All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC -4)
June 13th, 3:00 p.m., Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Spain vs. Netherlands
June 13th, 6:00 p.m., Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba
Chile vs. Australia
June 18th, 12:00 p.m., Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
Australia vs. Netherlands
June 18th, 3:00 p.m., Maracana - Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, Rio de Janeiro
Spain vs. Chile
June 23rd, 12:00 p.m., Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
Netherlands vs. Chile
June 23rd, 12:00 p.m., Arena da Baixada, Curitiba
Australia vs. Spain
Teams
Australia
Bullets
- World Ranking: 62nd
- World Cup Appearances: 4 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Round of 16 (2006)
- Received byes for Rounds and 1 and 2 of Asian qualifying. Finished 1st, 7 points ahead of Oman, in Round 3:Group D to advance to Round 4. Finished 2nd, 4 points behind Japan, in Round 4:Group B to qualify.
- 8-2-4, 25 Goals For and 12 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Joshua Kennedy (5)
- 4-5-3, 19 Goals For and 25 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Ange Postecoglou (GRE). Took control of Australia in October 2013. This is first senior national team job, having previously managed Australia's U-20 team from 2000-2007.
- Captain: Mile Jedinak. Midfielder, Crystal Palace (ENG)
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 500/1
Roster
Goalkeepers: Eugene Galekovic (#18, Adelaide United), Mitchell Langerak (#12, Borussia Dortmund, GER), Mathew Ryan (#1, Club Brugge, BEL)
Defenders: Jason Davidson (#3, Heracles Almelo, NED), Ivan Franjic (#2, Brisbane Roar), Ryan McGowan (#19, Shandong Luneng Taishan, CHN), Matthew Spiranovic (#6, Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (#22, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, KOR), Bailey Wright (#8, Preston North End, ENG)
Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic (#13, Luzern, SUI), Mark Bresciano (#23, Al-Gharafa, QAT), James Holland (#16, Austria Wien, AUT), Mile Jedinak (#15, Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (#21, Swindon Town, ENG), Matt McKay (#17, Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (#5, Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (#11, Utrecht, NED), James Troisi (#14, Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (#20, Sion, SUI)
Forwards: Tim Cahill (#4, New York Red Bulls, USA), Ben Halloran (#10, Fortuna Dusseldorf, GER), Mathew Leckie (#7, FSV Frankfurt, GER), Adam Taggart (#9, Newcastle Jets)
Possible Starting XI
Where to begin? This is a team that got through Asian qualifying by the skin of its teeth, and is missing 2 of its best players in the offensive zone. Josh Kennedy has been recovering from a back injury, and despite leading the team with 5 qualifying goals, he has been deemed expendable by coach Ange Postecoglou. And 21 year old attacking midfielder Tom Rogic, expected to be their breakout player in Brazil has been sidelined by a groin injury and will miss the tournament as well.
The central midfielders are expected to be on a defensive stance through much of the tournament, so that leaves the offence to the front 3 of Cahill, and whoever flanks him on the wings. At 34, Cahill is in the twilight of his career, but Australia will need their top scorer in history to be in his best form in Australia. Small in stature, Cahill has made a career out of playing larger then he is. Cahill is fearless, and his physicality on the ball and in set pieces will be an asset for the diminutive striker. The wing positions aren't set in stone but I would anticipate Ben Halloran and Tommy Oar to see the bulk of the time. The 2 youngsters both bring pace and add width to an Australia front 6 that is otherwise lacking in speed and endurance. Oar and Halloran extending the ball upfield on the wings for crosses may be Australia's best hope to get any sustainable pressure on their opponents.
Defence
The news doesn't get much better on D for the Socceroos, as they bring just 6 true defenders to Brazil, with a combined 42 caps for their country. 42 CAPS FOR THE ENTIRE DEFENCE COMBINED! Australia brings youth to the table in their starting four and little else in the way of experience. Only Jason Davidson plays his club soccer in a major league. His fullback counterpart Ivan Franjic is recovering from injury and was expected to compete for a role with veteran Luke Wilkshire, who wasn't even included in the final 23.
Will cover them below but the bright spots for Australia will be in the defensive midfield and in goal. Captain Mile Jedinak appeared in every game this season for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League, and will be the main cover for the very young Aussie defence. Behind them is 22 year old goalkeeper Mathew Ryan who won the starting role this past year, and has garnered attention from top clubs in Europe seeking a goalkeeper of the future.
3 Key Players
Mile Jedinak. Australia may count on 3 particular players more than any other team in Brazil. The captain of the squad is their defensive midfielder Mile Jedinak. Jedinak is a solid midfielder who plays this role for his club and will sit in front of their back line and hopefully slow up the dangerous attacking midfielders that Australia will face. If Jedinak can't somewhat contain players with the names Sneijder, Iniesta and Vidal, then Australia will be facing an embarrassment in this group.
Mathew Ryan. Mark Schwarzer's retirement opened up a battle for the starting goalkeeper for Australia, a battle won by the 22 year old Ryan who makes his living for Brugge in Belgium. Ryan was named goalkeeper of the year this past season in Belgium, and as mentioned has been the target of transfer rumours for clubs such as Real Madrid. Put simply, the Aussie defence will provide their opponents with chances and if Ryan cannot step up then he'll be pulling the ball out of his net frequently.
Tim Cahill. The leading goalscorer in Australian history has been the key fixture for the Aussies throughout the past "golden" generation and is one of the last remaining players from that group. Undersized at 5'10", Cahill is a scrappy player who can play all over the midfield but is playing upfront to utilize his creativity in the penalty area. Expected to have support from Kennedy and Rogic in attack, Cahill is now the one name on the Australian rosters that opposing defences will need to worry about. It's unknown if Cahill can do everything himself up front, but he might have to in order to get some results.
Other Name to Know
Mark Milligan. Slotted in as a starting midfielder, Milligan may end up pulling double duty in the defensive backfield. Ivan Franjic's injury concerns are real and with the only right back in the provisional squad (Wilkshire) cut today, Milligan may find himself pigeonholed in to a right back role, despite being a regular midfielder.
Overall Impression
There may be worse teams in the World Cup this year but not many. Postecoglou took over a mess when he inherited this team. The next generation of Australian football players doesn't match the generation that got them to the 2006 and 2010 Cups, and Postecoglou is stuck between trying to develop that younger group and not wanting to be blown out. Mixes of inexperience and players past their prime, there hasn't been much to choose from for Australia, a fact hampered further by injuries. Drawn in to one of the toughest groups to boot, the Aussie fans may not be able to wait for this group to be over with.
Chile
Bullets
- World Ranking: 14th
- World Cup Appearances: 9 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Third Place (1962)
- Finished 3rd, 4 points behind Argentina, in South America to qualify.
- 9-6-1, 29 Goals For and 25 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorers in Qualifying: Eduardo Vargas, Arturo Vidal (5)
- 8-2-2, 31 Goals For and 13 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Jorge Sampaoli (ARG). Sampaoli took over as manager December 2012. Chile is his first national team job. He previously managed Club Universidad de Chile.
- Captain: Claudio Bravo. Goalkeeper, Real Sociedad (ESP)
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 40/1
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (#1, Real Sociedad, ESP), Johnny Herrera (#23, Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (#12, Universidad Catolica)
Defenders: Miiko Albornoz (#3, Malmo, SWE), Gonzalo Jara (#18, Nottingham Forest, ENG), Gary Medel (#17, Cardiff City, WAL), Eugenio Mena (#2, Santos, BRA), Jose Rojas (#13, Universidad de Chile)
Midfielders: Charles Aranguiz (#20, Internacional, BRA), Jean Beausejour (#15, Wigan Athletic, ENG), Carlos Carmona (#6, Atalanta, ITA), Marcelo Diaz (#21, FC Basel, SUI), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (#19, Colo-Colo), Felipe Gutierrez (#16, FC Twente, NED), Mauricio Isla (#4, Juventus, ITA), Francisco Silva (#5, Osasuna, ESP), Jorge Valdivia (#10, Palmeiras, BRA), Arturo Vidal (#8, Juventus, ITA)
Forwards: Fabian Orellana (#14, Celta Vigo, ESP), Esteban Paredes (#22, Colo-Colo), Mauricio Pinilla (#9, Cagliari, ITA), Alexis Sanchez (#7, Barcelona, ESP), Eduardo Vargas (#11, Valencia, ESP)
Possible Starting XI
The most entertaining to watch (other than <insert your team here>) in the offensive zone, Chile's all-out attacking style adheres them to fans and creates danger for every opponent when facing them. Preferred formation is a 3-4-3, but they will adapt that to a 4-3-3, 4-2-2 or 4-1-4-1 in-game if necessary. Chilean forwards and midfielders need to be able assume a different role and understand their responsibilities on the fly more so then every other team. Vargas and Vidal tied for the most goals in qualifying with 5 each, and should be joined up front with Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez who is coming off a breakout season in Spain.
Chile relies heavily on their quickness and the ability of the midfielders to push forward and pierce through the defence to create chances. They also counter-attack as well as anyone in the world. Their formation by it's nature pushes further up the field than most, so any turnovers by their opponent can be punished quickly as Chile are forward in numbers in the blink of an eye.
Defence
Ah, but there's always a catch...Very few teams utilize the formation that Chile does, simply because it leaves you very exposed on the back end. Chile often struggles to control the wings, as they're flankers push so far up the field. If their opponents are behind them then it's usually a free run down near the penalty area, lest Chile risk exposing the centre of the field to crosses. Chile can combat this by rotating to a 4-man back line (typically Mauricio Isla will slide to full back), but doing so negates much of the offensive threat they pose which is the heart of this team.
Fortunately for Chile, they have a reliable back line, even with just 3 players. Jara and Medel both play in Britain with large success and each have 60 caps for their country. They should be joined by either Isla (Juventus) or Mena (Santos), both of whom have extensive experience as well. No starting defender is older than 28 years old. A starting role is not a certainty but if Chile really want to bolster defence, they'll drop Charles Aranguiz in to a holding role in front of the back line.
3 Key Players
Arturo Vidal. Vidal has been recovering from knee surgery but Sampaoli gave Vidal his vote of confidence, including him in his squad and he is expected to start for Chile. This is a huge boost for Chile as Vidal can line up as a winger or a central midfielder and provide instant offence for the Chileans. Vidal possesses a complete game, and is a true box-to-box midfielder. He has elite level tackling, play-making and scoring ability and may very well be the best player in a group that includes Spain and Netherlands.
Alexis Sanchez. A veteran of sorts with 65 caps and 22 goals for his country, Sanchez will be a star player for Chile in already his 2nd World Cup. Somewhat disappointing since moving to Barcelona 3 years ago, Sanchez notched a career best 21 goals and 54 appearances for Barcelona this season, installing himself as a fixture at right wing for one of the top clubs in the world. Sanchez's speed will create all sorts of problems for opponents and he can be equally as dangerous delivering the ball to players like Vargas, as he is connecting on runs to the area for shots on goal.
Gary Medel. A microcosm of Chile's philosophy in the game, Medel should play in the centre of their defensive line, despite his generously listed height of 5'8". Medel's speed and aggressiveness can catch opposing forwards off-guard, and he possesses surprising strength considering his size. With only 3 backs, Medel's position in the centre will be crucial both protecting the penalty area and communicating with the rest of his line to best cover up the holes that can and will develop from time to time.
Other Name to Know
Mauricio Isla. Isla is expected to start at right midfield, but can play as a right winger or a right back if the situation requires. If and when Chile change their formation up, look for Isla to be the man moving forward or back as necessary. One look at Isla on the right side at any point in the game should tell you exactly what Chile is trying to do at any given time.
Overall Impression
I love watching Chile play because more often then not, their games will develop in to a back-and-forth slugfest, where the team to win is probably whoever scores last. I can only imagine the heart problems Chilean fans must undergo every time they take the field. The question to me is can they do enough on both ends of the field to top one of Spain or Netherlands. Both Spain and Netherlands can control the ball and have excellent shape on the back end. Chile will get their chances against them, but whether or not it's enough is a question no one can ever predict with Chile. Get your popcorn ready when Chile take the field though, there will be fireworks one way or another.
Netherlands
Bullets
- World Ranking: 15th
- World Cup Appearances: 10 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Runners-Up (1974, 1978, 2010)
- Finished 1st, 9 points ahead of Romania in Europe Round 1:Group D to qualify.
- 9-0-1, 34 Goals For and 5 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Robin van Persie (11)
- 6-1-5, 24 Goals For and 9 Goals against in last 12 months
- Manager: Louis van Gaal. van Gaal took over as manager July 2012. Previously managed Netherlands from 2000-2002, failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. Won UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995.
- Captain: Robin van Persie. Forward, Manchester United (ENG)
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 25/1
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (#1, Ajax), Tim Krul (#23, Newcastle United, ENG), Michel Vorm (#22, Swansea City, WAL)
Defenders: Daley Blind (#5, Ajax), Daryl Janmaat (#7, Feyenoord), Terence Kongolo (#14, Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (#4, Feyenoord), Joel Veltman (#13, Ajax), Paul Verhaegh (#12, FC Augsburg, GER), Ron Vlaar (#2, Aston Villa, ENG), Stefan de Vrij (#3, Feyenoord)
Midfielders: Jordy Clasie (#16, Feyenoord), Memphis Depay (#21, PSV Eindhoven), Leroy Fer (#18, Norwich City, ENG), Jonathan de Guzman (#8, Swansea City, WAL), Nigel de Jong (#6, Milan, ITA), Arjen Robben (#11, Bayern Munich, GER), Wesley Sneijder (#10, Galatasaray, TUR), Georginio Wijnaldum (#20, PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (#19, Schalke 04, GER), Dirk Kuyt (#15, Fenerbahce, TUR), Jeremain Lens (#17, Dynamo Kyiv, UKR), Robin van Persie (#9, Manchester United, ENG)
Possible Starting XI
Netherlands debuted the above 2-3-5 formation in a friendly against Ghana to great reviews. The gained defensive advantage from the formation allows the front 3 for Netherlands in particular freedom to move and create how they see fit. I can't see Louis van Gaal having made the switch in formation if he didn't have the trio up front that he does. Sneijder and Robben are 2 of the top attacking midfielders in the game, to go with an elite striker such as van Persie.
Netherlands will not be able to rely solely on those three though. Jonathan de Guzman did a good job in support of those 3 against Ghana and is expected to be the primary link between the defence and the front 3, filling in for the injured Rafael van der Vaart. While called a 2-3-5, don't be surprised to see either of the fullbacks, Blind or Janmaat well in to opposing territory on the rush to provide support. Either one can join the midfield at any time, and the defence will rotate in to a type of 4-3-3 formation for an extra offensive spark
Defence
The 2-3-5 move is in part because of the attacking threats posed by Chile and Spain in the group, but also because all 5 projected starters are young. Vlaar is the elder statesman at 29, and no one else is over 24. Perhaps most concerning for van Gaal is that of the 8 defenders on the roster, none of them were on the 2010 World Cup squad that went to the final. The forwards and midfielders are relatively known commodities, but it's the young defensive line that will ultimately determine the success for the Dutch this tournament.
With Blind and Janmaat expected to press forward in support of the midfield, the primary defensive onus falls to the 3 central defenders, who will shift from side in support as necessary. Vlaar should be the anchor in the centre of the pitch, with 22-year old Feyenoord teammates de Vrij and Martins Indi flanking him. Behind them is the equally young and inexperienced Jasper Cillessen. The 25-year old Ajax goalkeeper only started seeing regular time for his club this past season.
3 Key Players
Wesley Sneijder. Sneijder will be called an attacking midfielder in the lineup, but in reality he, Robben and van Persie's positions will be pretty meaningless once the game starts. The best playmaker of the 3 stars up front, Sneijder's primary role in this squad will be to hold the ball and allow the other 2 to get open in the opposing area. Set pieces are the other major area where Sneijder will make an impact. Few in the game are better at delivering free kicks than Sneijder and he will surely have opportunities to test opposing goalkeepers in Brazil.
Jonathan de Guzman. With 5 defenders on the field, and 3 very attack-oriented players up front, the 2 central midfielders are among the most crucial for the Dutch to be successful. Nigel de Jong is a proven quantity, with 70 caps to his name and having appeared in the 2010 World Cup. de Guzman on the other hand has made less than a dozen appearances for his adopted country (born in Canada), and is only in the starting lineup after Rafael van der Vaart picked up a calf injury in training. With de Jong tasked as a holding midfielder, de Guzman will be the only offensive-minded midfielder between the central defence and Sneijder. His ability to ensure the ball flows upfield could make all the difference in ensuring the Dutch front 3 can get some quality scoring opportunities.
Daley Blind. I was watching Netherlands play Ghana in a pre-tournament game and immediately looked up Blind after I saw number 5 time and time again creating space on the left wing and delivering the ball across to the forwards. Blind's ability to race upfield, win balls and generally be a nuisance along the entire flank was incredible and stood out amongst a number of quality Dutch efforts in the game. I wondered if the Dutch would be able to get offence with 5 defenders on the field, Blind put those fears to rest in a matter of minutes. Switching between a left winger and left back with ease, Blind could be the breakout player of the tournament.
Other Name to Know
Memphis Depay. Typically a left winger, Memphis Depay could very well be the first off the bench in attack, as he can provide a scoring threat from all over the field. Depay is also rumoured to be a top transfer target for Manchester United, the club that Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal will take over at the end of the World Cup.
Overall Impression
There's something about this team that is very exciting when you look at them. They've combined a deadly trio upfront with a squad full of youth and exuberance in the back end, all the while unveiling a new formation under a manager leaving whenever they're eliminated. It seems a recipe for disaster, especially given the Dutch history for infighting, but this seems to be a cohesive and very impressive unit. The youth is concerning, especially with 2 potent offences ahead of them but I think if they can escape the group, the Dutch are capable of making a run in this tournament. At the very least, this will be a team to watch looking ahead to 2018 with so many young players on the bench.
Spain
Bullets
- World Ranking: 1st
- World Cup Appearances: 14 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Champions (2010)
- Finished 1st, 3 points ahead of France, in Europe Round 1:Group I to qualify.
- 6-0-2, 14 Goals For and 3 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Pedro (4)
- 10-2-2, 30 Goals For and 9 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Vicente del Bosque. del Bosque has managed Spain since July 2008, winning the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. He has also won 2 UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid in 2000 and 2002.
- Captain: Iker Casillas. Goalkeeper, Real Madrid
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 6/1
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (#1, Real Madrid), David de Gea (#12, Manchester United, ENG), Pepe Reina (#23, Napoli, ITA)
Defenders: Jordi Alba (#18, Barcelona), Raul Albiol (#2, Napoli, ITA), Cesar Azpilicueta (#22, Chelsea, ENG), Juanfran (#5, Atletico Madrid), Javi Martinez (#4, Bayern Munich, GER), Gerard Pique (#3, Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (#15, Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (#14, Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (#16, Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (#20, Arsenal, ENG), Cesc Fabregas (#10, Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (#6, Barcelona), Koke (#17, Atletico Madrid), Juan Mata (#13, Manchester United, ENG), David Silva (#21, Manchester City, ENG), Xavi (#8, Barcelona)
Forwards: Diego Costa (#19, Atletico Madrid), Pedro (#11, Barcelona), Fernando Torres (#9, Chelsea, ENG), David Villa (#7, Atletico Madrid)
Possible Starting XI
The above formation is an estimate at best, as Spain just have so many options at del Bosque's disposal in attack. It's still yet to be seen if Diego Costa will be healthy, and even if he is, whether or not Spain will employ a true striker, or go with a false nine that they won the 2012 Euro with (A 'false nine' refers to employing a midfielder in place of a central striker or forward. Target men up front typically wear number 9, so employing a midfielder in that spot creates a 'false nine'). Regardless of whether Spain uses a true striker, it is their midfield that has been the engine of their offence for the past decade since this group of players broke on to the scene. The 4 Barcelona midfielders in the lineup can find each other with passes in their sleep and the speed with which the ball can be whipped around is breathtaking at times. Even without a true striker, Spain will cause all kinds of problems, as all 6 midfielders are capable of scoring and making runs from all angles.
In the event Spain do go with a forward, a couple questions have to be answered. If healthy, Costa would be preferred, but Fernando Torres is still in favour with del Bosque and could start up front (Torres should make appearances off the bench regardless). Then there's the question of Pedro who can play on both wings and up front, and could easily take the place of anyone in this lineup. Spain are spoiled for riches in the attacking zone, but they'll need someone to step up in a scoring role if they want to become the third country to repeat as World Cup champions.
Defence
The retirement of Carles Puyol moves Sergio Ramos inside to pair in the centre with Gerard Pique as anchors of the Spanish defence. With close to 200 caps between the 2, they will form one of the top defence pairings in the tournament. Jordi Alba joins them at left back, having broke in to the team during their Euro 2012 run. It's right back that's potentially a little unsettled with relative newcomer Cesar Azpilicueta expected to assume the role. Azpilicueta provides plenty of offensive support, but as been suspect on the defensive end at times for Chelsea.
Sergio Busquets will resume his holding midfield role as a shield for the Spanish defence. Playing the same role for Barcelona, Busquets is with little doubt the top defensive midfielder in the world, always hovering around the ball in midfield and relieving all sorts of pressure from the Spanish defence which is crucial to them being able to push up in offensive support. Backstopping this all is captain Iker Casillas, still the first-choice goalkeeper for Spain despite poor form this past season in Spain. The injury to Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes relieved much of the pressure on Casillas, and he has continuously received del Bosque's support as his number one.
3 Key Players
Sergio Ramos. Has typically played at right back for Spain, he will now slide inside to central defence where he plays with Real Madrid. A quality defender, Ramos' biggest impact is expected to come on the offensive end. Most teams get their offence from the back out of the wings, but Ramos is about the best in the world at pushing forward from the defence in to the midfield and creating or taking scoring chances himself. Relatively short for a central defender (6'0"), Ramos is also one of the best in the world off of set pieces, continually finding himself around the ball off of corner kicks and adding an aerial threat to Spain's game that their front 6 cannot provide.
Sergio Busquets. Talked about him earlier, but what Busquets brings to a team in invaluable. Busquets presence alone forces opponents out to the wings in attack, as going straight at him is almost a futile effort. Busquets will also be counted on for cover when Azpilicueta or Ramos go wandering forward. Not an offensive threat necessarily, but the key that allows everyone else around him to fill that role.
Cesc Fabregas/Andres Iniesta. The x-factors in the Spanish midfield. Both players can play anywhere in the midfield, and fill in as a forward if Spain don't employ a striker. It's rare to have 1 player as versatile Fabregas or Iniesta, Spain has the luxury of both of them at their disposal. If things are happening in the offensive penalty area, expect Fabregas or Iniesta's name to be part of it. Also pay no attention to what position they start the game at, similar to the Dutch front 3, these 2 will float all over the field until they find what works.
Other Name to Know
Diego Costa. One of the most talked about players in the buildup to this World Cup, Costa is the closest thing Spain have to a pure goalscorer. Having injured his thigh in Atletico Madrid's final La Liga match, Costa has been in a race to get healthy in time for the World Cup and it appears as of now that he will be ready to go come the first match. Not the playmaker that the rest of the Spanish front are, but if Spain needs goals, Costa will be the one to provide them.
Overall Impression
I have a couple of big concerns with Spain that shouldn't impact them escaping the group but could hurt them down the road. The first is upfront, specifically Costa/Torres/whoever. Spain got by in Euro 2012 by throwing Fabregas, Silva and Iniesta forward, but I wonder if teams have seen this from them before and can gameplan around it. Costa or an on-form Torres force opposing defences back and open up room for the midfielders they won't have without them on the field. The other question is age. Torres and Villa are both 30+ up front. Xavi is 34, Xabi Alonso could start but is 32. Iniesta is 30. At some point age has to catch up to this team right? Combine that with trying to defend a title and Spain have a huge target on their backs. Shouldn't bother them this group. Will bother them in the knockout stages.
FINAL THOUGHTS AND PREDICTIONS
It's a 3-team group. Any points Australia take from this group will be a shock and with 3 explosive teams facing them, I don't see it happening. That leaves 3 games and some fascinating stylistic matchups. Spain's ball control vs. Chile's attack vs. Netherlands everything. Also a tough group to predict with injuries still up in the air. My gut says if Chile are to knock off one of the 2010 finalists, it will be the defending champions rather then the Dutch. I think Netherlands' defensive shape and counter-attacking ability are better suited to beating Chile then Spain's possession game is. It also wouldn't stun me to see a 3-way tie on 6 points with the top 3 each winning and losing one game against the others. I'll go with Spain and Netherlands but Chile could easily take either of their places in the Round of 16.
Spain-7 pts
Netherlands-7 pts
Chile-3 pts
Australia-0 pts
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