As the Mexico versus Cameroon match ends tomorrow, there is another match that we all have been waiting for. Four years ago, the national team of Spain won their first ever title in the World Cup of 2010 that was held in South Africa. Thanks to an incredible goal from Andres Iniesta in Extra time, Spain was able to lift the cup in a win over the Netherlands national team.
Four years later, the Spain National team was drawn in Group B along with Netherlands, Chile and Australia and who will they open their first match with in their group stage: no other than the team they beat four years ago, Netherlands.
This is a match that a lot of people have been waiting for since the group was drawn back in January. Netherlands come into this match with the thought of revenge, to beat the Spanish team in their group stage and take the 3 points, but Spain looks to beat them again, gain the three points and get closer to reaching their goal of winning the cup again. Spain, out of Argentina, Germany and Brazil, seem to be the favorites to lifting the 13.5 lbs, 18 karat gold trophy at the Maracana on July 13th. Spain has a very strong squad and along with Coach Vicente del Bosque and their technique of the tiki taka, they can win this again, but it won’t be easy. But how did both teams make it unto the FIFA World Cup 2014?
Spain faced an easy group stage on the road to the World Cup. They faced France, Finland, Georgia and Belarus. They conceded 14 goals during the world cup qualifications and only tied two times out of their 8 matches. During the four years after they won the world cup in 2010, they also won the EURO Cup against Italy on a 4-0 win and were runner-ups in the Confederation cup held in Brazil on a 3-0 deficit against Brazil.
Netherlands also faced a very easy group stage on the road to the World Cup. They faced Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Estonia, and Andorra. Out of their 10 matches, they won 9 out of the ten and only tied once against Estonia. They conceded 34 goals and were one of the first teams along with Italy to qualify for Brazil 2014. The Netherlands seems to be another favorites in the world cup but in my point of view, won’t make it pass the quarterfinal stage.
Spain faced only two teams on the road to Brazil as pre-matches. They went against Bolivia and El Salvador, both of which they won 2-0. Spain will be led by Coach Vicente del Bosque and will have Captain and goalkeeper of Real Madrid, Iker Casillas leading the team once again. David Villa and Diego Costa will also lead them in the front along with Fernando 9 Torres. In the back they will have the help of FC Barcelona’s and Real Madrid’s Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Sergio Ramos. In the mid, they will be counting on David Silva, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta to make some beautiful plays.
The Netherlands national team faced Ecuador, Ghana and Wales as pre-matches before Brazil. They won both games against Ghana and Wales but tied against Ecuador. Coach and Manchester United’s soon-to-be Louis van Gaal will lead Netherlands. They will be counting on Captain Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder from Galatasaray and Arjen Robben from Bayern Munich with Jasper Cillessen as starter goalkeeper.
Predicitions: Del Bosque, in my predicition will start Iker Casillas as goalkeeper over Manchester United’s David De Gea. In the back he will have Juanfran, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba. In the mids he will start Sergio Busquets along with Andres Iniesta and David Silva with David Villa, Juan Mata and Diego Costa in the front.
Van Gaal will start Jasper Cillessen as goalkeeper over Michel Vorm or Tim Krul. In the back he will have Ron Vlaar, Stefan De Vrij, Daley Blind and Daryl Janmaat. In the mids he will start Nigel de Jong, Wesley Sneijder, Jeremain Lens and Jonathan de Guzman with Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben leading the front line.
As much as Netherlands wants to take this game and get revenge, Spain will win this in another 1-0 score.
Group B’s teams will kick off tomorrow June 13th, at 12PM PT with Spain vs Netherlands leading the group then Chile vs Australia airing right after at 3PM PT.
