2014 FIFA World Cup Group B

Group B of the 2014 FIFA World Cup consisted of Spain, the Netherlands, Chile, and Australia. This group contained the finalists of the previous World Cup in 2010: Spain (reigning champion) and the Netherlands (runners-up). Play began on 13 June and ended on 23 June 2014. The Netherlands and Chile progressed to the knockout stage, while Australia and Spain were eliminated after suffering two defeats in their opening two matches. Chile was eliminated by Brazil in the second round after penalties, while the Netherlands made their way to the semi-finals in which they lost to Argentina on penalties. The third place match was won by the Netherlands with a convincing 3–0 victory against Brazil.

Teams

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Draw position Team Confederation Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2013[nb 1] June 2014
B1 (seed)   Spain UEFA UEFA Group I winners 15 October 2013 14th 2010 Winners (2010) 1 1
B2   Netherlands UEFA UEFA Group D winners 10 September 2013 10th 2010 Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010) 8 15
B3   Chile CONMEBOL CONMEBOL third place 15 October 2013 9th 2010 Third place (1962) 12 14
B4   Australia AFC AFC fourth round Group B 2nd runners-up 18 June 2013 4th 2010 Round of 16 (2006) 57 62
Notes
  1. ^ The rankings of October 2013 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Netherlands 3 3 0 0 10 3 +7 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Chile 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6
3   Spain 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 3
4   Australia 3 0 0 3 3 9 −6 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria

Matches

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Spain vs Netherlands

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External videos
  Spain v Netherlands (Brazil 2014) on YouTube

The two teams had met in 9 previous matches, including in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, won by Spain 1–0 after extra time.[1] This was the first time in the FIFA World Cup that the previous finalists met in the group stage.

Halfway into the first half, the referee judged that Diego Costa caught a trailing leg from Stefan de Vrij's attempted tackle. Xabi Alonso scored the penalty kick for Spain, shooting into the bottom-right corner with his right foot, putting them into the lead. They were unable to keep the lead until half time though, with Robin van Persie scoring a 15-yard diving looping header after a long ball from Daley Blind from the left after he spotted Iker Casillas slightly off his line.[2] In the second half, Blind assisted another goal for Netherlands, this time setting up Arjen Robben who controlled the pass before coming inside to finish with his left foot from ten yards out. Twelve minutes later, Netherlands scored again, as De Vrij headed the ball in from a tight angle from a Wesley Sneijder free kick on the left. Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas protested that he had been fouled by Van Persie, but the goal was allowed to stand and Casillas received a yellow card for his protest. Not long after this, a backpass from Sergio Ramos was miscontrolled by Casillas with his left leg, resulting in Van Persie gathering the ball and scoring into an empty net for his second goal of the game. The fifth goal for Netherlands was a solo effort from Robben. Having received the ball near the halfway line from a Wesley Sneijder pass, he outran Ramos, Jordi Alba and Casillas, before slotting the ball into the net from 10 yards out with his left foot.[3][4][5]

The 5–1 scoreline was the biggest loss margin for a defending champion in the FIFA World Cup, and also Spain's second biggest loss in the World Cup after their 6–1 thrashing against Brazil in 1950.[6] With their goals, Van Persie and Robben became the first Dutch players to score in three World Cups.[7] Casillas and Xavi joined Andoni Zubizarreta as the only Spanish players to appear in four World Cups.[8]

Spain  1–5  Netherlands
  • Alonso   27' (pen.)
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands
GK 1 Iker Casillas (c)   65'
RB 22 César Azpilicueta
CB 3 Gerard Piqué
CB 15 Sergio Ramos
LB 18 Jordi Alba
RM 8 Xavi
CM 16 Sergio Busquets
LM 14 Xabi Alonso   62'
RW 21 David Silva   78'
LW 6 Andrés Iniesta
CF 19 Diego Costa   62'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Fernando Torres   62'
FW 11 Pedro   62'
MF 10 Cesc Fàbregas   78'
Manager:
Vicente del Bosque
 
GK 1 Jasper Cillessen
CB 2 Ron Vlaar
CB 3 Stefan de Vrij   41'   77'
CB 4 Bruno Martins Indi
RWB 7 Daryl Janmaat
LWB 5 Daley Blind
CM 8 Jonathan de Guzmán   25'   62'
CM 6 Nigel de Jong
AM 10 Wesley Sneijder
CF 9 Robin van Persie (c)   66'   79'
CF 11 Arjen Robben
Substitutions:
MF 20 Georginio Wijnaldum   62'
DF 13 Joël Veltman   77'
FW 17 Jeremain Lens   79'
Manager:
Louis van Gaal

Man of the Match:
Robin van Persie (Netherlands)

Assistant referees:
Renato Faverani (Italy)
Andrea Stefani (Italy)
Fourth official:
Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway)
Fifth official:
Kim Haglund (Norway)

Chile vs Australia

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The two teams had met in five previous matches, including in the 1974 FIFA World Cup group stage, a 0–0 draw.[10]

Chile took a 2–0 lead within the first 15 minutes. First, Alexis Sánchez controlled an Eduardo Vargas header in the penalty area to slot home. Two minutes later, Jorge Valdivia's shot from a Sánchez pass doubled the lead. Australia pulled one back through a Tim Cahill header from a cross by Ivan Franjic before half time.[11] Australia could not find the equaliser in the second half, and in stoppage time, Chilean substitute Jean Beausejour converted the rebound after Mauricio Pinilla's shot was saved by Mathew Ryan.[12]

With their respective goals, Cahill became the first Australian player to score in three World Cups,[13] while Beausejour became the first Chilean player to score in two World Cups.[14]

Chile  3–1  Australia
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chile
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Australia
GK 1 Claudio Bravo (c)
RB 4 Mauricio Isla
CB 17 Gary Medel
CB 18 Gonzalo Jara
LB 2 Eugenio Mena
RM 20 Charles Aránguiz   86'
CM 21 Marcelo Díaz
LM 8 Arturo Vidal   60'
RF 7 Alexis Sánchez
CF 10 Jorge Valdivia   68'
LF 11 Eduardo Vargas   88'
Substitutions:
MF 16 Felipe Gutiérrez   60'
MF 15 Jean Beausejour   68'
FW 9 Mauricio Pinilla   88'
Manager:
  Jorge Sampaoli
 
GK 1 Mathew Ryan
RB 2 Ivan Franjic   49'
CB 22 Alex Wilkinson
CB 6 Matthew Špiranović
LB 3 Jason Davidson
CM 15 Mile Jedinak (c)   58'
CM 5 Mark Milligan   67'
RW 7 Mathew Leckie
AM 23 Mark Bresciano   78'
LW 11 Tommy Oar   68'
CF 4 Tim Cahill   44'
Substitutions:
DF 19 Ryan McGowan   49'
MF 10 Ben Halloran   68'
MF 14 James Troisi   78'
Manager:
Ange Postecoglou

Man of the Match:
Alexis Sánchez (Chile)

Assistant referees:
Songuifolo Yeo (Ivory Coast)
Jean-Claude Birumushahu (Burundi)
Fourth official:
Roberto Moreno (Panama)
Fifth official:
Eric Boria (United States)

Australia vs Netherlands

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The two teams had met in three previous matches, all in friendlies, most recently in 2009.[15]

The Netherlands took the lead after Arjen Robben collected a Daley Blind headed pass at the halfway line, burst into the penalty area and scored with a low shot to the goalkeepers left. Soon after the restart, Australia equalised through Tim Cahill's left-foot volley into the goal from the underside of the bar from Ryan McGowan's cross.[16] Australia took the lead in the second half with Mile Jedinak's penalty, awarded for a handball by Daryl Janmaat, but Robin van Persie equalised after he received substitute Memphis Depay's pass and scored. Ten minutes later, Memphis Depay received a pass from Jonathan de Guzmán and his long-range effort beat Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.[17]

At the age of 20, Depay's goal made him the Netherlands' youngest scorer at World Cups.[18]

Australia  2–3  Netherlands
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Australia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands
GK 1 Mathew Ryan
RB 19 Ryan McGowan
CB 22 Alex Wilkinson
CB 6 Matthew Špiranović
LB 3 Jason Davidson
CM 15 Mile Jedinak (c)
CM 17 Matt McKay
RW 7 Mathew Leckie
AM 23 Mark Bresciano   51'
LW 11 Tommy Oar   77'
CF 4 Tim Cahill   43'   69'
Substitutions:
MF 13 Oliver Bozanić   51'
MF 10 Ben Halloran   69'
FW 9 Adam Taggart   77'
Manager:
Ange Postecoglou
 
GK 1 Jasper Cillessen
CB 2 Ron Vlaar
CB 3 Stefan de Vrij
CB 4 Bruno Martins Indi   45+3'
RM 7 Daryl Janmaat
CM 8 Jonathan de Guzmán   78'
CM 6 Nigel de Jong
LM 5 Daley Blind
AM 10 Wesley Sneijder
CF 9 Robin van Persie (c)   47'   87'
CF 11 Arjen Robben
Substitutions:
MF 21 Memphis Depay   45+3'
MF 20 Georginio Wijnaldum   78'
FW 17 Jeremain Lens   87'
Manager:
Louis van Gaal

Man of the Match:
Arjen Robben (Netherlands)

Assistant referees:
Rédouane Achik (Morocco)
Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)
Fourth official:
Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
Fifth official:
Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)

Spain vs Chile

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The two teams had met in ten previous matches, including twice in the FIFA World Cup group stage, both won by Spain (1950: 2–0; 2010: 2–1).[19]

Chile opened the scoring when Charles Aránguiz squared a pass to Eduardo Vargas to score home in the penalty area. Near the end of the first half Alexis Sánchez's free kick was parried by Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas to Aránguiz who put in the rebound.[20] Spain, which needed at least a point to stay alive in the competition, had its best chance in the second half which fell to Sergio Busquets, but he missed from close range.[21] Spain's loss confirmed the qualification of both Chile and the Netherlands into the knockout stage, and eliminated both Spain and Australia.

Spain became the fifth defending champions to be knocked out in the group stage.[22]

Spain  0–2  Chile
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chile
GK 1 Iker Casillas (c)
RB 22 César Azpilicueta
CB 4 Javi Martínez
CB 15 Sergio Ramos
LB 18 Jordi Alba
CM 16 Sergio Busquets
CM 14 Xabi Alonso   41'   46'
RW 21 David Silva
AM 6 Andrés Iniesta
LW 11 Pedro   76'
CF 19 Diego Costa   64'
Substitutions:
MF 17 Koke   46'
FW 9 Fernando Torres   64'
MF 20 Santi Cazorla   76'
Manager:
Vicente del Bosque
 
GK 1 Claudio Bravo (c)
CB 17 Gary Medel
CB 5 Francisco Silva
CB 18 Gonzalo Jara
RM 4 Mauricio Isla
CM 20 Charles Aránguiz   64'
CM 21 Marcelo Díaz
LM 2 Eugenio Mena   61'
AM 8 Arturo Vidal   26'   88'
CF 11 Eduardo Vargas   85'
CF 7 Alexis Sánchez
Substitutions:
MF 16 Felipe Gutiérrez   64'
MF 10 Jorge Valdivia   85'
MF 6 Carlos Carmona   88'
Manager:
  Jorge Sampaoli

Man of the Match:
Eduardo Vargas (Chile)

Assistant referees:
Sean Hurd (United States)
Joe Fletcher (Canada)
Fourth official:
Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)
Fifth official:
Yaser Tulefat (Bahrain)

Australia vs Spain

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The two teams had never met before.[23] Australia forward Tim Cahill was suspended for the match due to accumulation of yellow cards.[24]

In a match between two already-eliminated teams, Spain went in front in the 36th minute after Andrés Iniesta threaded a pass down the right to overlapping full-back Juanfran, who then crossed the ball low to David Villa to finish with a back flick of his right foot low to the net.[25] In the second half, Fernando Torres scored Spain's second with a low finish from the left of the penalty area after a pass from Iniesta, before substitute Juan Mata, receiving a pass from Cesc Fàbregas, scored from the right of the penalty area with a low shot between the goalkeeper's legs.[26]

Villa's goal was his ninth career World Cup goal. Already Spain's record World Cup goalscorer, he also joined Fernando Hierro, Raúl and Julio Salinas as Spanish players who had scored in three World Cups.[27]

Australia  0–3  Spain
Report
Attendance: 39,375
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Australia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spain
GK 1 Mathew Ryan
RB 19 Ryan McGowan
CB 6 Matthew Špiranović   88'
CB 22 Alex Wilkinson
LB 3 Jason Davidson
CM 17 Matt McKay
CM 15 Mile Jedinak (c)   90+2'
CM 13 Oliver Bozanić   72'
RW 7 Mathew Leckie
CF 9 Adam Taggart   46'
LW 11 Tommy Oar   61'
Substitutions:
MF 10 Ben Halloran   46'
MF 14 James Troisi   61'
MF 23 Mark Bresciano   72'
Manager:
Ange Postecoglou
 
GK 23 Pepe Reina
RB 5 Juanfran
CB 2 Raúl Albiol
CB 15 Sergio Ramos (c)   62'
LB 18 Jordi Alba
CM 14 Xabi Alonso   83'
CM 17 Koke
AM 6 Andrés Iniesta
RW 20 Santi Cazorla   68'
LW 7 David Villa   56'
CF 9 Fernando Torres
Substitutions:
MF 13 Juan Mata   56'
MF 10 Cesc Fàbregas   68'
MF 21 David Silva   83'
Manager:
Vicente del Bosque

Man of the Match:
David Villa (Spain)

Assistant referees:
Yaser Tulefat (Bahrain)
Ebrahim Saleh (Bahrain)
Fourth official:
Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)
Fifth official:
Aden Marwa (Kenya)

Netherlands vs Chile

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The two teams had never met before.[28] Netherlands forward Robin van Persie was suspended for the match due to accumulation of yellow cards.[24]

With both teams already assured of qualifying for the knockout stage after their first two matches, this match would decide which team would win the group: the Netherlands needed only a draw while Chile needed a win. The Netherlands went in front in the 77th minute with a header from six yards by substitute Leroy Fer after a Daryl Janmaat cross from the right. Another substitute Memphis Depay got the second in injury time, when he scored from close range after Arjen Robben had made a run down the left before crossing from the byline.[29] With this win the Netherlands won Group B with a perfect record of three wins out of three, while Chile finished as group runners-up.[30]

Netherlands  2–0  Chile
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chile
GK 1 Jasper Cillessen
RB 7 Daryl Janmaat
CB 2 Ron Vlaar
CB 3 Stefan de Vrij
LB 5 Daley Blind   64'
RM 20 Georginio Wijnaldum
CM 6 Nigel de Jong
LM 15 Dirk Kuyt   89'
AM 10 Wesley Sneijder   75'
SS 11 Arjen Robben (c)
CF 17 Jeremain Lens   69'
Substitutions:
MF 21 Memphis Depay   69'
MF 18 Leroy Fer   75'
DF 14 Terence Kongolo   89'
Manager:
Louis van Gaal
 
GK 1 Claudio Bravo (c)
CB 17 Gary Medel
CB 5 Francisco Silva   25'   70'
CB 18 Gonzalo Jara
RWB 4 Mauricio Isla
LWB 2 Eugenio Mena
CM 20 Charles Aránguiz
CM 21 Marcelo Díaz
AM 16 Felipe Gutiérrez   46'
CF 7 Alexis Sánchez
CF 11 Eduardo Vargas   81'
Substitutions:
MF 15 Jean Beausejour   46'
MF 10 Jorge Valdivia   70'
FW 9 Mauricio Pinilla   81'
Manager:
  Jorge Sampaoli

Man of the Match:
Arjen Robben (Netherlands)

Assistant referees:
Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)
Felicien Kabanda (Rwanda)
Fourth official:
Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)
Fifth official:
William Torres (El Salvador)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Spain humiliated as rampant Holland blast five in World Cup shock". The Guardian. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Spain 1-5 Netherlands". BBC Sport. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Spain v Holland, World Cup 2014: as it happened". The Telegraph. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Spain v Holland: World Cup 2014 – as it happened". The Guardian. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  6. ^ Lowe, Sid (13 June 2014). "Spain suffer not just a defeat but a World Cup disaster against Holland". The Guardian.
  7. ^ "Manchester United Striker Robin Van Persie Sets New Dutch World Cup Goal-Scoring Record". Caughtoffisde.com. 14 June 2014.
  8. ^ "These are the players who have defended Spain in more World Cups". sefutbol.com. 28 June 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Referee designations for matches 1-4" (PDF). FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 10 June 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2014.
  10. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Australia's fighting spirit not enough as Alexis Sánchez fires up Chile". The Guardian. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Chile 3 Australia 1". BBC Sport. 13 June 2014.
  13. ^ "World Cup 2014: Battling Socceroos take Chile to the wire". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 June 2014.
  14. ^ "A place in history for returning Beausejour". FIFA.com. 14 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014.
  15. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Holland come from behind to beat brave Australia in Group B classic". The Guardian. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Australia 2 Netherlands 3". BBC Sport. 18 June 2014.
  18. ^ "Eagles down, but not out -Ameobi". The Sun. 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  19. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  20. ^ "Spain crash out as irresistible Chile prove too much of a handful". The Guardian. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  21. ^ "Spain 0 Chile 2". BBC Sport. 18 June 2014.
  22. ^ Ornstein, David (19 June 2014). "World Cup 2014: Spain's stunning demise signals the end". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  23. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Van Persie and Cahill earn suspensions". ESPN FC. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  25. ^ "David Villa helps Spain salvage some pride with victory over Australia". The Guardian. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  26. ^ "Australia 0 Spain 3". BBC Sport. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  27. ^ "David Villa se despide marcando" (in Spanish). Yahoo! Deportes. 24 June 2014.
  28. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 41. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  29. ^ "Holland top Group B after Leroy Fer header helps break Chile's resolve". The Guardian. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  30. ^ "Netherlands 2 Chile 0". BBC Sport. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
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