Defending champions Spain will tonight kick off their defence of the World Cup against the Netherlands at the Arena Fonte Nova in a repeat of the 2010 final.
Spain lost their opening match four years ago to Switzerland but left South Africa as world champions courtesy of a 1-0 victory over the Dutch in the final. The match produced 14 yellow cards and one red card.
Spain followed up their success on South African soil by defending their European Championship crown in 2012. No European side has won a World Cup in South America but Spain start among the favourites, even if they have been placed in a tough group and some critics have suggested they are past their best. The current Spanish team could be ranked as the greatest ever international team should they win a fourth major tournament in a row.
The Orange boys of Netherlands are the perennial underachievers on the world’s football biggest stage having lost the World Cup final on three occasions. The last was to an extra-time winner by Iniesta, and Robin van Persie, an integral member of the 2010 squad will be leading the revenge mission having recovered from a groin injury suffered in a recent friendly win over Wales. Arjen Roben, Wesley Senijder and Dirk Kuyt are also expected to feature in a game that promises to be explosive.
Expected to lead the line for Spain is Diego Costa, the Brazil-born striker who only pledged his allegiance to Spain last October. The 25-year-old has trained without reporting any ill-effects and should start ahead of David Villa for the 9pm kick-off. Cesc Fabregas, in the “false nine” position, is another option for Spain.
Both teams are fancied to progress from the group but are also aware that a defeat could prove costly as Chile; the group’s dark horses would be on alert to pounce on any loop hole.
