Casillas: Netherlands will rely on their seasoned triangle

SALVADOR, Brazil - Defending champions Spain will start their 2014 World Cup in Group B against Netherlands on Friday and Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes the Dutch side will be largely relying on their attacking triangle including Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie.

"Robben is a very fast player. He played with me for two seasons in Real Madrid. He was a very good player back then. I played against him a couple of times both at club level and national level. He is always a decisive player in all the matches we played," Casillas said in the pre-match news conference in the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

"There are younger players of course in the Dutch squad. I think, together with Sneijder and van Persie, the three seasoned players are three pillars with extraordinary international experiences. And I think their chance will be relying greatly on this triangle, " the 33-year-old goalie added.

Friday's match will be a repeat of the 2010 World Cup final which the Spaniards won 1-0 in extra time. But for Casillas these are two very different matches

"The match in South Africa will have nothing to do with the match we will be playing tomorrow. But it is obviously very important for us to beat them," Casillas said.

"When you start a World Cup and you do not get a good result, you will be very tense and under huge pressure in the next match trying to make up the mistakes made before. I think if you start well then that's part of your success for the future. In terms of the match against Netherlands, we want to beat them."

"We want a good tournament here and want to repeat out victory, " said Casillas. "We are favorites, but all teams want to play as best they can when they face Spain. I think we are motivated. Our team will be strong and we want to progress as far as possible and defend our title."

The Group B also include Chile and Australia who will take on each other on Friday in Cuiaba.