World Cup 2014 Qualifying: Examining Most Impressive Sides During Qualification

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: November 20, 2013

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2014 World Cup qualification has nearly wrapped up, with all but one country locked in to the 32-team field.

The qualification process can be an arduous journey for some, while others make it look too easy.

It's difficult not to be seduced by those teams that qualify with the greatest of ease and earned a place in the World Cup with matches to spare. Those qualifying matches are, after all, the toughest tests teams will face before the World Cup begins.

For a team to have a near perfect record can be a great indicator of future success.

Plenty of teams looked great during qualifying, but these four stood out the most.

 

Netherlands



An almost perfect qualifying campaign for the Netherlands. What could possibly go wrong now?

Well, everything.

The Dutch won nine and lost one while qualifying for the 2012 European Championship. They then failed to take a single point at Euro 2012 and went home in ignominy.

There's undoubtedly been progress made under Louis van Gaal. He wasn't afraid to shake up the squad and integrate the younger players. Those were two things Bert van Marwijk failed to do in the buildup to Euro 2012.

But as good as the Dutch have been, you still have to question their potential at the World Cup. That defense is young and inexperienced, and the attack hasn't looked as fluid as it should under a coach like van Gaal.

It's safer to temper expectations heading into Brazil. While the Netherlands should be able to advance to the knockout stages, they're unlikely to repeat 2010's runner-up finish.

 

Germany



Can you believe it will have been 24 years since the Germans won the World Cup?

While it's not all that long, especially compared to England's title drought and the Netherlands' inability to win anything, it feels like a...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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