Netherlands - Group B
The cliché image of the Dutch team is of an exceptionally talented group of players whose egos prevent them ever being a good team and who spend the entire World Cup hating each other far more than the opposition. Nevertheless, that talent was enough to make it to the final last time and only an exceptionally good Spain team kept them from taking home their first trophy. The stars of the 2010 team are now four years older, though, and their younger replacements have yet to convince.
Players to watch: Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar are all back…but Holland’s offense has never been the problem….
Prediction: Unless Chile or the hapless Australians can pull off a shocker, the Netherlands should easily escape the group stages…but any further than the quarters would be a surprise.
