"El arquitecto" or the architect. That's what Xavi Hernandez has been for Spain over the past many years. He was confined to the bench against Chile in a game that saw the defending champions bow out of the tournament in the first round.


Xavi with Spain's coach Vicente Del Bosque. Pic/AFP  

Xavi's absence from the starting XI also signalled the end of an era, as the maestro had never been left out of a side managed by Vicente Del Bosque. Like Del Bosque in his capacity as coach, Xavi has won every major trophy in his illustrious career as a player — for both Spain and Barcelona.