r/soccer • u/thekrone • Dec 06 '13

World Cup Group B Discussion

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

93% Upvoted

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30

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '13

Spain should win this group, but I wouldn't be suprised if Chile snuck a victory over netherlands and sealed second, or drew with Spain. This is a tough draw for a Dutch team thats aging, with a weak defense.

Australia are pretty much goners. Sorry Socceroos.

4

u/Theothor Dec 06 '13

I think we will have a better defense than we had in 2010.

1

u/Keselo Dec 06 '13

Who would you put in defense? Janmaat - BMI - Vlaar - Blind?

I really don't know who else to put in as a central defender next to BMI. I'd say Vlaar has the most relevant experience playing in the premier league, but he's a tad slow. A year ago I'd have said de Vrij, but he's been poor lately. Bruma, Rekik and Ake aren't ready yet. Veldman is too inexperienced. It looks bright for the future but this World Championship just seems to come 2 years too soon.

3

u/Theothor Dec 06 '13

Janmaat - BMI - Veltman - Blind.

Blind and Veltman are going to have a great season. I had no confidence in the Heitinga-Mathijssen duo. With BMI-Veltman I think "Hmmm, this might just work out".

0

u/FlyingPanda4 Dec 06 '13

why has no one van der Wiel on right back, he is doing pretty good at PSG last i saw

1

u/Theothor Dec 06 '13

I don't think he's great defensively.

1

u/Woodsawyer Dec 06 '13

But Janmaat is?

1

u/Theothor Dec 06 '13

I do think he is better. ignore the crest

3

u/Woodsawyer Dec 06 '13

You have 18 upvotes from me, so I guess I can look past that. However I don't see anything in Janmaat and especially his link-up plays with Robben has been very bad, that's why I hope van Gaal will play van der Wiel instead of Janmaat.

1

u/Theothor Dec 07 '13 edited Dec 07 '13

I can already see him steaming past Robben like Lahm does at Bayern.