A great deal of time and water has passed under the bridge since qualification spots were finally confirmed leaving a total of thirty two teams to fight it out in Brazil. Over eight hundred matches were played to get to this point across six FIFA designated confederations and over two hundred teams.
This article is not about the road to Brazil and qualification but it needs to be covered to some small degree to set the scene for what would become Group B for this World Cup consisting of Spain, Netherlands, Chile and Australia.
Spain
Firstly we look at Spain who are ranked number one for this World Cup.
The World Cup winners from 2010 managed to top their UEFA qualifying group with twenty points from eight games by winning six and drawing two. Other teams in this group were France with seventeen points, Finland nine points, Georgia five points and Belarus on four points.
The two very obvious contenders trying to win the group and qualify for the knock out stages whilst sticking a dent in to Spain’s chances are Chile and the Netherlands with Australia as a massive outsider.
Spain actually went on to win the 2010 World Cup after being beaten 1-0 by Switzerland in their opening game. The Spanish squad has a great deal of familiar faces and ones that are now house hold names across the world due to recent successes at club level in European competition and also of course the national side in the European Championships and previous World Cup.
They offer a formidable squad that is full of quality and experience that can thrive in the pressure cooker of a World Cup. A team that are on a roll with previous successes at a number of levels, confidence and a degree of swagger due to going into the competition as defending champions.
Obviously, Spain are favourites for a good reason and will be tough to beat. They are excellent in possession and press when they do not have the ball to win it back.
The Spaniards usually play a 4-3-3 formation with over lapping support from their full backs. The midfield is literally cluttered to the hilt with a number of massive names. Pedro has boosted the attack but the team’s weakness is at the centre back position.
Key players: Just about everyone but special attention for the midfield duo and engine room of Xavi and Iniesta with the excellent Xabi Alonso. Also Sergio Ramos appears to be hitting a rich vein of form.
Netherlands
Next up with have the Netherlands who absolutely romped UEFA qulifying group D with twenty eight points and a goal difference of just under plus thirty in ten games.
The group consisted of Romania nineteen points, Hungary seventeen points, Turkey sixteen points, Estonia seven points and finally the mighty Andorra on nil points.
This is a Dutch side that qualified for Brazil in impeccable style spearheaded by eleven goal striker Robin Van Persie and attacking potential and pace in key areas. Head coach Louis Van Gaal revamped the ‘Oranje’ squad and are expected to be very good and go into the encounters with a lot of confidence and momentum.
The qualification for the World Cup was impressive for goals scored and points gained but form cannot be fully accepted due to quality of the opposition.
The Netherlands are on their day an excellent team at this level with a colourful fan base but they are also tough to fully predict how they will get on in this competition.
Key players: Arjen Robben for his pace and attacking threat and Robin Van Persie for his national goal record of late. Rafael Van Der Vaart is also expected to be key and is always capable of scoring important goals.
Chile
Chile finished third in the South American qualifiers which is based more on a round robin schedule.
Argentina topped the group with thirty two points from sixteen games, then Colombia with thirty points, Chile themselves on twenty eight points (nine wins, a draw and six losses), Ecuador on twenty five points and Uruguay stealing fifth spot. Brazil automatically qualified as hosts.
Despite this position in the table and a number of losses, Chile have some excellent players that have learned and evolved their skills at big European clubs which may be useful with two other teams in Group B coming from Europe itself.
Chile are expected to be very attacking in their approach and the game against Spain is potentially the game of the round with obvious Spanish/Latino connections and language. It is bound to be a passionate encounter and I believe that this will potentially be full of goals (expect no goals as I have put a curse on it now).
My curse aside, this game could end up shaping the group and the fortunes of both sides. Chile are a very good passing side and are generally good to watch.
With all of this in mind, Chile are definitely the dark horse of the group and are capable of upsetting the bigger and more notable European teams. Chile have a relatively new coach in the shape of Jorge Sampaoli in charge since the late 2012.
Key players: Arturo Vidal from Juventus and Alexis Sanchez of Barcelona who is incredibly fast and has a keen eye for goal. A further mention must go to Claudio Bravo although Chile need to be able to play their best eleven for the tournament in order to progress.
Australia
Finally we come to Australia who are attending their third straight World Cup finals.
The ‘Socceroos’ (which is a silly name) had an interesting qualifying campaign and as such are hard to gage in many respects. They appear to have joined the qualifiers in the group stages after a number of earlier rounds in which they were not involved. Australia topped their group with fifteen points (five wins and a loss) followed by Oman on eight points, Saudi Arabia on six points and Thailand on four points.
Australia then qualified in a further group behind Japan and avoided the play off game. Japan topped this group on seventeen points with Australia on thirteen points in a very bumpy qualifying stage for the ‘Socceroos’ following just three wins, four draws and a loss over eight games played.
The Australian squad are under a bit of a transition currently with new head coach Ange Postecoglou coming in. They do have a few good players but do have a captain of immense stature in the shape of Mile Jedinak. He is well used to playing for a team termed as the underdogs which is apt as Australia enter the World Cup as the lowest ranked team in the finals.
Key players: Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill for their experience generally and Premier League track record. Mile Jedinak as the robust, hard hitting, organised and no nonsense holding midfielder capable of playing at the back if called upon.
Group B Prediction
In summary, Group B will kick off with a replica of the final in 2010 with Spain pitched against the Netherlands which ended in a tight fought victory for Spain after extra time.
Spain and Australia have never met before at this level and Chile and the Netherlands are also in the same boat. This group is pretty exciting with three teams chasing two spots and Australia as outsiders.
The expectation must be on Spain to top the group and that in itself may be their biggest enemy. However, this is not anticipated as Spain are well seasoned and proven at this level and they must surely take first spot.
The key battle will be for second place with either of the Netherlands and Chile capable of clinching a place in the next round. As mentioned, the expectation is that the Chile v Spain game will ultimately shape the group and if Chile are able to overcome Spain in this game then I believe that they may just steal a place in the next round from the Netherlands.
Australia will battle hard and show real determination but quality and experience in the other teams will be too immense and ultimately I believe that they will be waved off at the airport as the group concludes.
