Group B - Spain, Netherlands, Chile & Australia

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Discuss all Group B teams and matches here

But they never looked good. Gobble up one performance all you want,

Yeah, still don't think Netherlands will go far, can see Chile pipping them to top spot and then Netherlands to go out to Brazil.

Thought the Dutch looked vulnerable today, and really we've seen now the Spain result was just as much down to there amazing incompetence as it was Dutch brilliance

Crimey wrote:Yeah, still don't think Netherlands will go far, can see Chile pipping them to top spot and then Netherlands to go out to Brazil.

Exactly this, just so long as Chile play on Monday with the same intensity as they did today.

Are Robben/RVP both suspended? Its a 5pm kick off too, heat will favour Chile aswell.

Hero wrote:I'm going for a Netherlands shock group win, although I think Spain will get further.

1. Netherlands
2. Spain
3. Chile
4. Australia

Yeah okay Spain imploded but boom get in my Dutch beauties!!

Are you enjoying the Dutch? LVG has brought Mourinho football to Holland.

He's brought playing the right tactics against the opposition he's against, Utd knew when to grind out results too when required.
10 goals in 3 games is hardly parking the bus.

He's played 5 at the back, given up possession and basically if Robben is stopped then they have no spark.

agree, deguzman/de jong cant dictate games, they are just ball winners. dutch have given up posesssion & sat back, they even did it vs australia. they pull the wing backs in to become a tight 5 & then spring to either sneijder to begin a counter or hit it into space long for robben to deliver.

They have 3 players and 8 guardians of the goal

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:He's played 5 at the back, given up possession and basically if Robben is stopped then they have no spark.

A lot of that has to do with Strootman being injured. He basically changed the whole formation in the build up because he didn't like the replacements enough.

I still dont see it as an excuse. If that was Greece people would be whining

It's Holland and you're whining.

I shall be supporting the Dutch in the up and coming match against the argy bargies.

If the Dutch lose, which I doubt, then fine.
If the Dutch win, which I expect, score to be 3-2, then let the party begin.

Come on the boys oranje!

They lose 4-2 on penalties, I feel their hurt.

Should've had the argies earlier on and attacked them from the start.
Some good chances but no real result.
Saw the hunger but no goals.

Its not that I told you so, Hero, its that their performances told you so. People remember the great Dutch teams who, even in defeat, were wonderful to watch. No one will, at least fondly, remember this side as their poor football and awful approach has got them nothing.

Not an inspiring side at all unlike the superb Dutch team of the 70s. They didn't deserve to make the Final.
Germany v Argentina should be a much better Final to watch anyway. More interesting at least.

I don't think they were any less deserving than Argentina - who have been very underwhelming in this tournament given the players they have at their disposal.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Its not that I told you so, Hero, its that their performances told you so. People remember the great Dutch teams who, even in defeat, were wonderful to watch. No one will, at least fondly, remember this side as their poor football and awful approach has got them nothing.

They were penalties away from a World Cup final, if any Dutch fan had been told before the WC they'd get that far they'd have bitten their hand off.
Before the WC started, I'd have preferred for LVG to have taken a number of the younger stars along, Promes, Vilhena, Boetius etc but LVG went with tried and trusted guys that perhaps weren't the exciting talents but ones that knew what was required to get through games and as a result they were a hairs breath from the final.
If given a choice this season with Utd of playing attractive football and finishing 7th again or grinding back towards the top then sorry the beautiful game but I'd plump for a season of borefests.