Ok, so football didn’t come home.

It was a worth a try though. At some point, the FAW had to toy with the idea. The romantic notion that the long yearned for zest around the Welsh international game, sparked by a surreal summer in France two years ago, would have fans flooding back to the Principality in their droves.

After all, the 74, 500 seater stadium is where the money lies. And those of us old (and lucky) enough to have attended that glorious night in 2002, when a star-studded Italy succumbed to the illogical, can still recall the noise ringing in our ears.

Fans supplying profit and passion. For any football organisation, it’s the perfect combination.

Perhaps the extra money made from the 50,000 tickets sold partly vindicated the experiment. But in truth, supporters disappeared into the night, many long before Sam Vokes had headed in a late consolation goal, with one thing abundantly clear.

The former home of Welsh football must remain exactly that. Former.

There were of course, mitigating factors behind the apathy. For all their World class quality, Spain’s pulling power on paper is perhaps not what it was. A poor World Cup, and the retirements of so many of the golden generation that dominated World and European football has seen to that.

Throw in the Thursday night fixture, the absence of Bale, experimental line ups, and the fact results of international friendlies have long been considered futile, and you were never going to get a night for the archives.

Instead you had horns, murmurings, and vague attempts from the 'Red Wall' to drum up some fervour. In the second half fans joined forces in alighting torches on their mobile phones, others simply headed for the exits early. It all added up to a strange, dreary occasion. The type that gets passed off as ‘a good chance for kids to watch Wales’.

After all, when a crowd can’t be bothered to keep booing Sergio Ramos, it’s a telling sign of disinterest.

The Welsh display didn’t help matters. For all the euphoria following the demolition of Ireland in September, the evolution of Giggs as a manager, and his young squad, is very much work in progress. And this was a sobering reminder.

But after starting with a five man defence, compromising of four full backs and an increasingly waning Ashley Williams, it’s fair to say the Principality Stadium is not the only experiment that shouldn't be repeated.

The Spaniards revelled in second gear. With 70.5% of the possession, their slick passing was pleasing on the eye. The failure of the home side to press or pressurise them on the ball, less so.

Woeful defending saw Paco Alcacer strike twice in the first half, with a Ramos header sandwiched in-between. A header which would not have been out of place had Suso been chipping up free kicks for him to nod between a pair of jumpers in Roath Park.

Almost cruelly, the FAW rolled out Bale at half time to receive a special accolade for becoming his country’s record goal scorer. He may as well have been sporting a ‘here’s what you’re missing’ t-shirt.

The second half was tamer still as Spain slowed. Suso hit the woodwork before Marc Bartra gleefully accepted gift number four.

One Welsh positive emerged in David Brooks, and his superb cross led to Vokes glancing a header home at the death.

By which point, queues for the park and ride had long been forming.

But as chastening a night as this was, perspective should remain. The sort of perspective inevitably lost on the many ‘Call Rob’ participants and Twitter warriors who were immediately wielding the axes.

Giggs never turned up for Wales, lacks passion, couldn’t get a Premiership job. Analogies to be reaffirmed with every below par performance.

Scheduling a game of this nature five days before a competitive Nations League game in Ireland was always going to present a conundrum. No, Wales didn’t get the balance between performing and preserving right, but if nothing else, youngsters will be better for the experience.

Giggs and co can’t dwell on the occasion, but they must learn from it. And there will be more lessons to come before a squad undoubtedly brimming with potential has to fulfil it in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.

But from now on, such lessons must take place at the Cardiff City Stadium. The enclosed environment, the cauldron of noise, the enhanced atmosphere - all are factors that have undeniably added to the recent Welsh football renaissance. It wouldn’t have been enough to have had Luis Enrique trembling at the knees, but it would have inspired home players far more than an isolated ‘No Team GB’ banner behind the goal in the lower tier.

The Principality has its place in both Welsh and World sport. For all the discontent at over officious security checks, extortionate food prices, and rising ticket costs, it remains a wonderful venue. But like many ill-fated relationships, the FAW will surely recognise the stadium and Welsh football just want different things. Memories of that Euro 2004 qualification campaign remain, but it’s time to say goodbye.

Or as many Red Wall members bluntly put it, just leave it for the egg chasers.