Xavi and Gerard Piqué dropped by Spain for World Cup clash with Chile

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/18/xavi-gerard-pique-spain-dropped-chile

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Vice-captain Xavi and Gerard Piqué have been dropped for Spain’s crunch Group B clash with Chile at the Maracanã on Wednesday in two changes made by the head coach, Vicente del Bosque.

The Barcelona pair have 194 caps between them but both have paid the price for Spain’s opening 5-1 hammering at the hands of Holland last Friday.

Bayern Munich’s Javi Martínez replaces Piqué at the heart of defence and Pedro, who emerged off the bench against Holland, is preferred to Xavi.

Spain: Casillas; Azpilicueta, Ramos, Javi Martínez, Alba; Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta, Pedro, Silva; Diego Costa