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
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 August 2014 October 2019
B1 (seed) SpainUEFAUEFA Group I winners15 October 201314th2010Winners (2010)1178
B2 NetherlandsUEFAUEFA Group D winners10 September 201310th2010Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)815312
B3 ChileCONMEBOLCONMEBOL third place15 October 20139th2010Third place (1962)12141217
B4 AustraliaAFCAFC Fourth Round Group B 2nd runners-up18 June 20134th2010Round of 16 (2006)57627944
Notes
  1. The rankings of October 2013 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings
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

Spain vs Netherlands
Further information: List of 2014 FIFA World Cup controversies § Spain vs Netherlands
External video
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
 Report
Attendance: 48,173
Spain
Netherlands
GK1Iker Casillas (c) 65'
RB22César Azpilicueta
CB3Gerard Piqué
CB15Sergio Ramos
LB18Jordi Alba
RM8Xavi
CM16Sergio Busquets
LM14Xabi Alonso 62'
RW21David Silva 78'
LW6Andrés Iniesta
CF19Diego Costa 62'
Substitutions:
FW9Fernando Torres 62'
FW11Pedro 62'
MF10Cesc Fàbregas 78'
Manager:
Vicente del Bosque
GK1Jasper Cillessen
CB2Ron Vlaar
CB3Stefan de Vrij 41' 77'
CB4Bruno Martins Indi
RWB7Daryl Janmaat
LWB5Daley Blind
CM8Jonathan de Guzmán 25' 62'
CM6Nigel de Jong
AM10Wesley Sneijder
CF9Robin van Persie (c) 66' 79'
CF11Arjen Robben
Substitutions:
MF20Georginio Wijnaldum 62'
DF13Joël Veltman 77'
FW17Jeremain 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

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
Attendance: 40,275
Chile
Australia
GK1Claudio Bravo (c)
RB4Mauricio Isla
CB17Gary Medel
CB18Gonzalo Jara
LB2Eugenio Mena
RM20Charles Aránguiz 86'
CM21Marcelo Díaz
LM8Arturo Vidal 60'
RF7Alexis Sánchez
CF10Jorge Valdivia 68'
LF11Eduardo Vargas 88'
Substitutions:
MF16Felipe Gutiérrez 60'
MF15Jean Beausejour 68'
FW9Mauricio Pinilla 88'
Manager:
Jorge Sampaoli
GK1Mathew Ryan
RB2Ivan Franjic 49'
CB22Alex Wilkinson
CB6Matthew Špiranović
LB3Jason Davidson
CM15Mile Jedinak (c) 58'
CM5Mark Milligan 67'
RW7Mathew Leckie
AM23Mark Bresciano 78'
LW11Tommy Oar 68'
CF4Tim Cahill 44'
Substitutions:
DF19Ryan McGowan 49'
MF10Ben Halloran 68'
MF14James 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

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]

With his goal Depay became the youngest ever Dutch scorer in the World Cup at the age of 20.[18]

Australia 2–3 Netherlands
 Report
Attendance: 42,877
Australia
Netherlands
GK1Mathew Ryan
RB19Ryan McGowan
CB22Alex Wilkinson
CB6Matthew Špiranović
LB3Jason Davidson
CM15Mile Jedinak (c)
CM17Matt McKay
RW7Mathew Leckie
AM23Mark Bresciano 51'
LW11Tommy Oar 77'
CF4Tim Cahill 43' 69'
Substitutions:
MF13Oliver Bozanić 51'
MF10Ben Halloran 69'
FW9Adam Taggart 77'
Manager:
Ange Postecoglou
GK1Jasper Cillessen
CB2Ron Vlaar
CB3Stefan de Vrij
CB4Bruno Martins Indi 45+3'
RM7Daryl Janmaat
CM8Jonathan de Guzmán 78'
CM6Nigel de Jong
LM5Daley Blind
AM10Wesley Sneijder
CF9Robin van Persie (c) 47' 87'
CF11Arjen Robben
Substitutions:
MF21Memphis Depay 45+3'
MF20Georginio Wijnaldum 78'
FW17Jeremain 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

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, and the first since 1950 to be eliminated after only two games (Italy were drawn into a three-team group and only played two games in 1950).[22]

Spain 0–2 Chile
Report
Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Attendance: 74,101
Spain
Chile
GK1Iker Casillas (c)
RB22César Azpilicueta
CB4Javi Martínez
CB15Sergio Ramos
LB18Jordi Alba
CM16Sergio Busquets
CM14Xabi Alonso 41' 46'
RW21David Silva
AM6Andrés Iniesta
LW11Pedro 76'
CF19Diego Costa 64'
Substitutions:
MF17Koke 46'
FW9Fernando Torres 64'
MF20Santi Cazorla 76'
Manager:
Vicente del Bosque
GK1Claudio Bravo (c)
CB17Gary Medel
CB5Francisco Silva
CB18Gonzalo Jara
RM4Mauricio Isla
CM20Charles Aránguiz 64'
CM21Marcelo Díaz
LM2Eugenio Mena 61'
AM8Arturo Vidal 26' 88'
CF11Eduardo Vargas 85'
CF7Alexis Sánchez
Substitutions:
MF16Felipe Gutiérrez 64'
MF10Jorge Valdivia 85'
MF6Carlos 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

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
GK1Mathew Ryan
RB19Ryan McGowan
CB6Matthew Špiranović 88'
CB22Alex Wilkinson
LB3Jason Davidson
CM17Matt McKay
CM15Mile Jedinak (c) 90+2'
CM13Oliver Bozanić 72'
RW7Mathew Leckie
CF9Adam Taggart 46'
LW11Tommy Oar 61'
Substitutions:
MF10Ben Halloran 46'
MF14James Troisi 61'
MF23Mark Bresciano 72'
Manager:
Ange Postecoglou
GK23Pepe Reina
RB5Juanfran
CB2Raúl Albiol
CB15Sergio Ramos (c) 62'
LB18Jordi Alba
CM14Xabi Alonso 83'
CM17Koke
AM6Andrés Iniesta
RW20Santi Cazorla 68'
LW7David Villa 56'
CF9Fernando Torres
Substitutions:
MF13Juan Mata 56'
MF10Cesc Fàbregas 68'
MF21David 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

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
Attendance: 62,996
Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
Netherlands
Chile
GK1Jasper Cillessen
RB7Daryl Janmaat
CB2Ron Vlaar
CB3Stefan de Vrij
LB5Daley Blind 64'
RM20Georginio Wijnaldum
CM6Nigel de Jong
LM15Dirk Kuyt 89'
AM10Wesley Sneijder 75'
SS11Arjen Robben (c)
CF17Jeremain Lens 69'
Substitutions:
MF21Memphis Depay 69'
MF18Leroy Fer 75'
DF14Terence Kongolo 89'
Manager:
Louis van Gaal
GK1Claudio Bravo (c)
CB17Gary Medel
CB5Francisco Silva 25' 70'
CB18Gonzalo Jara
RWB4Mauricio Isla
LWB2Eugenio Mena
CM20Charles Aránguiz
CM21Marcelo Díaz
AM16Felipe Gutiérrez 46'
CF7Alexis Sánchez
CF11Eduardo Vargas 81'
Substitutions:
MF15Jean Beausejour 46'
MF10Jorge Valdivia 70'
FW9Mauricio 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)

References
  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". 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. "Referee designations for matches 1-4" (PDF). FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 10 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". 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.
  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". 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". Guardian. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  21. "Spain 0 Chile 2". BBC Sport. 18 June 2014.
  22. "Taxi for tiki-taka! Spain become the fifth World Cup holders to crash out in the group stage after Brazil, France and Italy (twice)". Daily Mail. 18 June 2014.
  23. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  24. "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". 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". 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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