Possibilities and Predictions – Group B
In case you haven’t heard, defending World Champions Spain are out of the World Cup. Two shock performances see Vicente del Bosque merry men heading for the exits. Predicatively minnows Australia join them but not before two plucky performances and a stunning Tim Cahill left foot volley. Netherlands and Chile will play for top spot, with Netherlands holding a one goal advantage.
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#
|
Country
|
GP
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
PTS
|
|
|
1
|
 Netherlands |
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
|
|
2
|
 Chile |
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
6
|
|
|
3
|
 Australia |
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
-3
|
0
|
|
|
4
|
 Spain |
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
7
|
-6
|
0
|
|
Spain v Australia
#ESPAUS SBS One 1:30 (2am KO)
Redemption wasn’t something the Spanish team would’ve thought about before playing their final match against Australia. Recent events and a toothless front third have the Spaniards looking to avoid embarrassment and beating what will be an under strength Australian team. Iker Casillas won’t play against the Socceroos and expect some other changes to the XI. Spain will want to show the World their two previous games were merely a slip up and they are still one of the power nations of World football.
Most Australian fans are still coming to terms with two things; 1) That Cahill volley, and 2) Leading Netherlands for about 4 minutes. No one gave the Socceroos a chance at this tournament, but through motivated coach Ange Postecoglu the Socceroos reminded the world they are always going to be a tough challenge, not matter who the opposition. Their final game appears to be a very difficult challenge with Tim Cahill suspended, and midfield duo Mark Milligan and Marco Bresciano likely to start on the bench through injury. This will be the most inexperience Socceroos team to play in a major international for quite some time; Maty Ryan will need to avoid any little errors appearing in his game.
Spain 5-0
Netherlands v Chile
#NETCHI SBS TWO 1:30 AEST (2am KO)
Both teams have the luxury of knowing they have qualified for the second stage of the tournament, but the winner of this match will more than likely avoid Brazil being their next opponent. Netherlands will be without star goal scorer Robin Van Persie who has collected a yellow card at both his previous matches. The Dutch only have to draw this match against Chile, but as we have seen Chile are a very good football team who can score with limited opportunities.
For Chile, Vidal has gained some valuable minutes during the first two matches, but hasn’t really made a valuable contribution to the tournament thus far. His ability to turn matches on their head will need to come to the floor from this stage onwards if Chile is to continue making their mark in Brazil 2014. Chile has scored some great goals so far in the tournament and won’t count themselves out of the match at any stage.
Netherlands 2-1
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