Group B
Spain
World Cup holders Spain again enter a major tournament in
rude health and are amongst the favourites to retain their crown.
La Roja qualified from their group in first place ahead of
France, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Didier Deschamps’ side at the
Vicente Calderon.
Last summer Spain lost 3-0 to Brazil in the Confederations
Cup final and questions were being asked about whether their era of dominance
were coming to an end. Those doubts have not entirely gone away, but the
evidence is compelling enough to say that this is a group of players who are
still performing at the highest level.
Xavi and Sergio Busquets embody Spain’s ability to keep the
ball better than any side in the world and this will be crucial in Brazil where
maintaining possession and not having to chase the ball will be crucial to any
side’s ambitions of winning the tournament.
It is Spain’s monopoly of possession that has made them so
resolute defensively at major tournaments. If the opposition does not have the
ball, they can’t score a goal. Spain have let in just six goals in the last
three major tournaments and have not conceded a single one in any of the
knock-out stages as they have gone on to sweep all before them (2008 Euro, 2010
World Cup and 2012 Euro).
Critics claim that Spain’s endless caressing of the ball is
monotonous, and their insistence on keeping the ball before working the perfect
angle is boring. But it is a system that has worked to perfection for Vicente del
Bosque, and Luis Aragones before him.
It is in attack where Spain intrigue the most. In Diego
Costa they possess one of the hottest strikers who have been at the top of
their game this season and represent an alternative to the traditional Spain
striker. The influence of David Villa and Fernando Torres has waned over the
last two seasons but in the form of Costa along with Alvaro Negredo, coach
Vicente del Bosque possesses options he did not previously have.
How they
qualified
Spain won the only qualification pool (aside from the South
American group) to contain two world champions. In what was the smallest
section in Europe with only five teams, the Spanish led the way ahead of France
thanks to a record of six wins and two draws, conceded to the French and
Finland. In topping the group they let in a mere three goals, fewer than any
other side in the European preliminaries. At the other end of the pitch,
however, Spain enjoyed one of their less prolific campaigns, scoring only 14
times.
World Cup history
Prior to lifting the coveted trophy in South Africa, so
frequent were their exits at the last eight of the finals that Spain were said
to be suffering from a ‘quarter-final jinx’. Brazil 2014 will be Spain’s tenth
consecutive world finals appearance, and 14th in all, with their best performance
before 2010’s success coming at Brazil 1950. Having topped their first-round
section, Spain went straight into the decisive four-team final group stage –
where they finished fourth behind Uruguay, Brazil and Sweden.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina
(Napoli), David de Gea (Manchester United)
Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Sergio Ramos (Real
Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Raul Albiol
(Napoli), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Juanfran Torres (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Sergio Busquets
(Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Cesc Fabregas
(Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke
(Atletico Madrid), Juan Mata (Manchester United)
Forwards: Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Fernando Torres
(Chelsea), David Villa (Atletico Madrid), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
The key players
Though there is no doubt that Spain’s embarrassment of
midfield riches, featuring the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso,
has been integral to their major trophy triumphs, La Roja are strong across the
board.
The men in red have a phalanx of very reliable keepers to
call on, headed by Iker Casillas, while Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique have
consolidated their positions as the leaders of a defence in which left-back
Jordi Alba has gone from strength to strength. Ramos and Alba are also a threat
in the opposing box, and in recent times have made goalscoring contributions
that have been almost as decisive as those of the front men.
However, all eyes will be on Atletico Madrid striker Diego
Costa. The Brazilian born striker has enjoyed an outstanding season in La Liga
and represents an alternative to the classic Spain striker with his aggressive
style and ability to hold the ball up. Spain may end up playing with a “false
nine” once again, but if they do opt for an out-and-out striker, Costa is
unlikely to let them down.
The Coach: Vicente del
Bosque
Predecessor Luis Aragones sadly died earlier this year and
it was he who ushered in this glorious period in Spanish soccer. Del Bosque has
taken up the mantle and it was the former Real Madrid man who guided La Roja to
the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship. Can he make it four
straight major tournaments for Spain in Brazil?
Prediction: Fourth
Brazil are many people’s favourites to win the tournament on
home turf and that 3-0 victory over Spain in the Confederations Cup will give
them confidence. As they did in 2010, they have again drawn Chile in what is a
difficult group. Holland may not be quite the force they were when Spain beat
them in the 2010 final, but Louis van Gaal’s side represent formidable
opposition in the first game of a World Cup. Australia complete the group and
there seems little doubt that Spain will progress. In the second round, it is
possible they will meet Mexico or Croatia, before encounters with Italy and
Argentina. Del Bosque’s side have what it takes to edge past each of these
three, even if it is by just the odd goal, as has become their speciality at
the knock-out stages in recent years. That could set up a semi-final against Argentina
who are tipped to prosper in Brazil. If they lose to Argentina and Germany go
all the way to the semi-final to face Brazil the we predict Germany to beat
Spain for third spot.
Quick facts
FIFA Ranking: 1st
Best World Cup Result:
Winners (2010)
Best European
Championship Result: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012)
Record Scorer: David
Villa (56 goals from 2005)
Most Capped Player:
Iker Casillas (152 caps from 2000)
Captain: Iker Casillas
Group matches
Friday 13th June v Holland (Salvador)
Wednesday 18th June v Chile (Rio de Janeiro)
Monday 23rd June v Australia (Curitiba)
Netherlands
Despite comfortable qualification for the 2014 World Cup,
there is little optimism among Netherlands supporters that the Oranjes can make
a significant impact in Brazil.
For starters they have landed in what many consider the
‘group of death’ alongside World Cup holders Spain, Chile and Australia. If
they can squeak through in second place, a likely second round showdown with
hosts Brazil awaits.
Secondly, coach Louis van Gaal has seen his ‘big three’
reduced to two with the news that influential AS Roma midfielder Kevin
Strootman will miss the tournament with a cruciate ligament injury. Van Gaal
considers Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Strootman his three ‘untouchables’
– the only players guaranteed a place in his starting eleven. Strootman was
coming off a stellar debut season in Serie A when he picked up the injury
against Napoli in March and his strength, energy and dynamism will be sorely
missed in Brazil.
Wesley Sneijder is one of the candidates to deputise,
although the Galatasaray playmaker does not possess Strootman’s defensive
attributes and has rarely been used by Van Gaal since moving to Turkey in 2013,
Record goalscorer Van Persie has endured an injury-riddled
season at Manchester United, but should at least be fresh for the finals where
he owes his country a big tournament after out-of-sorts displays at the 2010
World Cup and the 2012 European Championships.
At least Robben has remained uncharacteristically injury
free and is producing some of the best performances of his career under Pep
Guardiola at Bayern Munich.
Four years ago, Holland reached the World Cup final and were
cruelly beaten by an Andres Iniesta goal in extra time against Spain. A repeat
appearance would be little short of a miracle because Van Gaal cannot call on
the depth of quality or experience that Bert van Marwijk had at his disposal in
South Africa.
How they
qualified
The Netherlands positively cruised into the finals of Brazil
2014, coming through as Europe’s joint-top point scorers – alongside Germany –
on 28, with their 2-2 draw against Estonia the only minor blemish on a
near-faultless campaign. At times they were absolutely purring, in no game more
so than their 8-1 defeat of Hungary, while Germany were the only side on the
continent to score more goals than their 34.
They registered comfortable wins over their three main Group
D rivals – Turkey, Hungary and Romania – in their opening four games to see
them shoot clear of the competition, with only a spectacular collapse looking
able to deny them an automatic spot. That never came and a, somewhat nervy, 2-0
win over Andorra saw them, alongside Italy, become the first Europeans to seal
their place in Brazil. They finished nine points ahead of Romania, a gap only
matched by neighbours Belgium.
World Cup history
With legendary coach Rinus Michels pulling the strings from
the bench, Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Co won their way through to the
Final in 1974, only to lose out to the hosts. Four years on, their
revolutionary Total Football again took them to the showpiece, but history
repeated itself as they suffered another defeat to the host nation, succumbing
3-1 in Buenos Aires. The Oranje then experienced Final heartbreak for a third
time in Johannesburg, coming within four minutes of taking Spain to penalties
before Andres Iniesta crushed their dreams.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax Amsterdam), Tim Krul
(Newcastle United), Michel Vorm (Swansea City)
Defenders: Daley Blind (Ajax Amsterdam), Stefan de Vrij,
Daryl Janmaat, Terence Kongolo, Bruno Martins Indi (all Feyenoord), Paul
Verhaegh (FC Augsburg), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Joel Veltman (Ajax Amsterdam)
Midfielders: Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Jonathan de Guzman
(Swansea City), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Leroy Fer (Norwich City), Arjen
Robben (Bayern Munich), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV
Eindhoven)
Forwards: Memphis Depay (PSV Eindhoven), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
(Schalke 04), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Robin van
Persie (Manchester United)
The key players
Robin van Persie’s blossoming into one of the finest
strikers in the world has been a huge boon to the Dutch, with the Manchester
United marksman topping the goal-scoring charts with 11 goals. He was able
assisted in that department though by the likes of Jermaine Lens – who has
progressed into a key part of the Oranje outfit – and Rafael van der Vaart.
Arjen Robben continues to be a menace on the wing, while formerly a promising
youngster Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord) is now a key component of the side.
The Coach: Louis van
Gaal
The former Ajax and Barcelona boss could start an argument
in an empty room. Holland have a long standing reputation for infighting and it
will be up to Van Gaal to manage the egos – Van Persie and Sneijder are just
two players who share a mutual loathing for eachother – in Brazil. Now in his
second stint as Holland coach, Van Gaal’s CV stands up with the best, and he
would love to go out on a high – Guus
Hiddink will take over for the Euro 2016 qualifiers – before returning to club
soccer after the World Cup.
Prediction: Knockout
Stages
The key match for Holland here looks to be that clash with
Chile on June 23rd. How will Van Gaal’s inexperienced defence stand up against
Jorge Sampaoli’s strong, dynamic and tactically astute side in Sao Paulo? However,
The Dutch possess a more lethal attack and should make the top two but fall
short against the likes of Brazil in the knockout stages.
Quick facts
FIFA Ranking: 15th
Best World Cup Result:
Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
Best European
Championship Result: Winners (1988)
Record Scorer: Robin
van Persie (41 goals between 2005 to present)
Most Capped Player:
Edwin van der Sar (130 caps from 1995 to 2009)
Captain: Robin van
Persie
Group matches
Friday 13th June v Spain (Salvador)
Wednesday 18th June v Australia (Porto Alegre)
Monday 23rd June v Chile (Sao Paulo)
Chile
Though often overshadowed by their South American
counterparts, Chile has a proud history and, more recently, has been associated
with tactical innovation.
Under Marcelo Bielsa at the 2010 World Cup, Chile won
plaudits for their up-tempo, high-pressing game in a 3-3-1-3 formation. Current
coach Jorge Sampaoli has followed his fellow Argentinean, and has continued
with this unorthodox style.
Finishing third in CONMEBOL qualifying behind Argentina and
Colombia, Chile are tactically flexible, playing with a back three or back four
depending on the opposition or personnel available. Their qualifying campaign
was an inconsistent one, drawing just one fixture as they won nine and lost
six, four of those losses in succession from September 2012 to March 2013. Sampaoli
took over in the midst of this poor run, and promptly turned results around –
their only loss since his appointment coming in a friendly against Brazil.
Though lacking the strength in depth of some of their
neighbours, Chile can claim genuine star power in midfielder Arturo Vidal and
winger Alexis Sanchez, two of the leading players in their respective positions
in world soccer. An injury to either of them would greatly harm the team’s
hopes.
Chile would have approached the 2014 World Cup with optimism,
bringing good form into a tournament hosted in South America. A draw that
paired the team with holders Spain and finalists Holland will have tempered
this enthusiasm, somewhat. Their chances of qualification from the group hinge
on upsetting one of the European giants, something Chile are certainly capable
of.
How they
qualified
After Chile started their qualifying campaign by winning 12
of the first 18 points on offer, including away victories in Bolivia and
Venezuela, three consecutive defeats (among them two home fixtures against
Colombia and Argentina) spelled the end of Argentinean coach Claudio Borghi’s
tenure. His compatriot Jorge Sampaoli was brought in as a replacement, although
his reign got off to a poor start with a reverse in Peru. Yet the loss marked a
turning point in Chile’s campaign, as they subsequently embarked on their best
ever run of results in World Cup qualifying, chalking up five victories and a
draw in their next six encounters to qualify for a second successive World Cup
for the first time.
Under Sampaoli La Roja developed into an extremely
attack-minded team, so much so that their 29-goal haul during qualification was
bettered by only one nation. However, they also conceded more often (25 times)
than any of the continent’s other automatic qualifiers and drew only once in
their 16 qualifying fixtures.
World Cup history
With eight World Cups under their belts, Chile are level
with Paraguay in fourth place on the list of South American nations that have
appeared at most editions of the showpiece event. Their best performance to
date came when finishing third as host nation in 1962. On five other occasions
they have failed to progress from the group phase, while at France 1998 and
South Africa 2010 they reached the Round of 16, only to exit at the hands of
Brazil on both occasions.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Johnny Herrera
(Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Catolica)
Defenders: Gary Medel (Cardiff City), Jose Rojas
(Universidad de Chile), Eugenio Mena (Santos), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders: Arturo Vidal (Juventus), Mauricio Isla
(Juventus), Marcelo Diaz (Basel), Francisco Silva (Osasuna), Felipe Gutierrez
(FC Twente), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta), Jean
Beausejour (Wigan Athletic), Charles Aranguiz (Internacional), Miiko Albornoz
(Malmo)
Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Eduardo Vargas
(Valencia), Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari), Esteban
Paredes (Colo Colo), Fabian Orellana (Celta Vigo)
The key players
Forwards Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas, as well as
attacking midfielders Matias Fernandez and Arturo Vidal, are the leading men in
a squad packed with talent and boasting viable alternatives in each position.
Nor must we forget experienced performers such as Claudio Bravo, Gary Medel and
Jorge Valdivia, or exciting rising stars like Jean Beausejour and Marcelo Diaz.
The Coach: Jorge
Sampaoli
Jorge Sampaoli has returned Chile to the playing style they
enjoyed under Marcelo Bielsa, attacking relentlessly and pressing opponents
high up the pitch when not in possession. The Argentinean took over in December
2012 after a successful spell at Universidad de Chile, the nation’s largest
club, and has instilled a sense of belief into the squad missing before his
arrival, stating that “it’s safe to say that Chile are contenders” at the
coming tournament, and that “the only way to succeed is by uniting players with
a love of playing”.
Prediction: Group
Stages
Chile were not fortunate when the groups were drawn on
December 6th as they were pitted against the two finalists from the 2010 World
Cup – Spain and the Netherlands. While neither team are quite the force they
were four years ago, they still represent formidable opposition for Sampaoli’s
side. Three points against a poor Australia side is likely, but Holland should
beat them to second place in the group.
Quick facts
Fifa Ranking: 13th
Best World Cup Result:
Third (1962)
Best Copa America
Result: Finalists (1979 & 1987)
Record Scorer: Marcelo
Salas (37 goals between 1994 and 2007)
Most Capped Player:
Leonel Sanchez (84 caps between 1955 and 1968)
Captain: Claudio Bravo
Group matches
Friday 13th June v Australia (Cuiaba)
Wednesday 18th June v Spain (Rio de Janeiro)
Monday 23rd June v Holland (Sao Paulo)
Australia
Australia, one of the proudest sporting nations in the
world, enters the World Cup with little expectation.
Qualification for the 2014 finals in Brazil was not as
smooth as years gone past, as they had to wait until an 83rd-minute goal in the
final game of their qualification campaign against Iraq before finally sealing
their passage through.
German coach Holger Osieck fulfilled the objective of
leading the Socceroos to their fourth World Cup finals, but 6-0 friendly
defeats against Brazil and France proved too much for the FFA (Federation
Football Australia) to swallow and he was fired in October.
After 10 days of intense speculation, the FFA announced that
Melbourne Victory’s Ange Postecoglou would be the man to replace Osieck. The
decision was met with widespread approval, as the FFA opted for a home grown
coach to implement a long-term plan, rather than looking abroad as they have
done in recent years.
Postecoglou has a major job on his hands. It’s little wonder
he was offered a five-year contract because he is likely to need all that time
and more to engineer the sort of drastic changes Australian soccer needs.
His first challenge will be to rejuvenate an ageing squad
and ensure that the Socceroos avoid any embarrassments akin to the ones that
spelt the end for Osieck.
The squad still relies on the likes of Mark Schwarzer and
Tim Cahill, while Bayer Leverkusen’s Robbie Kruse is the only player who
features regularly for a top European club.
How they
qualified
Having cruised to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with
two games to spare, Australia entered their second qualifying campaign for the
global showpiece since joining AFC targeting a second consecutive and smooth
qualification. Instead, the road to Brazil 2014 proved to be a bumpy one for
the Socceroos, who had to overcome some erratic form to secure their
progression.
A narrow comeback win over Thailand and a loss to Oman in
the opening stage served as a warning shot, although they ultimately progressed
to the next phase as group winners. Then the Australians opened the next round
in miserable fashion, drawing against Oman and Japan before losing to Jordan
2-1.
Though stunned, they rallied to claw back into contention
with a victory over Iraq before two draws and a 4-0 defeat of Jordan put them
on the cusp of qualification. They kept their cool in the final match of the
round against Iraq as substitute Josh Kennedy scored late to seal their passage
through.
World Cup history
Though a team made up entirely of amateurs secured a
scoreless draw against Chile, Australia departed from the 1974 FIFA World Cup
without a goal to show from their inaugural appearance. The Socceroos made up
for lost time at Germany 2006 and qualified for the Round of 16 before narrowly
falling to eventual champions Italy. The German theme continued at South Africa
2010 although this time Australia suffered a 4-0 loss against the European giants
in a scoreline which ultimately scuppered their progress. A ten-man 1-1 draw
against Ghana and a 2-1 win against Serbia saw the Aussies eliminated on goal
difference, three goals off the Africans.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan (Club Brugge), Mitchell Langerak
(Borussia Dortmund), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mark Birighitti
(Newcastle Jets)
Defenders: Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Jason Davidson
(Heracles Almelo), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Bailey Wright
(Preston North End), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk
Motors), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng)
Midfielders: Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Mark Milligan
(Melbourne Victory), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Massimo Luongo (Swindon
Town), Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Bresciano
(Al-Gharafa)
Attackers: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Josh Kennedy
(Nagoya Grampus), Tom Rogic (Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (Sion), Tommy
Oar (FC Utrecht), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory), Ben Halloran (Fortuna
Dusseldorf), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets), Mathew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt)
The key players
Tim Cahill remains the team’s undoubted star and talisman
with a stunning goal ratio from midfield and equally remarkable heading ability
despite his modest stature. Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak will lead
Australia at the World Cup after getting the nod over Tim Cahill to replace long-term
captain Lucas Neill. The 29-year-old Jedinak midfielder was a mainstay for
Palace last season.
The Coach: Ange
Postecoglou
Postecoglou likes his teams to press and dominate
possession, although the latter will be hard to achieve against what will be
high caliber opposition in Brazil. Postecoglou will be expected to get his team
fighting, with a heroic group stage exit probably deemed acceptable in the
knowledge that the squad lacks quality in key areas.
Prediction: Group
stages
There is an element of ‘damage limitation exercise’ about
Australia’s 2014 World Cup campaign. This is one of the worst groups they could
have got and they probably won’t pick up a point. Postecoglou is building for
the future and will be looking for encouraging signs from the youngsters he
selects, rather than holding onto any realistic ambitions of getting out of the
group.
Quick facts
FIFA Ranking: 59th
Best World Cup Result:
Second round (2006)
Record Scorer: Damian
Mori (29 goals between 1992 and 2002)
Most Capped Player:
Mark Schwarzer (129 caps from 1993 to present)
Captain: Mile Jedinak
Group matches
Friday 13th June v Chile (Cuiaba)
Wednesday 18th June v Holland (Porto Alegre)
Monday 23rd June v Spain (Curitiba)