Robben

2014 FIFA World Cup: Group B

Standard

Group B is the group of old rivals and new foes. Group B is a division between the excellent and the good. Spain and Netherlands will continue their rivalry from the previous World Cup, were they were both finalists. Expect, the Netherlands to seek revenge against Spain. Chile and Australia are wildcard contenders for an upset over the two football giants. Expect a closely fought group, with Spain and Netherlands coming through in the end.

Spain

The red fury looking for double success in 2014

World Champions. European Champions. La Liga. Superstar Players. Unbeaten during qualifying.

All the ingredients combined forms one of the strongest candidates for another World Cup win in 2014. Can Spain be the first team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win consecutive World Cups, in Brazil nonetheless? It would be quite ironic.

They have all the quality players at their disposal, but they seem to struggle when they need to chase the game and when their possession orientated game is disrupted. Prove of this can be seen last year, when South Africa completed a shock 1-0 victory over Spain at the FNB stadium.

If a team ranked 64th in the World can beat the 1st ranked team that gives anyone a fair chance, especially at such a high profile tournament filled with pressure.

Spain, though are not the number one team in the World for nothing and they know how to deal with pressure situations. They have the best midfield at this World Cup with at least 8 quality midfielders who would make the starting lineup in any team. Xabi Alonso Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, David Silva, Santi Cazorla, Juan Mata and Thiago Alcantara.

The team is loaded with Barcelona and Real Madrid’s biggest stars as well as a few of the English Premier League’s best players in Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas. One aspect where Spain will be lacking is in their central defence and that will leave Coach Vicente del Bosque losing a few more hairs on his already shiny head.

Sergio Ramos is their defensive kingpin, but they need supporting players as well. Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa still need to prove themselves at international level. Then there are also concerns whether Carles Puyol will receive a call up to the World Cup, as at age 35 it might be a step too far.

The La Furia Roja also has problems in the striking department as they can’t seem to find a consistent front man. David Villa is there to bang in the goals, but has had trouble since recovering from long term injuries. Fernando Llorente is hitting the net regularly for Italian club Juventus and would be a likely starter alongside Villa or Alvaro Negredo. Expect the lively winger Pedro to also shine at the 2014 World Cup when given the chance.

The previous four World Cups staged in South America were all won by South American teams. Can Spain break the duck or will they be quacking out sounds of misery when packing their bags after a likely semi-final exit? Time will tell.

Key Players:

Andres Iniesta (Midfielder)

Age: 29

Matches Played (goals scored): 94 (11)

Club:  FC Barcelona

 

Sergio Ramos (Defender)

 

Age: 27

Matches Played (goals scored): 115 (9)

Club:  Real Madrid FC

 

 

Cesc Fabregas (Midfielder)

 

Age: 26

Matches Played (goals scored): 86 (13)

Club: FC Barcelona 

 

 

Netherlands

The orange army is ready to gain new territory

The Oranje will have one thing on their mind at the 2014 World Cup. Redemption in the form of beating Spain and winning the World Cup. There is no more deserving and bigger football nation that has not tasted World Cup success.

2010 was their best run, but everything fell apart in the final where a mixture of ill-discipline and bad luck cost them their first title. Their orange clad army will only be expecting the best this time around, and luckily for them the Dutch seem to have all the tools needed for success.

Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart and Robin van Persie are the main attacking threat and their star players. The Dutch have an exciting mix of youth and experience at the tournament, with footballers such as Stjin Schaars and Gregory van der Wiel ready to make an impact on the international stage. One thing the Dutch may be lacking is resources in each position in the field are on the bench – something that Spain has aplenty. The Dutch would be hard pressed to find someone to replace Van Persie and Robben should they get injured – something that was not the case in previous World Cups.

This is not the dream team of the 1970’s and 80’s, nor are they the crop of Golden players of 2000 that featured Clarence Seedorf and Patrck Kluivert as well as scoring machine Dennis Bergkamp. The star power is lacking, and surprisingly the ever present egos as well.

Coach Louis van Gaal, who has won numerous titles all over the world, including European giants Barcelona and Bayern Munich, has crafted a great team ethic that might take the Dutch all the way to the final once again.  Realistically a semi-final exit is one the cards.

Arjen Robben

Age: 30

Matches Played (goals scored): 73 (22)

Club:  Bayern Munich

Robin van Persie

Age: 30

Matches Played (goals scored): 79 (41)

Club:  Manchester United

Rafael van der Vaart

Age: 31

Matches Played (goals scored): 109 (25)

Club: Hamburg SV

Chile

Surprise underdogs could cause a shock or two

The question on football’s lips whether Chile can continue their rise as South America’s new contenders after a positive display at the 2010 FIFA World Cup as well as showing flair and accuracy in qualifying.

They are an entertaining team with match winners and goal-scorers aplenty in their ranks. The team is even stronger than the Chilean team that boasted superstars, Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Chilean players are now featuring in all the top European clubs and leagues, and that has boosted the national team tremendously.

Matias Fernandez, Arturo Vidal, and Gary Medel are among the players who featured for top clubs, and are making waves in international football. Expect Vidal, known by Italian fans at Juventus as “The Warrior” to make a big impression in the midfield with his fast footwork, vision and set-piece abilities.

Chile has the team ethic and star players to cause the Netherlands or Spain a scare. Chile will easily beat Australia in the group and will most definitely take third spot, or even second if they produce some dazzling football on their home continent.

Alexis Sanchez

Age: 25

Matches Played (goals scored): 64 (22)

Club:  FC Barcelona

 

Arturo Vidal

Age: 26

Matches Played (goals scored): 52 (8)

Club:  Juventus

 

Claudio Bravo

 

Age: 30

Matches Played (goals scored): 78 (0)

Club:  Real Sociedad

 

Australia

A learning curve for the green and gold from Down Under

“Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi” This famous chant might turn into “Aussie Aussie Aussie, No No No” at the 2014 World Cup after they were drawn in a really tough group. Australia has little chance to unearth a miracle as they travel to altitude from Down Under. They have a young, inexperienced squad with no real stars. They don’t have the luxury that they had at previous World Cups.

Australia is the lowest ranked team (53) to qualify and they will need a magnificent performance to make any progress in the competition. New coach Ange Postecoglou, has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders to use the tournament as a learning curve for Australia’s next crop of young Socceroos. A new Harry Kewell or Mark Viduka might emerge in Brazil.

Mile Jedinak, Australia’s player of the year has the capabilities to do so, as he produces solid work in the midfield as a link between defence and attack. The ever reliable Tim Cahill has proven to be their saviour on multiple occasions and has received extensive game time with New York Red Bulls in the United States.

The Australian team will be lacking the ever dependable goalkeeping of now retired Mark Schwarzer and midfield lynchpin Brett Emerton who have both retired.

Expect the Australians to occupy the wooden spoon this time around.

 Tim Cahill (Attacking Midfielder)

Age: 34

Matches Played (goals scored): 66 (29)

Club:  New York Red Bulls

 

Joshua Kennedy (Striker)

Age: 31

Matches Played (goals scored): 33 (17)

Club: Nagoya Grampus

 

Mile Jedinak (Midfielder)

Age: 29

Matches Played (goals scored): 42 (3)

Club:  Crystal Palace