World Cup 2014: Group BAndrei Sokolov, exclusively for VKVK continues a series of materials about the World Cup in Brazil. In this text we will talk about Group B with Spain, the Netherlands, Chile and Australia.SpainSpain is one of the favorites of the World Cup. The current champions of Europe and the world should not count on less. One of their pluses is that they have played together for a long time. Half of the players were at Euro-2008. A long bench is also a plus. It is enough to make two teams. In the final application there was no place for Jesus Navas, Isco and Llorente, who are not the worst players in their teams. This says a lot. The Spaniards have their own style. The wards of del Bosque know very well what kind of football they will be playing.Nevertheless, the blind following of "tiki-taka" can do some harm. Barcelona, the main adept of this football style, had some difficulties in the last season. Some leaders are in functional decline. Not the best physical condition makes this scheme vulnerable. We should not forget that they have had too many victories. It is more difficult to find the motivation. Not a single team since 1962 has managed to keep the title of world champion. Not a single European team has managed to win a world cup that took place in South America.The Netherlands The Netherlands are a dark horse in the World Cup. It would be difficult for the finalists of the last Cup to repeat their way. From the participants of that game, only the group of attackers remains, but the defenders had to miss the championship for this or that reason. Van Bronckhorst and van Bommel will not go to Brazil. This could become a problem for the Dutch team, whose defenders are young players who mostly play at home - and the Dutch clubs are not models in defense. Because of the injuries, Strotman and van der Vaart will miss the championship. At the same time, van Gaal has some experienced attackers - Robben, van Persie, Sneijder. Although the last two had ambiguous seasons at their clubs, they can make trouble. This trio should be the main kick of the orange team. Most likely the key game will be their meeting with Chile. This is where the second ticket to the last 16 will be decided.ChileChile can become one of the discoveries of the World Cup. But to do this they will have to get out of this difficult group. They have a good team - Vidal and Isla (Juventus), Vargas (Fiorentina), Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona). They play risky football. In the 16 games of the qualifications they scored 29 goals, losing 25. The defense are much weaker than the forwards and midfielders. The wards of Jorge Sampaoli could benefit from the time zone and the South American climate. The defence will be the main problem for the coach. Finding a balance between defence and attack can cause a headache. But we can be sure - the Chileans will not be boring!AustraliaAccording to the preliminary estimates, Australia is the main outsider of Group B. Their main stars are Cahill and Bresciano, who are 78 years old together. Their current team is weaker than before. It is rather modest compared to the previous championships.The basis of the Australian team are players who play abroad. Although the current team has a good combination of youth and experience, it is difficult for them to count on getting into the last 16. Their mentor Postecoglou cannot be called the best specialist, and their group does not give much hope to the fans of the team. The prospects of Australia are pretty murky.
Artem Sokolov, exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
VK continues a series of materials about the World Cup in Brazil. In this text we will talk about Group B with Spain, the Netherlands, Chile and Australia.
Spain
Spain is one of the favorites of the World Cup. The current champions of Europe and the world should not count on less. One of their pluses is that they have played together for a long time. Half of the players were at Euro-2008. A long bench is also a plus. It is enough to make two teams. In the final application there was no place for Jesus Navas, Isco and Llorente, who are not the worst players in their teams. This says a lot. The Spaniards have their own style. The wards of del Bosque know very well what kind of football they will be playing.
Nevertheless, the blind following of "tiki-taka" can do some harm. Barcelona, the main adept of this football style, had some difficulties in the last season. Some leaders are in functional decline. Not the best physical condition makes this scheme vulnerable. We should not forget that they have had too many victories. It is more difficult to find the motivation. Not a single team since 1962 has managed to keep the title of world champion. Not a single European team has managed to win a world cup that took place in South America.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands are a dark horse in the World Cup. It would be difficult for the finalists of the last Cup to repeat their way. From the participants of that game, only the group of attackers remains, but the defenders had to miss the championship for this or that reason. Van Bronckhorst and van Bommel will not go to Brazil. This could become a problem for the Dutch team, whose defenders are young players who mostly play at home - and the Dutch clubs are not models in defense. Because of the injuries, Strotman and van der Vaart will miss the championship. At the same time, van Gaal has some experienced attackers - Robben, van Persie, Sneijder. Although the last two had ambiguous seasons at their clubs, they can make trouble. This trio should be the main kick of the orange team. Most likely the key game will be their meeting with Chile. This is where the second ticket to the last 16 will be decided.
Chile
Chile can become one of the discoveries of the World Cup. But to do this they will have to get out of this difficult group. They have a good team - Vidal and Isla (Juventus), Vargas (Fiorentina), Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona). They play risky football. In the 16 games of the qualifications they scored 29 goals, losing 25. The defense are much weaker than the forwards and midfielders. The wards of Jorge Sampaoli could benefit from the time zone and the South American climate. The defence will be the main problem for the coach. Finding a balance between defence and attack can cause a headache. But we can be sure - the Chileans will not be boring!
Australia
According to the preliminary estimates, Australia is the main outsider of Group B. Their main stars are Cahill and Bresciano, who are 78 years old together. Their current team is weaker than before. It is rather modest compared to the previous championships.
The basis of the Australian team are players who play abroad. Although the current team has a good combination of youth and experience, it is difficult for them to count on getting into the last 16. Their mentor Postecoglou cannot be called the best specialist, and their group does not give much hope to the fans of the team. The prospects of Australia are pretty murky.
