World Cup 2014: Group B Preview
With the World Cup approaching fast it’s time to look at the groups and they don’t come much trickier than Group B.
Spain, Netherlands, Chile and Australia comprise a prickly group that will see one of the fancied sides drop out at the group stage.
Spain
The Current World Cup and European champions have a team filled with riches from the finest clubs in Europe.
Players such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Fernando Torres and the Brazilian-born Diego Costa should all appear for Spain this summer.
Spain qualified for the World Cup by finishing three points ahead of France in Group I and they will be hopeful of adding a second World Cup to their honours in July.
Netherlands
Louis Van Gaal’s side are a more free-flowing unit than that which appeared in the 2010 final.
Four years ago Bert Van Marwijk’s game-plan was all about stopping the opposition and attacking on the counter, but Van Gaal sets his team up differently and at 33-1 with Coral they could attract many punters.
The likes of Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Klaas Jan Huntelaar are called upon to attack and open up the opposition while the industrious Kevin Strootman bosses midfield.
The Netherlands also won their qualifying group and with some ease, finishing nine points ahead of second placed Romania.
Finalists in 1974, 1978 and 2010, the “Oranje” will be hoping to go one better in Brazil.
Chile
The South Americans may come as the surprise package in the group to many, but they have earned respect in recent times.
Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez is the Chile talisman, but is ably backed up by Juventus duo Mauricio Isla and Arturo Vidal and Cardiff City terrier Gary Medel.
FIFA rank Jorge Sampaoli’s side 14th in the world currently and on that rating the Chileans will be quietly confident of going close to their best ever result of third place, achieved in 1962.
Like the Dutch Chile are also priced at an attractive 33-1 with Coral.
Australia
The Socceroos, as they’re widely known, will travel to Brazil to compete in their fourth, and third consecutive, World Cup.
Australia can still call on the services of their all-time top goalscorer Tim Cahill, but elsewhere the squad is lacking in real quality and this is evident in Coral’s odds of 750-1 for an Aussie triumph.
With Premiership star Mark Schwarzer having retired from international duty recently too, the goalkeeping situation is a problem as Brad Jones, Mitchell Langerak and Mathew Ryan only have 12 caps between them.
A spirited showing in defeat in Brazil looks the best the Socceroos can hope for this summer.
