If any proof was needed of the fact that the World Cup is just about the toughest competition on earth, an opening group game between the 2010 finalists, Spain and the Netherlands, is surely all that is needed. The pair will fancy their chances of coming through Group B, but it is far from certain they will both emerge unscathed.
Certainly Chile will believe they can come through between the two group powerhouses and book a knockout round spot, while Australia have enough determination to make sure they are not whipping boys.
Group B may look straightforward to call on paper, but the truth promises to be more complex. We look at all the teams making up Group B.
AustraliaPitted in one of the hardest groups in the tournament, Australia have a slim chance of making it past the group stages. The Oceania side will want to improve their best record of making it to the round of sixteen in the tournament’s 2006 edition. Under the guidance of the country’s most decorated coach Ange Postecoglou, now is the perfect timing for the Socceroos to make their mark at this global event.
Australia’s road to the World Cup was travelled with relative ease, as they topped Group D in the AFC qualifications’ third round, being comfortably seven points ahead of Oman, nine of Saudi Arabia and eleven in front of Thailand, while they were second in Group B, behind Japan in the AFC’s fourth round qualification process.
Perhaps Australia’s biggest news going into the tournament will be their high wages however, with a squad that will share around two and a half million dollars, irrespective of the Socceroos’ fate at the 2014 World Cup, a problem given that the country is realistically, unlikely to progress deep into the competition. It is up to Postecoglou to make sure his players do not choke early in Brazil and are good value for money.
Key players
Crystal Palace man Mile Jedinak assumed the captaincy ahead of this tournament and will have a hard task on his hands as he hopes to be the pivot between defence and attack for the Australians. Having helped Palace maintain their Premier League status this term with an 11th place finish, his task with the national side will be an even greater one.
Jedinak should be helped by veteran Tim Cahill, who is fast approaching the final curtain of his long and prosperous career. At 34 years of age, he no longer has the same pair of legs he used to have, but Cahill’s presence nonetheless will add valuable experience to this relatively young side. He might not be Postecoglou’s main man given his age, but his aerial presence will be a valuable asset for Australia.
Also sure to add experience is Mark Bresciano, the side’s vice-captain. 34 years old like Cahill, Bresciano has won 73 caps for the Socceroos and will be keen to show that despite playing his football in the Middle East, he is a long way from retirement yet.
Coach profile – Ange Postecoglou
Australia’s most successful domestic manager Ange Postecoglou was nevertheless a surprise choice to take over as Socceroos coach given the feeling the country would opt for another experienced foreign coach. However, the pressure is not on Postecoglou too much on account of a contract which runs until 2018. Even so, he will want to give a good impression and prove that coaching in Australian football – he has spent his entire coaching career in Australia with only a brief spell in Greece at Panachaiki in 2008 – is no impediment.
Expectations and prediction
In a group featuring reigning champions Spain, the Netherlands and Chile, qualification will be extremely hard to obtain. Australia have arguably the weakest side in terms of talent and high-level experience when compared to the rest of the national teams, and will likely bow out of the competition at the group stage, in similar fashion to 2010.
Group fixtures
Australia v Chile (13th June, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba)
Australia v Netherlands (18th June, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre)
Australia v Spain (23rd June, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba)
ChileFor Chile, 1962 is a long time ago. It was during that year that the South American side managed their best ever display in a FIFA World Cup competition, reaching third place in the tournament that they hosted and that crowned Brazil as world champions for a second consecutive time. However, with holders Spain and the Netherlands in this group, as well as outsiders Australia, it will be a very hard task for the side to replicate this achievement.
Unsurprisingly, coach Jorge Sampaoli selected the nation’s best men for this tournament. Players such as Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez will try to guide the side to success, after having finished in fourth place in the CONMEBOL qualification process, just four points behind group winners Argentina. 29 goals have shown their good attacking prowess, but in return they have let 25 strikes bulge their net – the weakest of the first four qualifying South American members.
Chile’s first match against Australia will be their most important, as Spain and the Netherlands go head to head. The side major’s concern will be the fitness of midfield master Vidal, arguably Chile’s best player going into the tournament. Losing him would be a severe blow for the nation.
Key players
Former Bayer Leverkusen man Arturo Vidal just recently went under the knife in a bid to repair a damaged knee. He managed a third consecutive Serie A title with record-breaking Juventus, but even if he does reach the World Cup, he will be short of fitness. One of the most coveted midfielders in recent years, he will want to guide his team to long-awaited glory.
Chile will also count on Alexis Sanchez who for little more than twenty minutes might have been Barcelona’s hero as the winger blasted a wonderful volley to put the Blaugrana ahead in their crucial La Liga title decider against eventual champions Atletico Madrid. Under the tutelage of Gerardo Martino, the ex-Udinese man was undoubtedly Barcelona’s best forward this term. Chileans will be hoping that he will continue his good form at the World Cup.
Like Vidal, Mauricio Isla is another man who swapped Udinese for Juventus. His arrival meant that he would be competing with Stephan Lichtsteiner as the club’s right-back. With the national side however, he is the undisputed starter for the berth, and like Vidal, will want to translate his domestic success to the global front.
Coach profile – Jorge Sampaoli
A student of Marcelo Bielsa’s high-pressing game, former Universidad de Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli greatly values possession football and commanding the pitch. His biggest task will be to implement this strategy to the fullest against opponents of the highest class in Brazil. His displays with Chile have nonetheless been impeccable ever since his appointment as manager of the national side, switching between various formations to use the best abilities of his players.
Expectations and prediction
In a group comprising 2010 finalists Spain and the Netherlands, few would bet on a team managing to overcome these powerhouses. Chile have been impressive under Sampaoli, but remain behind both aforementioned sides. Winning their opening game against Australia is crucial for their hopes of qualification, but they might not get through the group stages if the European national sides are at their best.
Group fixtures
Chile v Australia (13th June, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba)
Chile v Spain (18th June, Estadio do Maracana, Rio De Janeiro)
Chile v Netherlands (23rd June, Arena Corinthians, Sao Paolo)
The NetherlandsEager to erase the setbacks of 2010, the Netherlands go into this tournament with extra-incentive. As the first European national side to secure qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, they are certainly always one of the favourites to claim the prestigious trophy. Under the guidance of decorated coach Louis van Gaal, they certainly have the right man in charge to do so.
The Netherlands were one of Europe’s best sides in the qualification to this summer’s festivities, as the Oranje topped Group D ahead of Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Estonia and Andorra. Having managed to score 34 goals – at an average of more than three goals per game – and concede just five in ten matches, they were among the most complete sides in the world.
The core of Dutch players remains for this tournament, with the likes of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie guiding the fray for the team. Van Gaal’s squad list did not come without controversy, as he opted to overlook Ligue 1 winner Gregory van der Wiel, while the loss of combative midfielder Kevin Strootman to injury will be a hard blow to their ranks.
Van Gaal’s hardest task will be that of having the right mixture of youth and experience. A lot of Dutch players are inexperienced at international level, and that may come back to haunt the soon-to-be Manchester United manager. Should the Netherlands win it, then they would have cast a lot of relatively unknown names into the limelight.
Key players
It has been a mixed season for Dutch winger Arjen Robben, who despite winning the league and cup double with Bayern Munich, failed to make his impression as Die Roten bowed out to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Robben was a lot of times his club’s saviour, most recently in the DFB-Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund, and naturally, even more pressure will be on him as he hopes to make amends with his fans after a memorable miss in South Africa four years ago.
Under former Manchester United manager David Moyes, Robin van Persie suffered a great dip in form compared to his maiden season as a Red Devil. He and the Scotsman did not see eye to eye and the arrival of Van Gaal at Old Trafford will be a personal victory for him. He will need to put this horrific club season behind him as he attempts to win the tournament for the Netherlands.
Elsewhere, 2010 seems such a long time ago for Wesley Sneijder. The man was arguably the best player in the world back then, but fast forward four years and the Ajax youth-graduate is no longer the same player. However, his presence is still a value for each side and with 97 caps for the Netherlands, he is amongst the most experienced men to guide this crop of players in Brazil. Eager to make up for a disappointing Euro 2012, this tournament is a personal battle for Sneijder.
Coach profile
Controversial is the least anyone can say about Louis van Gaal, who is in his second tenure as Dutch boss. The former Barcelona manager is a winner, having grabbed seven league titles with four sides. As he will quit his job to take over Manchester United after the World Cup, Van Gaal carries the hopes and dreams of generations of fans waiting for that special moment of coronation. Having a squad that is a product of young flair and veteran experience, his team is amongst the most anticipated sides in the tournament.
Expectations and prediction
The Netherlands are even a scarier side than they were four years ago, and led by Robben and Van Persie up front, they are a force to be feared in attack. However, their squad remains awfully inexperienced, with a good number of them having less than ten caps. At such a crucial stage, this factor may come back to haunt them and make them pay the price dearly. Expect them to reach the semi-final.
Group fixtures
Netherlands v Spain (13th June, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador)
Netherlands v Australia (18th June, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre)
Netherlands – Chile (23rd June, Arena Corinthians, Sao Paolo)
SpainNext to hosts Brazil, Spain are favourites to retain the trophy they won in July 2010 in Johannesburg. Having won the past three “big” tournaments as they are victors of Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 as well, La Roja will want to keep writing history under the guidance of decorated coach Vicente del Bosque. With the UEFA Champions League and Europa League both having Spanish winners, the country will want to make it three trophies as they hope to win a second World Cup accolade.
Spain endured an easy qualifying campaign, topping Group I ahead of France, Finland, Georgia and Belarus. Having conceded just three goals in the whole qualifying round, their defensive ability has greatly improved, especially considering that their back-four have long been their weakest link. The current side has many of the names that lifted Euro 2012, but Victor Valdes will miss the finals as a result of injury, while the nationalisation of Diego Costa as a Spaniard will come back to the limelight as the Brazilian-born striker had a wonderful season with new league champions Atletico Madrid.
Despite the recent success of both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Del Bosque will likely remain truthful to his tiki-taka style of play, with a good number of Barcelona players called-up despite a disappointing season for the Blaugrana. As European football displayed a more pragmatic approach this term, it will be interesting to see just how much the former Real Madrid coach will stick to his style.
Key players
For Diego Costa, this will be a special occasion, as the striker is playing his first major international tournament, but with a different country than that of his birth. In Costa, Del Bosque might have just found the man to spearhead his attack, but whether or not he will be suitable for the side’s possession-minded football remains to be seen.
Meanwhile in goal, Iker Casillas, the most capped Spain player, remains his coach’s preferred choice, despite being a deputy behind Diego Lopez in the domestic league. His failure to feature regularly for Los Blancos since 2013 raised questions over his long-term future at the club, but truth be told, the Mostoles-born custodian performed admirably under Carlo Ancelotti this season. A good showing will be crucial for him to regain his starting berth at his club.
In midfield, with Xavi and Cesc Fabregas all suffering dips in form, it was Andres Iniesta who managed to maintain an almost steady display all season long. However, the Albacete man looked lost without his usual supporting cast at Barcelona and will be looking to make up for a woeful league campaign by guiding Spain to glory at the World Cup. After all, it was his strike past Maarten Stekelenburg that granted Spain the trophy in the tournament’s last edition.
Coach profile
Known as the man who guided Real Madrid to two league titles and two Champions League accolades in four years, moustached coach Vicente del Bosque is making his name with the Spanish national team as he is yet to fail with the side in the big competitions. His biggest challenge will be to adapt Costa to his game, and even make sure that tiki-taka is not a dying breed after what the football world has seen this year. Should his players not be exhausted from a very stressful and long season, then his chances of glory are very much alive.
Expectations and prediction
This has been a very successful year for the Spanish clubs, and there is no doubt that the current crop of players are more than able to guide the team to glory again. There are some doubts over why the coach has picked a good number of Barcelona players, ignoring in the process the likes of Isco, Gabi or Adrian Lopez. With most players exhausted after an ardent season, lifting the trophy this time might be their toughest task ever since they got back to winning ways in 2008. Expect them to reach the semi-final.
Group fixtures
Spain v Netherlands (13th June, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador)
Spain v Chile (18th June, Estadio do Maracana, Rio De Janeiro)
Spain v Australia (23rd June, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba)
