Cesc Fabregas: Chile clash a matter of life and death

Cesc Fabregas hopes Spain will play to their potential aginst Chile

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas has termed the reigning World champions next match against Chile as a ‘matter of life or death’ for their chances of defending the title.

Vicente del Bosque's men now almost certainly need to win their remaining two matches against Chile and Australia to avoid the humiliation of joining France and Italy as World Cup holders that crashed out at the group stage.

Fabregas said "In football, every three or four days there is a game and the chance to put things right,"

"This team has character and courage. It is one of the most difficult moments in the past few years, but I believe a lot in this team."

The new Chelsea signing could well start the match against Chile if coach Del Bosque decided to ring in some changes after the 5-1 hammering from Netherlands.

Fabregas further added "We know what we are playing for. It is not a unique thing in football, there are times when given the necessity to score goals or the way the opponent plays you are obliged to attack and be brave,"

"We will give everything to win because that is the only option we have. From what I have seen, Chile will press high, they want to score goals and it will be a tightly contested game.

"We need to take advantage of the weaknesses they have too. It is a game of life or death for us, we have to win and that is what we will try to do."