Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has admitted that his team were deservedly beaten by South Africa following the 1-0 defeat in Johannesburg.
The reigning world champions suffered their first ever defeat to Bafana Bafana, as Bernard Parker's 56th-minute strike ensured that La Roja would not enjoy a happy return to Soccer City - the venue where Del Bosque's men clinched the World Cup over the Netherlands in 2010.
He told reporters: "Maybe we deserved defeat. We came out with good intentions and we fought right until the end.
"I can't have any complaints about our efforts, but they worked a bit harder and were a bit better than us tonight."
Spain will now prepare for defending their crown in Brazil next summer, having played the last of their remaining international fixtures for this year.