World Cup Preview: Group B

To continue our theme of looking at all the different groups and analyzing them, we move on to Group B which features the defending champion and the runners up. The group which is made up of Spain, Netherlands (Holland), Chile, and Australia. On the surface, this should be one of the easiest groups to decide who is going to move on and who will go home. You should consider Spain to be the heavy favorites to move on as the group winners considering they are considered the greatest generation. They'll be looking to repeat success with the return of all the major players still being there like Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta, and they hope that Gerard Piqué will be healthy enough to return in time for the world cup. Who the standout star of this tournament for the team remains to be seen, but I see them gaining victories potentially over all the teams, but a tie with Holland could occur. They will probably win the group on goal differential if that occurs.

The other team that I see moving on in the group is the Netherlands (or Holland as some call it) and I think it's crucial for them to move on considering the disaster that was the Euro's in 2012. Holland went undefeated in qualifying (finishing with 28 points) with the only draw being a 2-2 finish with Estonia. Nevertheless, the team needs big games out of Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, and Wesley Sneijder. If this team doesn't get results in this tournament than what a downward spiral they would have in their legacies. It would almost be as embarrassing as the 2010 French National Team. I see this team potentially finishing in second place and meeting Brazil in the first game of the second round.

I am pooling this two teams together because one team will walk away with a win coming against the other. Australia and Chile are not moving past Spain or Holland. Before 2006, Australia hadn't made a world cup since 1974 and they were eliminated in the group stage. I felt they were screwed against Italy in 2006 and 2010 was just disastrous. Their run to the world cup was almost a disastrous one too, but with the higher of a new coach they were able to make it. For Chile, the road to the world cup was a decent one as the team finished in 3rd when it came to qualifying behind Columbia and Argentina. The last time Chile had made it to a world cup (2010) they made it as far as the round of 16, but there's going to be no miracles here for them.

1. Spain 7 Points GD winner
2. Holland 7 Points
3. Chile 3 Points
4. Australia 0 Points