World Cup: Group B discussion

Australia will easily progress. I'll be disappointed if we drop a point to some scrub team like Spain or the Netherlands. Chile don't stand a chance at all, not sure why they even bothered to turn up.

Spoiler:

I suspect Spain and Chile to go through
by the way, can you put the teams in the subtitles so it's easier to remember which group is which?

Spain and Netherlands to progress from Group B IMO.

Think the Dutch are *bleep* here. Calling Spain and Chile progression.

Australia are going to have the biggest impact in this group, depending on how much we concede per match, the goal difference will come in very handy as this will be a very tight group.

cant wait till the aussies destroy these mediorce football nations and top the group

I'm predicting an Australian campaign reminiscent of Saudi '02.

SPain and Chile.....
Australia will help Spain to top the group on goal difference   

We might actually be able to grab a few goals from set pieces but can't see us getting anywhere near out of the group.

Spain and Chile progress like most have said, I think Chile could even top the group with their home advantage.

The Dutch are being underrated in this thread.

They have absouletly woeful defense and most of their big players had relativly average seasons. Outside of Steklenberg who is bench for Fulham I don't even know who their goalkeeper would be.

Forza wrote:The Dutch are being underrated in this thread.

Have you seen their squad? Bunch of 18 year old Eredivisie scrubs.... Holland are just a name at this point and going through a major talent drought.

Unless Chile manage to miss 20 shots a game they will go through.

Robben, Van Persie and Sneijder when he's on his game can win a game on their own, but there seems to be too many gaps in the quality of that team. My money's on Spain and Chile to progress from this group, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Holland's few big guns drag them out of it, too.

There, that's my bases covered. Unless Australia pull off a miracle.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Forza wrote:The Dutch are being underrated in this thread.

Have you seen their squad? Bunch of 18 year old Eredivisie scrubs.... Holland are just a name at this point and going through a major talent drought.

Unless Chile manage to miss 20 shots a game they will go through.

Not quite.

The Dutch still have Robben, Sneijder, Krul/Vorm, De Jong, van Persie, Huntelaar & Kuyt. I think it's a little blasé to discount the quality of these older players. This is the backbone of a team that reached the final last time and took Spain to extra-time in that game. Of course, 4 years have passed and some of these players have declined. Other players just aren't in great form at the moment. However, the Dutch are not to be underestimated because this is a tournament. The best XI on the field do not always win. Indeed, as long as the team chemistry is there and you have competent players in their natural positions, a team can go very far in a World Cup. Van Gaal is a good coach and he will leverage the experience in the squad and integrate the up and coming talent (e.g. Depay, Clasie, Rekik, BMI, etc.) where appropriate. I'm not saying that this team is great on paper by any means. Nevertheless, my point stands, and that is the Dutch deserve more respect than that and I wouldn't back the likes of Chile as if it's a forgone conclusion that the Dutch stand no chance against them.

Forza wrote:

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Forza wrote:The Dutch are being underrated in this thread.

Have you seen their squad? Bunch of 18 year old Eredivisie scrubs.... Holland are just a name at this point and going through a major talent drought.

Unless Chile manage to miss 20 shots a game they will go through.

Not quite.

The Dutch still have Robben, Sneijder, Krul/Vorm, De Jong, van Persie, Huntelaar & Kuyt.

That quality is unevenly spread on the pitch, though. They are set in striker department and have a world-class RW. After that there are too many areas that look short on quality. Like, I'm not sold on De Jong & Sneijder in 2014, they might do a job or they might not. I kinda like de Guzman and Fer, but it's still unconvincing. And Ron Vlaar is their most capped defender.

De Jong is average.... Kuyt is past it as is Huntelaar and Sneijder... Also take it from me Krul is crap lol.

RVP and Robben i grant you but that's not enough.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:De Jong is average.... Kuyt is past it as is Huntelaar and Sneijder... Also take it from me Krul is crap lol.

RVP and Robben i grant you but that's not enough.

GTFO

Milan fans have told me in unison he is the best DM in the world

Spain and Chile to ride this.

Spain and Holland will qualify imo

So Netherlands don't have enough quality, but what about Chile? They have Alexis, Isla, Vidal and... (?)

Bravo, Medel, Beausejour, Valdivia, Vargas, David Pizarro, Matias Fernandez, talented Felipe Gutierrez, etc.. And have a better team chemistry.

Also a lot of Dutch players are out due to injuries so that team won't be the same anymore and they will field a new starting 11 who never played together.

Chile's best midfielder is Charles Aranguiz imo, keep a eye on him.and Chile are definitely more than a few names and better than Netherlands imo their main problem is finishing and shit defense, but that's something the dutch have in common.I will be cheering for Holland because id rather face Spain or Netherlands over Chile (dead serious, and Scolari said the same thing)

Spain and Chile is who I'm going for, but I think Netherlands have a shout. They do have quality, I just don't think it's enough.

Tomwin Lannister wrote:

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:De Jong is average.... Kuyt is past it as is Huntelaar and Sneijder... Also take it from me Krul is crap lol.

RVP and Robben i grant you but that's not enough.

GTFO

Milan fans have told me in unison he is the best DM in the world

Not the best in the world, but he's been a shining light in an otherwise miserable season.