World Cup Group B: Friday 13th looms for world champions Spain vs Dutch

The 2010 World Cup resonates strongly throughout Group B where Spain launch their title defence against Netherlands in a carbon copy of the final in Soweto's Soccer City four years ago.

Joining the heavyweight European duo are Jorge Sampaoli's artful Chile, whom Vicente del Bosque's Spanish champions defeated in the group stage in South Africa, and rank outsiders Australia.

Group B's Friday 13th curtain-raiser pits Spain's Barcelona-style tika-taka possession-based game against a Dutch side now singing to the tune of Louis van Gaal's less pleasing on the eye but effective 5-3-2 system.

"There will be critics but I assume and I truly believe in this system and in my players chosen to carry it out," said Manchester United-bound van Gaal after last week's 1-0 prep win over Ghana.

A couple of hours after Spain v Netherlands, Chile open their 2014 campaign against a young Australia in Cuiaba.

After finally getting their names on the World Cup trophy, Spain went on to successfully defend their European crown in 2012.

Last year though they were soundly defeated by World Cup hosts Brazil in the final of the Confederations Cup.

Spain's return to South America comes after a buoyant European season, with an all-Spanish Champions League final between Madrid giants Atletico and winners Real.

Del Bosque's men have history stacked against them however. Over half a century has passed since a country mounted a successful defence of their World Cup crown.

However, the world champions have the ability to vary their trademark possession football if their World Cup Group B opponents pack their defences, according to del Bosque.

Spain start their bid to retain the trophy on Friday against the Netherlands, who they beat in the final four years ago in South Africa when the Dutch used a physical approach under Bert van Marwijk to try and unsettle them.

The Netherlands are now coached by Louis van Gaal, whose philosophy continues the Dutch traditions of 'Total Football', but even he has admitted he will look to bolster their defence against Spain by playing five a the back.

"Possession without having depth doesn't have any point," Del Bosque told Marca. "For that reason we are working so that the team can pressure to win back possession and then as a group attack.

"One thing first, football is played in many different ways and there isn't just one. We don't have a magic formula, we have a plan based on the players that we have available. That doesn't mean there aren't others who are just as good and get results."

Del Bosque said he was not concerned if Spain's group rivals choose to sit back.

"It's fine if they do. It suits us best being patient and looking for the gaps against teams that are defensive rather than being in games that are end-to-end and out of control," he said.

Spain are enjoying a golden period, having also won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, but are back in Brazil where they lost the Confederations Cup final last year against the home nation and had to face stadiums with hostile crowds.

"It is true that they whistled us in the stadiums but I think that there is a lot of respect with this as they see us as a dangerous threat," said Del Bosque.

"We will go out and do our best. We first face Holland who are a well-organised side, well coached and I am sure that they will cause us a lot of problems. We now have nine or 10 places decided in the team and just have a couple of doubts."

The Netherlands will be led in attack by Robin van Persie, who has struggled for fitness this season with Manchester United but now says he is fine to play.

"I am improving and I am in good form. Basically for six years I have had one problem or another but I am used to that," the striker told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro.

"We are not used to so much heat and humidity but we are ready and acclimatising well."

Hopes are high in Santiago that in-form Chile can progress beyond the last 16 for the first time since finishing third as hosts in 1962.

Galloping to the finals with wins in five of their last six qualifiers, the side coached by Argentinian Sampaoli turns up on the back of a series of impressive results.

They held Spain to a 2-2 draw in Geneva last year, then outperformed England at Wembley, both their goals at Wembley coming from Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez.

Sterling efforts in defeat against mighty Germany and Brazil only boosted their status as contenders to escape the clutches of Group B relying on Sampaoli's high-tempo pressing game.

"The side that's going to Brazil is twice as strong and intense as the one that lined up in the last World Cup," midfielder Arturo Vidal told the BBC this year.

An intriguing first round group then where Spain will be desperate not to avoid the ignominious fate that befell Italy, who turned up in South Africa as champions only to be bundled out in the first round.

 

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