working in the same way and we’re not going to change that. We hope to play Spain and get all three points. If that eliminates them, so be it,” Vidal said. “We came to Brazil with the hope of becoming world champions and for that to happen you have to get through different stages and past your rivals.”

Despite Chile’s and Spain’s differing fortunes last Friday, Chile’s manager, Jorge Sampaoli, has made sure that his men are not complacent, and Vidal added: “We have played several times against Spain but every game is different. We have watched those matches and we have analysed the mistakes we made.

“They were friendly matches, though. We can only compare with the match played in South Africa but still that was different.” Sampaoli is also likely to tweak his line-up, with Gary Medel in the middle of a defensive three and with a five-man midfield, as Chile prepare for an onslaught.

Vidal did not exactly cover himself in glory against Australia. He helped Juve win Serie A but had a knee operation last month and has been playing catch-up since for fitness. That may have explained his substitution after an hour against Australia, although not his reaction.

By the dugout, the man nicknamed The Warrior kicked out at a water bottle. He swiftly realised the error of his ways. “Nobody likes to be off the pitch,” he said. “I always want to play. But, if I’m not playing, I support my team-mates from the bench. The other day something bad happened and I apologised to my teammates.” There will be no need for apologies should he help guide Chile past Spain.