Just a day to go to the greatest soccer spectacle on the planet! Those who know me will know that I will be rooting (as always) for the Netherlands.

Ha, will those Dutch ever win a World Cup?

Yes. But not in 2014.

I say this looking at the Netherlands’ young, talented but inexperienced team this year. Among these talents are Memphis ​“the new CR7″ Depay, Jordy ​“the Dutch Xavi” Clasie, 2014 Dutch Footballer of the Year Daley Blind, Daryl Janmaat and others.

Spain in 2002 carried the same title of perennial underachievers until 2008 when their group of star players hit the same frequency together. Today they are called the Golden generation of Spanish football. Like the Spanish a decade before them, I believe the Netherlands will stand a much stronger chance to win in 2018.

So what are my expectations for the Netherlands in Brazil 2014?

Pragmatically speaking, I’m still optimistic. Being placed in a group along with Spain and Chile is one thing, and losing both Kevin Strootman and Rafael van der Vaart to injury is another. But that could be negated by the tactics of Loius van Gaal and the younger players’ desire to announce themselves on the world stage.

Spain are the hands-down the best team in the world, but they are starting to show signs of an ageing side. Chile don’t have recognisable names apart from Vidal, Sanchez and maybe Vargas; and have conceded the most goals per match during qualification among all the finalists.

We have been criticized by ​“pundits” for an inexperienced midfield and defence. But Spencer Steevensz asks us to remember one thing:

In June 2010, Luis Suarez was a little known Uruguayan striker for Ajax, and by July he was a household name throughout the world. The same could be said of Daryl Janmaat, who looks to be headed to Napoli; or Bruno Martins Indi, who may follow coach Louis Van Gaal to Manchester United; or Georginio Wijnaldum, Memphis Depay, Terence Kongolo, Joel Veltman or Stefan De Vrij. The talent is young, and many have not featured prominently on the international stage, and they’ll be relishing their first chance.

Tactics are everything. And on the biggest stage of all, unheralded teams sometimes shine while the big guns fail to fire. Who can forget how Guus Hiddink led an unfancied South Korea to fourth place in 2002? Louis van Gaal’s 5−3−2 against Spain will be seen as either disaster or master-stroke. I’m sincerely praying for the latter.

Not to mention, any team with the attacking prowess of Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, and Wesley Sneijder (who has re-proven his place in the Oranje), should not be taken lightly.

My predictions for the Group Stage

NED 1 : 1 ESP
NED 2 : 0 AUS
NED 1 : 0 CHI

Everyone knows what the Dutch are capable of. On their day, Robben and company can spring quite the surprise. Let the games begin! Hup Holland Hup!