When Spain face Chile in tonight’s must-win encounter in Rio de Janeiro, they will be coming up against a determined opposition who have intriguingly been largely built upon the same foundations as themselves.

Led by Jorge Sampaoli, Chile are continuing the tradition of their former boss Marcelo Bielsa, who significantly enhanced the nation’s global standing during his four years in charge between 2007 and 2011.

Along with Sampaoli, another coach greatly influenced by the guru-like Bielsa is Pep Guardiola, who implemented many of the principles espoused by the man he once called “the greatest manager in the world” when he took over at Barcelona in 2008.

In turn, of course, the same system was effectively transferred to the Spanish international team by Vicente Del Bosque, whose key players (notably Xavi and Andres Iniesta) simply transferred their approach from club to international stage.

Although it might not have been as easily noticeable or pleasing on the eye as their smooth passing football, Barcelona and Spain’s relentless pressing of the opposition was just as important to their success.

A large part of the reason they dominated so much possession was their rabid insistence upon winning the ball back as soon as they lost it, hunting in packs in true Bielsa style with a fierce refusal to allow the opposition easy opportunities to pass.

In the last couple of years, though, the combined effects of ageing, niggling injuries and a touch of complacency have diminished the ability of both Barca and Spain to execute their previously intense pressing game.

That much was highly evident on Friday night, when Spain’s defence was left exposed time and time again by their midfield’s inability to close down their Dutch counterparts quickly enough, allowing the Netherlands to repeatedly threaten the Spanish back line with dangerous through balls into the stride of their fast and marauding strikers.

Until recently, the Netherlands – or any other team – wouldn’t have been able to create so much danger against Spain, because they wouldn’t have been given the luxury of time on the ball to pick their passes.

Now, Spain’s status as the international game’s most ferocious pressers has been handed over to a team which is still committed to applying Bielsa’s lessons: Sampaoli’s Chile.

They will show Spain exactly what they used to be so good at. If Del Bosque’s men can’t up their tempo their World Cup could be over.