MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 02:27:20| >> :120:27445:27445:
[monks data]
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')

Preview: Spain vs. Netherlands

Sports Mole previews Spain's clash with Netherlands in Group B.

One of the two standout ties in the opening round of World Cup games, Spain vs. Netherlands, kicks off on Friday evening as both sides look to get off the mark with a win in the tricky Group B.

The holders, Spain, will be out to prove that their glory years have not been and gone, and although they will be favourites for the group this game is particularly important to see how they match up against a fellow European giant.

This is seen as one of the weaker Netherlands sides for a number of years, but without the pressure of expectation the likes of Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder could cause damage to a lot of teams.

Interestingly, this clash is a repeat of the final of 2010, in which Spain emerged victorious, and Sneijder himself has admitted that the Dutch are out for revenge.

The world champions have beaten both Bolivia and El Salvador 2-0 in the build-up to the tournament, and although they were not tested at the back, their attack will need to improve to break down the Dutch.

Netherlands have beaten Ghana, who are also in the tournament, and Wales in their warm-up clashes, and importantly showed improvement against the latter.

For the Spaniards, Diego Costa has declared his fitness ahead of the tournament, which will be a huge boost. The Netherlands will be reliant on some of their more experienced players, including Van Persie, Sneijder and Arjen Robben, who should all start.

Recent form

Spain: WLWWW

Netherlands: DLDWW

Possible starting lineups

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

Netherlands: Cillessen; Janmaat, De Vriij, Vlaar, Martins Indi, Blind; Robben, De Jong, Sneijder; Van Persie, Jan-Huntelaar

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Galatasaray's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder celebrates scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B football match between Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen on October 23, 2013
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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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