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"This is the second post in a series previewing the World Cup's eight groups. Find Group A here and check back later this week for looks at groups C, D, E, F, G and H.\n\nThe 2014 World Cup's Group B features both Spain and the Netherlands, which faced off for the trophy in 2010. It also includes an upstart from South America and some underdogs from Down Under. \nBut who are the most exciting players to watch? Who's ripe for an upset? Who will advance to the knockout stage? \nSee also: How the World Cup Works, for the Soccer Newbie\nAll that (and more!) shall be revealed right here in our 10-minute guide to Group B.\nThe teams (FIFA world ranking in parenthesis)\n\nSpain (1)\nChile (13)\nNetherlands (15)\nAustralia (59)\n\nThe landscape\n\nIn this June 7, 2013, file photo, Chile's Arturo Vidal celebrates his goal against Paraguay at a 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay.Image: Jorge Saenz/Associated PressSpain and the Netherlands played a heated final in the 2010 World Cup, which Spain won 1-0 behind a goal from Andr\u00E9s Iniesta in extra time. La Furia Roja is gunning for history in Brazil; win the 2014 trophy and its current generation of talent cements its status as arguably the greatest national team in soccer history. The two European sides face off again this year in their first match of group play.\nThe Netherlands and Chile, meanwhile, should find themselves in a dogfight for a berth in the knockout stage. The Dutch aren't as strong as they were in 2010, while Chile fields perhaps its best World Cup squad ever behind playmakers Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez. Australia's Socceroos faced long odds to make the knockout stage already, but seeing the World Cup draw land them in one of this year's toughest groups likely sealed their fate for an early exit.\nThe schedule (all times in ET)\n\nSpain versus Netherlands, June 13, Salvador, 3 p.m.\nChile versus Australia, June 13, Cuiaba, 6 p.m.\nAustralia versus Netherlands, June 18, Porto Alegre, 12 p.m.\nSpain versus Chile, June 18, Rio de Janeiro, 3 p.m.\nAustralia versus Spain, June 23, Curitiba, 12 p.m.\nNetherlands versus Chile, June 23, Brasilia, 12 p.m.\n\n4 players to watch\nAndr\u00E9s Iniesta (Spain): The midfielder is something of a savant with the ball, seeing angles and possibilities other players simply don't notice. He's equally adept at setting up teammates and scoring himself \u2014 as well as a true pleasure to watch do either one. \n\nRobin van Persie (Netherlands): The Dutch captain and top striker will be relied upon heavily if the men in orange are to advance. He's a deadly scorer, using athleticism, skill and a 6'2\" frame to get the advantage over defenders. Can van Persie lead the Dutch back to the World Cup Final? That will take some luck, but the Manchester United star certainly has the talent to help spark a run.\n\nArturo Vidal (Chile): Vidal may be unknown to the common fan, but he's emerged as a world-class player for Italy's Juventus. How good is he? Bloomberg's data-driven analysis of the top pros in Europe ranked him 11th overall in December 2013. Get acquainted now, so the box-to-box midfielder doesn't take you by surprise come June. \n\nMathew Ryan: Longtime Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer retired in November 2013, leaving the 22-year-old Ryan as his most likely replacement in the net this summer. Ryan plays pro ball in Belgium, and a sterling performance from him this summer will be key if Australia has any hopes of pulling an upset. Further raising the stakes, he'll likely have more shots headed his way than most goalies at the World Cup. \n\nThe prediction\nSpain may not be quite what they were in 2010, but they're still really, really good and we expect them to win Group B. But who will come in second and book their own trip to the knockout stage? Australia's overmatched in this deadly group, leaving Chile and the Netherlands to duke it out. From playing on their home continent to flying more under the radar than their Dutch counterparts, we like Chile to advance. \n\n\nUniforms of the World Cup, from best to worst\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Brazil\nWhen Brazil looks to win its sixth World Cup on its home soil this summer, it'll do so in the utmost style. The yellow and blue numbers above stick close to the blueprint for the sele\u00E7\u00E3o's respective home and away kits. Meanwhile, the dark green alternate jersey provides a nice change of pace, right down those subtly striped shorts. To mix our sports metaphors, Brazil (with some help from Nike) knocks it out of the park. Final score: 10/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. Spain\nAdidas does a top-notch job of balancing tradition with innovation. The red home numbers reflect the look you expect from Spain, while the away versions offer something else entirely: A black base with neon green trim. Not every nation could pull this off, but the look fits perfectly with Spain's stacked squad of fearsome attackers and creative ball-handlers. Final score 9.6/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Portugal\nAnother excellent study in contrasts. Portugal's red home kit is all fire and strength, while the away kit features a clean blue and white look. The Portuguese Football Federation's excellent patch, meanwhile, is a welcome addition to any shirt. Final score: 9.5/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Italy\nItaly has one of the game's classic kits, year in and year out. Puma does that heritage justice here, with two equally excellent outfits. From the tiny collar on the blue home shirt to the light gray pinstripes on the white away kit, little details make a difference. Final score: 9.4/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. Germany\nAnother great contrasting look. The white home kit is clean, simple and traditional, while the away kit's deep red and black stripes give the attacking German squad some fearsome style. Final score: 9.2/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6. Argentina\nArgentina's vertically striped home kits are among the most iconic in soccer. Adidas does good job of not messing with tradition here, while the  albiceleste's darker away duds look sharp too. Final score: 9.1/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7. Netherlands\nThe Netherlands signature orange home shirts and excellent lion crest give Nike plenty to work with here. But it's the subtle designs on the blue away kit that really win us over. Final score: 9/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n8. Mexico\nAdidas does El Tri justice here with a killer green home kit (moving the Federaci\u00F3n Mexicana de F\u00FAtbol Asociaci\u00F3n's crest to the middle of the shirt is a nice touch). The blood-red away kits should look awesome in Brazil as well. Final score: 8.8/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n9. France\nLess is more with France's 2014 kits from Nike. The blue home kit is classic and timeless, while horizontal gray striping takes the white away shirt to another level. Final score: 8.7/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n10. Cameroon\nPuma pulled out all the stops for Cameroon's green home jersey. The relief designs, vivid coloring and traditional lion crest (the squad's amazing nickname is the Indomitable Lions) add up to a classic. That gold away number isn't shabby either. Final score: 8.5/10. \n\nImage:  Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n11. Japan\nAnother excellent balancing act between tradition and boldness. Japan's blue home kits don't contain any huge surprises, but that neon away uni is something else entirely. Both look mighty fine, however. Final score: 8.4/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n12. England\nNike goes for a classic look on both England's home and away kits. Neither takes any real risks, but they both look pretty sweet. That yellow goalie shirt isn't bad either. Final score: 8.2/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n13. Croatia\nThose checkers! We have a feeling you'll either love or hate Croatia's unique national team kits, but we are definitely in the pro-check camp. The red and white checks look even better when used as trim on Croatia's blue away shirts. Final score: 8/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n14. Belgium\nBelgium's three looks offer plenty of variety but it's the big crown in-lay that goes a long way for us. Final score: 7.8/10\n\nImage:  Burrda Sport\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Cote D'Ivoire\nPuma deserves credit for letting the Ivory Coast's lovely green and orange colors do the heavy lifting here. The country's elephant crest is also among the coolest in soccer. Final score: 7.6/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n16. Ghana\nGhana's red away kits are sharp, but it's the creative trim around the collar of the home whites that will have the Black Stars looking extra-super in Brazil. Final score: 7.4/10\n\nImage:  Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n17. Greece\nNike stuck to simplicity for Greece, and the result is a smooth look. Then again, that simplicity doesn't offer anything far out of the ordinary, landing these uniforms in the middle of our power rankings. Final score: 7.2/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n18. United States\nWhen Nike unveiled the multi-colored USA away kits this spring, many snarkily denigrated them for looking like a summer popsicle. We think they look mighty fine -- but those home white jerseys look too much like something you'd see at a Florida retirement village. Final score: 7/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n19. Russia\nNot bad, but far from transcendent. The white away kits do feature a unique design that we like. Final score: 6.7/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n20. Australia\nPoints for simplicity -- but not too many points. Final score: 6.6/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n21. Switzerland\nThese are ... fine. Final score: 6.3/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n22. Uruguay\nThe blue-on-black home kits are kind of sweet, but this is the World Cup -- we're looking for greatness, not goodness. Final score: 6.2/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n23. Colombia\nAgain, good but not great (in our humble opinion, of course). Final score: 6/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n24. Algeria\nSome nice touches -- the crescent moon and light green color give a good starting point -- but, overall, not a lot going on. Final score: 5.8/10\n\nImage:  Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n25. Chile\nChile is an interesting dark-horse contender in Brazil, but its uniforms won't be generating a ton of buzz. We do like the red home kit's blue collar though. Final score: 5.7/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n26. Costa Rica\nEhhhh, these are okay. Final score: 5.6/10\n\nImage:  Lotto Sport\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n27. Ecuador\nThey definitely don't suck. But they definitely aren't that memorable, either. Final score: 5.5/10\n\nImage:  Marathon Sports\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n28. Nigeria\nNigeria's green and white flag offers a rich starting point, but we wish there was more going on here. Final score: 5.4\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n29. Honduras\nCool T-shirt? Yes. Cool World Cup jersey? Less so. Final score: 5.3/10\n\nImage:  Joma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n30. South Korea\nPretty pedestrian, plus those differently-colored shoulder stripes on the white away kits look a little odd. Final score: 5.1/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n31. Iran\nThat's a cool in-lay, but these are otherwise pretty meh. Final score: 5/10\n\nImage:  uhlSport\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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