FIFA WC Soccer 2014 , GROUP B (Netherlands, Spain, Chile, Australia): All previews, reviews and matches thread

[Sohel]

Khoda Hafez Tiki-Taka. May you rest in peace with all other forms of negative soccer.

*RESPECT* to the Aussies for nearly pulling this off. Great sporting nation with an eternally positive attitude. Always playing every sport the way it's meant to be played. Like the Americans from across the Pacific, they compete hard as a team and play for their country. I've always loved their cricket. Now their soccer team has also won me over.

[mufi_02]

Football today is, by and large, Spanish. Spain's success has shaped the playing philosophies of almost every major European nation. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli unashamedly based his reign around the Spanish method of ball retention. Germany were inspired to press higher up the pitch following their defeat to Spain in 2010. France are now using a holding midfielder, Yohan Cabaye, who cites the Xavi theory that a player in that position should touch the ball 100 times per game. Dutch football was "Spanish" because the reverse was true, while Portuguese football has always been closely aligned with its neighbours anyway.

Even England, notoriously conservative and inward-looking, has drawn upon Spain in playing a more proactive style. The Premier League, meanwhile, will feature a title race between contenders featuring Juan Mata, David Silva, Santi Cazorla and Cesc Fabregas as playmakers, plus a Liverpool side whose manager frequently cites Spain as his greatest influence. This is the blood-and-thunder, 100 mph, ultra-physical Premier League.

Spain have rewritten the rule book -- they've helped persuade everyone that "good football" is "possession football," and "good football" is required to win matches. It's their greatest achievement.

Then think about football today, where passing has been repopularised dramatically following years of Spanish success, and try to say tiki-taka is dead with a straight face. This generation of the national side is dead, but Spain's influence will live on for decades.

http://www.espnfc.us/blog/tactics-an...own-revolution

[Sohel]

Australia-2 Spain-1. Chile-2 Netherlands-1.

[BengaliPagol]

Not confident about Socceroos scoring only because Cahill isn't playing. But you never know maybe Adam Taggart can really surprise us all. I have a feeling Leckie will single handedly rip thru Spain's defence. GO SOCCEROOS !

[BengaliPagol]

However i think if Australia look to play off the counter (which they will) then it might really hurt Spain because Australia do have pace on the wings with Leckie and Oar. I really hope Spain are kept scoreless. If it does happen then it will mean that out of 3 games Spain would have scored only 1 goal which was off a penalty kick. LOL.

[al-Sagar]

half time approaching ..... 0-0 in ned vs chile

while in a game with no significance except pride, spain are leading 1-0 against the socceroos

[al-Sagar]

and it stays the same .... David villa is the only man to score a goal in both games

[al-Sagar]

Dirk kuyt ... playing today ..... nce to see him getting a chance

[al-Sagar]

2nd half starts

[al-Sagar]

while ..... ned and chile are drawing ........ spain are leading 2-0

[al-Sagar]

exceleent save by bravo

and then Nederland's scores ....

[al-Sagar]

vargas off pinilla on ...

[al-Sagar]

10 min left

[al-Sagar]

spain have scored their 3rd ....

[al-Sagar]

2 mins left ...

[al-Sagar]

2-0 to the dutch

[al-Sagar]

so nedelands qualify as Group champs ...... chile are 2nd ...........

[Sohel]

Australia were simply outclassed, and Los Chilenos, other than Sanchez, couldn't match the Dutch desire to avoid Brazil in the next round.

[al-Sagar]

congratz to Netherlands and chile