Group B featured both finalists of the 2010 World Cup; defending champions Spain were eliminated in the group stage alongside Australia, while the Netherlands advanced to third place.
Key Facts
- Group play dates
- 13 June – 23 June 2014
- Teams advancing
- Netherlands and Chile
- Teams eliminated
- Spain (defending champions) and Australia
- Netherlands final result
- Third place, 3–0 win over Brazil
- Chile eliminated by
- Brazil in round of 16 (penalties)
- Netherlands eliminated by
- Argentina in semi-finals (penalties)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Group B brought together the two finalists from the 2010 FIFA World Cup — Spain, the defending champions, and the Netherlands, the runners-up — alongside Chile and Australia, making it one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
Matches were played between 13 and 23 June 2014. Spain and Australia were eliminated after each lost their opening two games, while the Netherlands and Chile advanced to the knockout stage from a group that had been widely anticipated as a rematch of the 2010 final.
Chile reached the round of 16 before losing to hosts Brazil on penalties. The Netherlands progressed to the semi-finals, where they lost to Argentina on penalties, but ultimately claimed third place with a 3–0 victory over Brazil. Spain's group-stage exit marked a dramatic end to their four-year reign as world champions.
Result
at Various venues, Brazil