Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

[sledger]

Del Bosque has to take the blame. Didn't see the writing on the wall, especially for Casillas. Picking the right keeper alone would've made a huge difference.

It would have done, but I doubt it would have been enough to change the result. The way the team played on a whole was basically unrecognisable.

 

[Salamuddin]

Pretty sure Spain will bounce back well from this. The reign had to end at some point.

Spain has arguably best youth development system in Europe - they won the Euro 21 championships in 2013
and there are a lot of good young players coming through.

Provided the next manager (Del Bosque has to go IMO) is prepared to infuse some freshness into their playing style, they'll be a serious contender for both Euro 2016 and WC 2018 IMO.

 

[GIMH]

Euros will come too soon now as they will have to rebuild, IMO. But yes they should be strong in the next WC.

 

[marc71178]

Don't get why Spain have persisted with an out of sorts Costa and ****e Torres when Fabregas worked so well in the Euros.

Don't get why Torres went when Negredo was sat at home.

 

[sledger]

Don't get why Torres went when Negredo was sat at home.

Yeah, this occurred to me yesterday too. Absolutely bizarre choice.

 

[GIMH]

I would have thought it obvious. One has been out of form for about 4 months, the other about 4 years

Oh wait

 

[OverratedSanity]

Torres is basically a Spanish Ishant Sharma right now.

 

[sledger]

I can at least remember Torres being good. I can't say the same of Sharma.

 

[GIMH]

Liverpool getting 50m for him would be one of the all time great deals had they no spent 70% of it on Andy Carroll

 

[Uppercut]

Don't get why Torres went when Negredo was sat at home.

Yeah Llorente too.

 

[sledger]

Liverpool getting 50m for him would be one of the all time great deals had they no spent 70% of it on Andy Carroll

And the remaining 30% on Stewart Downing.

 

[Nate]

C'mon guys, we were all having such a good time, STOP WRECKING IT

 

[Nate]

#WeveNeverLostToSpain

 

[Cabinet96]

And the remaining 30% on Stewart Downing.

Didn't they get Suarez along with Carroll? Probably good business in the end ironically.

 

[BeeGee]

I don't often root for Australia, but I want them to beat Spain so, so much! C'mon Straya!

 

[The Sean]

Still no Mata.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Australia deserve something from this world cup. Been a joy to watch.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

NL continuing where they left off last week I see.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Bought Suarez in the "winter" transfer window before the sale of Torres, if my memory serves me correctly.

EDIT: Wait did they sell Torres that window too? They did, didn't they. Suppose it counts.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I can't be the only one who thinks Leckie's WC has been massively overrated? Can't remember him doing much of **** all tbh. Runs around a lot.