SPAIN vs. NETHERLANDS
Date: June 13, 2014
Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 5-4-1 Spain
Last Match: 2010 World Cup (Final). Spain def. Netherlands 1-0 in extra time.
Line: Spain -125
Group B Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Spain (1st), Netherlands (15th)
Managers: Vicente del Bosque (ESP), Louis van Gaal (NED)
Captains: Iker Casillas (ESP), Robin van Persie (NED)
World Cup Appearances: 14 (ESP), 10 (NED)
Best Finish: Spain (Champions, 2010), Netherlands (3x Runners-Up, Last in 2010)
Qualifying Records: Spain (6-0-2, GF: 14, GA: 3), Netherlands (9-0-1, GF: 34, GA: 5)
Pre-Tournament Game Results
Spain
June 7th - Spain def. El Salvador 2-0
Netherlands
May 31st - Netherlands def. Ghana 1-0
June 4th - Netherlands def. Wales 2-0
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Netherlands: Jonathan de Guzman (Questionable - Hamstring), Robin van Persie (Probable - Groin)
Overview
The first of the marquee matchups in the group stages is a rematch from the 2010 World Cup Final which Spain won on an Andres Iniesta goal late in extra time. No less then 11 total players who took part in that match are expected to play today, with most of those coming from Spain and the Netherlands front line. This is also the first meeting between the two countries since that final game.
Spain comes in to this tournament one one of the best runs any international team has ever put together. Euro Champions in 2008 and 2012 and World Cup Champions in 2010, this is a group players that have led a golden generation in Spain. There's questions though whether that generation is finished, particularly on the heels of a 3-0 drubbing in last year's Confederations Cup final to Brazil. Spain couldn't have asked for a tougher opening test and will show early on if they have enough in the tank for a consecutive World Cup run.
The Netherlands couldn't be more of a different squad heading in to this match. Retooled completely in the intervening period since last World Cup, Louis van Gaal has injected youth in to a brand new formation that has been surprisingly effective in the pre-tournament. Has the attacking talent to manufacture a wealth of goals but it's yet to be seen if inexperience will come back to haunt his back 5.
Netherlands should run out a 2-3-5 formation with Sneijder, Robben and van Persie up high and wing backs that can rotate between wing back and midfield. Think of the back 5 as a pendulum on the field rotating from side to side as necessary. It's a solid defensive formation but 4 of the 5 starters are under 25. Perhaps no other country has been better in World Cup history without a championship than the Dutch and a victory here would be a great start for them in their quest to erase that moniker.
Spain should go with their typical chaos formation. 5 midfielders that will float all over the field and be joined by a high pushed back line to get their passing game going. Only remaining question will be who gets the nod at striker. Will it be Diego Costa coming off injury, Torres/Villa looking to take advantage of their experience or a Fabregas/Iniesta type false nine which Spain have been successful with before. Regardless, expect some quick furious passing from the Spanish midfield as they look to take advantage of the inexperience for Netherlands.
Personnel
In the Spanish Third: It's a who's who of stars in this section of the field. Netherlands have a trio in Robben, Sneijder and RvP that are as good a group as any in the world up front. They're creative, all can finish outside the area and have support from de Jong and Clasie in the middle. They have to deal with a back line with names like Ramos, Pique and Alba though with Casillas in net. Fascinating to watch, very little separating them. Advantage: Even
In the Midfield:This is where Spain live. They have so many players capable of moving the ball and confusing opposing defences with quick runs and one-touch balls to their teammates. Regardless of opponent, no one can match Spain in this part of the pitch. Advantage: Spain.
In the Dutch Third:Where this game will likely be decided and is dependent on how Spain adapt to a very defensive formation for the Dutch. Everyone has struggled so far to get anything done against the 5 defenders, which isn't even including Nigel de Jong. Don't worry Xabi Alonso, I don't think you're starting so you're in minimal danger of a de Jong head kick. Big concerns for both sides, can the Dutch hold together and minimize holes in their line for Spain to exploit, and do Spain have an enough finishing ability to find goals against this team, especially if Costa doesn't play? Advantage: Netherlands.
Goalkeeping:Has struggled with form recently but still one of the top goalkeepers in the world is Casillas. Cillessen has been impressive in his young career but not the international experience of his counter-part. Advantage: Spain.
Spain comes in to this tournament one one of the best runs any international team has ever put together. Euro Champions in 2008 and 2012 and World Cup Champions in 2010, this is a group players that have led a golden generation in Spain. There's questions though whether that generation is finished, particularly on the heels of a 3-0 drubbing in last year's Confederations Cup final to Brazil. Spain couldn't have asked for a tougher opening test and will show early on if they have enough in the tank for a consecutive World Cup run.
The Netherlands couldn't be more of a different squad heading in to this match. Retooled completely in the intervening period since last World Cup, Louis van Gaal has injected youth in to a brand new formation that has been surprisingly effective in the pre-tournament. Has the attacking talent to manufacture a wealth of goals but it's yet to be seen if inexperience will come back to haunt his back 5.
Netherlands should run out a 2-3-5 formation with Sneijder, Robben and van Persie up high and wing backs that can rotate between wing back and midfield. Think of the back 5 as a pendulum on the field rotating from side to side as necessary. It's a solid defensive formation but 4 of the 5 starters are under 25. Perhaps no other country has been better in World Cup history without a championship than the Dutch and a victory here would be a great start for them in their quest to erase that moniker.
Spain should go with their typical chaos formation. 5 midfielders that will float all over the field and be joined by a high pushed back line to get their passing game going. Only remaining question will be who gets the nod at striker. Will it be Diego Costa coming off injury, Torres/Villa looking to take advantage of their experience or a Fabregas/Iniesta type false nine which Spain have been successful with before. Regardless, expect some quick furious passing from the Spanish midfield as they look to take advantage of the inexperience for Netherlands.
Personnel
In the Spanish Third: It's a who's who of stars in this section of the field. Netherlands have a trio in Robben, Sneijder and RvP that are as good a group as any in the world up front. They're creative, all can finish outside the area and have support from de Jong and Clasie in the middle. They have to deal with a back line with names like Ramos, Pique and Alba though with Casillas in net. Fascinating to watch, very little separating them. Advantage: Even
In the Midfield:This is where Spain live. They have so many players capable of moving the ball and confusing opposing defences with quick runs and one-touch balls to their teammates. Regardless of opponent, no one can match Spain in this part of the pitch. Advantage: Spain.
In the Dutch Third:Where this game will likely be decided and is dependent on how Spain adapt to a very defensive formation for the Dutch. Everyone has struggled so far to get anything done against the 5 defenders, which isn't even including Nigel de Jong. Don't worry Xabi Alonso, I don't think you're starting so you're in minimal danger of a de Jong head kick. Big concerns for both sides, can the Dutch hold together and minimize holes in their line for Spain to exploit, and do Spain have an enough finishing ability to find goals against this team, especially if Costa doesn't play? Advantage: Netherlands.
Goalkeeping:Has struggled with form recently but still one of the top goalkeepers in the world is Casillas. Cillessen has been impressive in his young career but not the international experience of his counter-part. Advantage: Spain.
Spain will win if:
They can work their midfield passing and draw the Dutch lines away from their goal a bit before they spring forward. The Dutch are too compact defensively for Spain to be able to get through regularly, so barring a goal from distance, they'll need to be patient, wait for the Dutch defenders to get out of position and then launch the quick attacks they can do at any time. Have to be wary of how much they involve their back line up front as well, they cannot afford to give this Dutch front 3 opportunities for fast-breaks.
They sit back in defence, mark the Spanish midfielders closely enough to prevent them from breaking loose but not over-extend themselves. The Dutch will get chances in the offensive end and can make lightning-quick counter-attacks up the field. But Spain only need the slightest of holes in the back to burn you. Not a must-win game for the Dutch, they can afford to be defensively responsible.
A lot of hype for a game that could lull viewers to sleep for a while. Spain should be content to keep possession and experiment with ways to get to goal while the Dutch will hang back and look to counter. If there's fireworks I'd expect them to occur in the second half once fatigue has kicked in. Could go either way. Dutch lines bound to fall apart at least once, Spain may struggle with the Dutch attack.
Spain 1-1 Netherlands
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