MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 08:54:17| >> :600:405805:405805:
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Attendance: 48,173
Spain national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 13, 2014 at 8pm UK
 
Netherlands national football team

1-5

Alonso (27' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
van Persie (44', 72'), Robben (53', 80'), de Vrij (64')

Team News: Diego Costa starts for Spain against the Netherlands

Diego Costa starts in attack for Spain against the Netherlands in the Group B opener.

Diego Costa has been given a start by Spain manager Vicente del Bosque for Friday night's Group B opener against the Netherlands.

There had been suggestions ahead of the match that Del Bosque would not name a recognised striker in the side, but Costa starts with support from Andres Iniesta and David Silva.

Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos will partner each other in central defence, while there is also a start for Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta.

Jonathan de Guzman and Nigel de Jong are both named in central midfield for the Netherlands, who will be relying on the creativity of Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Roben in attacking area.

Netherlands players  line up for a photo before a Group B football match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 13, 2014© Getty Images

Any issues regarding Robin van Persie's fitness seem to have gone, with Louis van Gaal trusting his captain to lead the line in Bahia.

Spain: Casillas; Azpilicueta, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Alonso, Xavi; Silva, Costa, Iniesta

Netherlands: Cillessen; Janmaat, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind; De Jong, De Guzman, Sneijder; Robben, Van Persie

You can follow live text coverage of the match on Sports Mole.

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UEFA Trophy Tour Ambassador Ruud Gullit speaks during a press conference in Lagos on March 13, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023

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