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World Cup Group B - Australia, Chile, Netherlands, Spain

Which two teams will progress to the next round?

  • Australia and Chile

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Australia and Netherlands

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Australia and Spain

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Chile and Netherlands

    Votes: 6 31.6%
  • Chile and Spain

    Votes: 6 31.6%
  • Netherlands and Spain

    Votes: 7 36.8%

  • Total voters
    19
  • Poll closed .

Jordinho

Martin Peters
Staff member
Australia

Qualified as AFC Group B runner-up.

Have previously participated in 3 World Cups: 1974, 2006, 2010

Previous best: Round 2 in 2006

FIFA World ranking: 62

This is Australia's second successive qualification campaign following their switch from Oceania to Asia. Coach Ange Postecoglou was hired in October to lead a regeneration of the national team program, and he got started on that last month when he left 36-year-old defender Lucas Neill at home. The majority of their squad are 25 years of age or younger, with a few experienced heads like Cahill, Jedinak and Bresciano.

Squad:

GK: Ryan (Club Brugge), Langerak (Dortmund), Galekovic (Adelaide)

DF: Franjic (Brisbane), Davidson (Heracles), Spiranovic (Western Sydney), Wright (Preston), McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan), Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Huyndai Motors)

MF: Milligan (Melbourne), Halloran (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Oar (Utrecht), Bozanic (Luzern), Troisi (Atalanta), Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Holland (Austria Wien), McKay (Brisbane), Vidosic (Sion), Luongo (Swindon), Bresciano (Al-Gharafa)

FW: Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Leckie (FSV Frankfurt), Taggart (Saudi Sportswashing Machine Jets)

Chile

Qualified as the third best team from CONMEBOL.

Have previously participated in 8 World Cups: 1930, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1998, 2010

Previous best: 3rd place in 1962

FIFA World ranking: 14

To get out of group play, they will have to eliminate a 2010 finalist, either Spain or the Netherlands. Chile have played one of the toughest schedules over the last nine months, beating England and Costa Rica, losing by a goal to Germany and Brazil and holding Colombia and Spain to draws.

Squad:

GK: Bravo (Real Sociedad), Toselli (Universidad Catolica), Herrera (Universidad de Chile)

DF: Mena (Santos), Albornoz (Malmö), Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Medel (Cardiff), Jara (Nottingham)

MF: Isla (Juventus), Silva (Osasuna), Carmona (Atalanta), Vidal (Juventus), Valdivia (Palmeiras), Orellana (Celta Vigo), Beausejour (Wigan), Gutierrez (Twente), Fuenzalida (Colo-Colo), Aranguiz (Internacional), Diaz (Basel)

FW: Sanchez (Barcelona), Pinilla (Cagliari), Vargas (Valencia), Paredes (Colo-Colo)

Netherlands

Qualified as UEFA Group D winner.

Have previously participated in 9 World Cups: 1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010

Previous best: 2nd place (1974, 1978, 2010)

FIFA World ranking: 15

The Netherlands is the only country to reach three World Cup finals without winning one, but won the European Championship in 1988.

Squad:

GK: Cillessen (Ajax), Vorm (Swansea), Krul (Saudi Sportswashing Machine)

DF: Vlaar (Aston Villa), de Vrij (Feyenoord), Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Blind (Ajax), Janmaat (Feyenoord), Verhaegh (Augsburg), Veltman (Ajax), Kongolo (Feyenoord)

MF: de Guzman (Swansea), de Jong (AC Milan), Sneijder (Galatasaray), Robben (Bayern Munich), Clasie (Feyenoord), Fer (Norwich), Wijnaldum (PSV), Depay (PSV)

FW: van Persie (Man United), Kuyt (Fenerbache), Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Huntelaar (Schalke)

Spain

Qualified as UEFA Group I winner.

Have previously participated in 13 World Cups: 1934, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010

Previous best: Winners (2010)

FIFA World ranking: 1

Spain are the reigning World Champions. They also won the European Championship in 2008 and again in 2012. Coach Vicente del Bosque took charge after the European Championship in 2008.

Squad:

GK: Casillas (Real Madrid), de Gea (Man United), Reina (Napoli)

DF: Albiol (Napoli). Pique (Barcelona), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Ramos (Real Madrid), Alba (Barcelona), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

MF: Martinez (Bayern Munich), Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Fabregas (Barcelona), Mata (Man United), Alonso (Real Madrid), Busquets (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Cazorla (Arsenal), Silva (Emirates Marketing Project)

FW: Villa (Atletico Madrid), Torres (Chelsea), Pedro (Barcelona), Costa (Atletico Madrid)

GROUP B SCHEDULE:

June 13: Spain vs. Netherlands in Salvador; Chile vs. Australia in Cuiabá

June 18: Australia vs. Netherlands in Porto Alegre; Spain vs. Chile in Rio de Janeiro

June 23: Australia vs. Spain in Curitiba; Netherlands vs. Chile in São Paulo
 
Spain def. Netherlands
Chile def. Australia
Netherlands def. Australia
Spain def. Chile
Spain def. Australia
Chile def. Netherlands

Spain and Chile progressing.
 
We'll snatch a point over the Dutch. They are our bunnies.

Spain and Chile will hand us a footballing ******* though.
 
Is Chile v Netherlands the last game of the group? nice make or break fixture right there.
 
Is it a naughty word though?

We got a warning from Google a year or so back about sexually explicit and discriminatory language which is why we started using the swear filter. If you don't heed their warnings, they pull the advertising, so we had no choice. Personally, none of us could give a **** about swearing.
 
3 tough teams here

However, I'll go with:
1. Spain
2. Netherlands
3. Chile
4. Australia
 
Spain and Chile

I think Chile can really push Netherlands here, LvG will have his work cut out for him, will be very interesting. Final game could very easily be decisive between them, massive advantage to the team that goes into that knowing that a draw will be enough.
 
I wouldn't say I'm confident, but optimistic that we can get something against Chile. We are in the same position as England but turned up to 11, in that we have a new generation here not to "win" but to have a crack with no expectations.

Only Cahill and Brasciano remain from our golden generation, and there's some good kids in our squad. Half won't be heard of again on the world stage after this, but guys like Halloran, Oar, Ryan, will be established footballers in 4 years time.

Perfect way to start as I think Chile will give us a chance with how they play. Spain won't let us touch the ball and Holland will just be too dangerous if we let up for a moment, but if Chile aren't firing, they could open the game up for us to nick something.

1-1 would be nice.
 
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