World Cup 2014 Group B preview: Spain v Netherlands

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, like record scorer Van Persie, is in fine form for his country. Five international goals this season mean punters must consider him in the anytime market too at 2/1.

Continuity has been keen to the unequalled Spanish successes of recent years – a fact no better emphasised than the presence of nine starters for the South Africa final in Del Bosque’s ranks. A total of 16 players from the World Cup winning squad of 2010 are in Brazil too.

Brazilian-born frontman Diego Costa is a fresh face for La Roja at this tournament, however, and his decision to reject the Samba Boys for his adopted country is one of the most interesting sub-plots of these finals. Yet to break his international duck, odds of 4/1 say he will net the opener against the Netherlands.

Over half of Spain’s 67 tournament goals since the 2006 World Cup have been scored by either Fernando Torres or David Villa, though, and the fact Del Bosque has still included both is significant. Three of the last four occasions on which La Roja have netted saw one of this pair wheeling away in celebration too.

Torres is 5/4 for a goal against the Dutch anytime, while Villa is a more attractive 7/4. Andres Iniesta, the Barcelona midfielder that scored the winner in the final four years ago, is 7/1 to grab the opener.

Since being handsomely beaten by Brazil in last summer’s Confederations Cup final, Spain have lost just one of 10 matches, scoring twice in eight of those. They are 6/5 to get two or more here, and 13/8 to win to nil after three successive clean sheets.

A shut-out for Van Gaal’s Clockwork Orange is far less likely because he has made sweeping changes in defence. La Roja should be able to capitalise on the naivety of youth here. A repeat 1-0 scoreline victory for them from South Africa is priced at 17/4, but a 2-1 Spain win at 9/1 is a worthy outside bet because of the Dutch attack.