Today, the Netherlands and Chile are to fight it out for top spot in Group B to see who will avoid a round-two assignment against five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil.
The Oranje and Chilean squads both won their first two games, putting them into the last 16 with a maximum six points each and sending reigning champions Spain crashing out in spectacular fashion, along with group minnows Australia.
Only goal-difference separates the two, with the Netherlands narrowly on top after their 5-1 win demolition of Spain and 3-2 scrap against the Socceroos.
Hosts Brazil are favored to top Group A, meaning they will face whoever finishes second in Group B — a match that neither the Netherlands, nor Chile would relish.
Yet with the outcome of Group A — where Brazil, Mexico and Croatia are separated by just one point — far from clear, Group B’s winners could still end up facing the Selecao.
It is a complicating factor that neither the Netherlands, nor Chile will want to dwell on before today’s game at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo.
In their 5-1 deconstruction of La Roja, Netherlands striker Arjen Robben clocked a record-setting 37kph as he inspired his side to avenge their loss to Spain in the 2010 finals. Yet it remains to be seen if the Bayern Munich speed specialist will hit those heights in the Chile clash, effectively a precursor for the knock-out challenges ahead.
Robben and teammate Robin van Persie of Manchester United have lit up the tournament with three goals each, but more are needed if their side are to reach their second final in a row.
Coach Louis van Gaal, who will link up with Van Persie when he takes the reigns at Old Trafford next season, will be looking for more solidity after some distinctly worrying moments against Australia.
Against one of the tournament’s least fancied teams, the Clockwork Orange were trailing 2-1 early in the first half before Van Persie and Memphis Depay spared their blushes.
“I needed to change something at half-time to boost their confidence and change their mindset,” Van Gaal said. “Fortunately, it turned out OK, but it could have turned out differently. To recover and correct that situation showed a lot of mental strength.”
The Dutch squad may find themselves against an under-strength Chile after Juventus star Arturo Vidal and Sport Club Internacional’s Charles Aranguiz both skipped training on Friday.
Aranguiz and Vidal, who is on a yellow card, came off injured during the 2-0 rout of Spain, which sensationally ended the European and world champions’ title defense. However, Vidal said he had no concerns about picking up a second yellow that would earn him a one-match ban, ruling him out of Chile’s round-of-16 game.
“This squad is showing how great it is and that’s why I’m not thinking about that yellow card, nor that I could be suspended,” Vidal told Chile’s El Mercurio newspaper. “I just hope to play and be in the group, that’s the mentality of this group.”
Midfielder Carlos Carmona, who could be promoted to the starting lineup if either Vidal or Aranguiz are ruled out, said the squad was strong enough to cope with their absence.
“Eventual suspensions are something normal in these tournaments, but we have players who can replace anyone in such an eventuality,” the 27-year-old Atalanta BC player said.
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