Group B of the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks-off in style as Spain take on the Dutch, in what would be a reunion of the 2010 World Cup finalists. The La Rojas have yet another familiar foe in Chile, who have found them yet again seeded in the same group as Spain and the remaining berth occupied by Australia, who aren’t likely to put a spoke in the wheels of the World Cup finalists. Group B might not be termed the ‘Group of Death’ in this year’s edition but certainly a group perfectly poised and ‘B’ may well stand for brilliance.
| Match No. | Fixture | Date | Time (IST)* | Location |
| 3 | Spain vs Netherlands | Jun 13 | 00:30 | Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador |
| 4 | Chile vs Australia | Jun 13 | 03:30 | Arena Pantanal, Culaba |
| 19 | Australia vs Netherlands | Jun 18 | 21:30 | Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre |
| 20 | Spain vs Chile | Jun 18 | 00:30 | Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janiero |
| 35 | Australia vs Spain | Jun 23 | 21:30 | Arena de Baixada, Curitiba |
| 36 | Netherlands vs Chile | Jun 23 | 21:30 | Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo |
*Some matches will be played after midnight IST
Locations
The Estadio do Maracana located in Rio de Janiero, is the grandest stadium of the Selecao. With a capacity of 75,000 people approximately, it will host the game between the Spaniards and Chileans and will also play host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.
Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova is the stadium where group B kicks off as the World Cup finalists battle it out. It is located in Salvador, Bahia with a maximum capacity of 55,000 people.
Arena Pantanal stadium was completed in the April, 2014 in Culaba. The Pantanal has a capacity of 40,000 people and will be inaugurated by Chile and Australia as they square off against each other at the newest stadium in Brazil.
Estadio Biera-Rio having a capacity of 50,000 people approximately, will host the 3rd game of group B between Australia and the Netherlands. The stadium is known for its unique location in Porto Alegre, as it is placed right next to the Guaiba River.
The Arena da Baixada located in Curitiba, Parana is one of the oldest stadiums in the world and has been renovated several times before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It was opened in 1914 and has a capacity of 42,000 people approximately. The stadium will play host to the game between Spain and Australia.
Arena de Sao Paulo located in the Sao Paulo, will kick-off this year’s edition of FIFA World Cup as the opening game is to be held in the illustrious arena. It has a capacity of 65,000 people and will play host to the group game between Chile and Netherlands.
Team Guide
Spain
FIFA Ranking: 1
Key player: Andres Iniesta
La Rojas have deservingly been atop the FIFA Rankings ever since they conquered Europe in 2008 and are undoubtedly favourites to retain their spot. Despite a scintillating performance in 2010 to hand them their maiden World Cup, Spain haven’t really had lady luck by their side in the previous editions and often fell prey to the jinx of the quarter finals. However, Del Bosque’s men would be keen on maintaining their golden run in the international arena.
Spain were seeded in ‘Group I’ of the UEFA qualifications against teams namely Finland, Georgia, Belarus and France, finishing comfortably atop the table with 20 points to their tally. Barcelona winger, Pedro Rodriguez finished as top-scorer for Spain with 4 goals.
For more information, read Spain Team Preview.
Netherlands
FIFA Ranking: 15
Key player: Robin Van PersieEver since the excellent showing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Oranje’s performances have undergone quite a slump. Their failure to achieve the desired objectives has statistically reflected as they head to Brazil placed 15 in the FIFA rankings. The World Cup was within the Dutch’s reach in 2010 but yet again finished second in the final to become the runners-up in World Cups for the third time.
Despite the below-par display in the bigger stages, the Netherlands qualified to the FIFA World Cup finals in a convincing manner. Having seeded against a tricky group comprising of Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Estonia and Andorra, the Dutch managed to add 28 points to their kitty as captain Robin Van Persie finished as top scorer of the UEFA qualification zone with 11 goals.
For more information, read Netherlands Team Preview.
Chile
FIFA Ranking: 14
Key player: Arturo Vidal
With the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal and Claudio Bravo, Chile are more than capable of springing a surprise in this year’s edition. Chile have hardly tasted any success at the international arena with their best performance in a World Cup being a third-place finish way back in 1962 and have often failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals. However, the Chileans’ sublime form over the last 10 months have earned them the 14th place in the FIFA rankings, one place ahead of their group rivals Netherlands.
Jorge Sampaoli’s men had a good deal of success in the CONMEBOL qualifications, finishing third behind Argentina and Columbia. Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas finished as top scorers for the Chileans with 5 goals.
Australia
FIFA Ranking: 62
Key player: Joshua KennedyThe Australians have qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals only for the fourth time but undoubtedly deserve credit for having pulled it off for the third consecutive time. However, their best performance had come in their maiden World Cup finals in 1974 when they finished 14th place. The recent performances have caused the Australians to slip three places in the FIFA rankings to 62nd position.
The Socceroos had an impressive run in the AFC qualifications losing just a game each in the fourth and fifth rounds. Joshua Kennedy finished as top scorer for the Australians with 5 goals.
Key Fixtures
Spain vs Netherlands and Chile vs Netherlands are undoubtedly the most decisive fixtures of the group. Assuming Spain would see the Netherlands off, Chile would square off against the Dutch in a do-or-die fixture to reserve a berth in the Round-of-16 stage. Hence, Chile vs Netherlands is definitely the more decisive game of group B.
A win for either of them could take them straight through to the Round-of-16 as runners-up of the group while a draw could take it other factors such as goal-difference and most goals scored, if required.
Predictions
The Spaniards might not be in the best shape but undoubtedly remain one of the most formidable sides of this year’s edition and likely to emerge winners of the group. The Australians have to be given due credit for an impressive showing in the qualifications but in honesty, the buck stops here for the Socceroos and Chile vs Netherlands are the possible runners-up of the group. Given the recent performances of the Dutch and Chileans, we can boldly predict Chile to edge the Netherlands out to join Spain to the Round-of-16 stage.
| Country | P | W | D | L | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Chile | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Australia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
To read other Group Previews, click here: FIFA World Cup Group Previews
