Holders Spain will face Netherlands in their FIFA World Cup 2014 opener in what will be a mouthwatering clash and also a rematch of last edition’s final, at the Mangabeira Stadium in Salvador on June 13.
Spain are serial winners under Coach Vicente Del Bosque going into the tournament. After winning three major honours on the road to the World Cup starting from Euro 2008, Spain are rightly considered as strong contenders for Brazil, 2014.
One problem that they will have to deal with is Xavi’s form on the pitch. The pass master has been far from his best in recent times while starring for Barcelona. If he is picked for the game on Friday, which is a distinct possibility, it will be interesting to see how things pan out. If it does not work out as planned, Spain have the likes of Koke and Cesc Fabregas to call on, enviable options for any manager.
Spain play a 4-2-3-1 with a lot of width. Iker Casillas leads the La Roja from goal with Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique in central defense. The holding midfielder roles are filled by the able Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets while Andres Iniesta starts inside left with either Pedro or David Silva playing inside right. The width is provided by full backs Cesar Azpilicueta and Jordi Alba who will all look to feed an in-form Diego Costa, who returns to his home nation to play for Spain in the World Cup.
Netherlands go into the World Cup after progressing quite easily in the qualifiers thanks to the efforts of skipper Robin van Persie, who scored 11 goals in 9 games for the Oranje. Louis Van Gaal has employed some radical changes in the way his team is set up, very close to the tournament. Van Gaal has experimented with a 5-3-2 formation with a lot of width in a move that has been seen as a compromise for the loss of Kevin Strootman, who misses the tournament with injury.
The system sees van Persie up front with Arjen Robben partnering him. Wesley Sneijder and Jordy Classie are expected to start in the two attacking midfield roles with Nigel de Jong in the defensive midfield roles. Daryl Janmaat and Daley Blind should start on either flank with Ron Vlaar, Bruno Martins Indi, and Stefan de Vrij completing the defense with Tim Krul in goal.