FIFA World Cup Final Preview - Holland Vs Spain

With Holland and Spain to meet in the World Cup finaldisguise, as it served to quell the ghost of
at the Soccer City Stadium in Jo'burg on Sunday, theunderperformance that has been Spain's bane, in the
one thing that can be predicted with certainty is thatpast. Eschewing flair, for clinical efficiency, Spain have
there will be a new champion added to the mostworked their way past obdurate oppositions who
exclusive club in football.seemed set on denying the Spaniards rather than
With South American teams dominating up to thescoring themselves.
quarter-final phase of the tournament, nobody wouldXavi, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets have been the
have dared predict that Holland and Spain would meetthree-pronged midfield support for the prolific David
in the final. But with both Argentina and Brazil shownVilla, joint top contender for the Golden Boot, along
the door in the quarter-finals, a European championwith Dutchman, Schneider. Pedro, replacing the out of
was on the cards, especially as the African teams didform Torres, in the semi-final, is likely to get another
not justify pre-tournament predictions that foresawstart, following his good showing in the semi-final. But
their ascendancy.without his hunting partner by him, Villa was not the
The finalists are two extremely talented teams thatsame force against Germany, and Del Bosque could
play an open and attacking brand of football, farfactor that in his team selection process.
removed from the gritty game that has served ItalyCarles Puyol has led from the front whether as a
and Germany so well in the recent past. Holland werecalming influence, in defence, or as a force to reckon
pipped at the post on two occasions, in 1974 and 1978,with, in attack.
while Spain's best performance prior to this edition hasBoth teams come into this match on the back of five
not exceeded a quarter-final entry. Ironically, this year,consecutive wins.
the two teams had to resort to more grit andA key battle will be that between Wesley Schneider --
ruthlessness, and less flair, en route to the final.tied at 5 goals each, with David Villa, in contention for
Quite in contrast with "total football", the Dutch havethe Golden Boot -- and Sergio Busquets and Xabi
played percentage football, with little expenditure ofAlonso as the protective wall in front of the back line.
energy, to boast an all-win record at this World Cup.For Spain, David Villa will probably come up against
Denmark, Japan and Cameroon were more grist toVan der Wiel, who missed the Uruguay game through
the Dutch mill, in the group stage. Slovakia was moresuspension. Van der Wiel might well decide to stick
of the same, in the round of 16, and Merwyjk's menwith his right back position in defence, to keep Spain's
faced their first real challenge in the quarter-final whenlone marauder at bay, instead of joining the hounds, on
they met Brazil. Down by an early goal, following ahis flank.
defence lapse, Holland were given a life-line in the formHolland should go with Schneider as their lone striker in
of an own goal by Felipe Melo. Melo compounded hisa 4-2-3-1 formation. With  the return of De Jong and
error by getting sent off for stamping on Robben,Van der Wiel, the defence looks less vulnerable than it
even as the Dutch, now 2-1 up, were cruising to andid against Uruguay. Kuyt is likely to get space to
unlikely win.exploit on the left, with Schneider, Robben and Van
Skipper Giovanni van Bronckhorst put Holland aheadPersie drawing the attention of the Spanish defence.
of Uruguay with a 35 yarder from the left flank thatFor Spain, Pedro might find himself out, despite his
was arguably the goal of the tournament.performance against Germany, to allow Torres to
Schneider and Robben then gave individual notice ofpartner Villa. Gerard Pique could be a crucial factor in
Dutch masterclass, and despite an injury time fightdefence following his great showing in the semi-final.
back from Uruguay, there was only one winner on theDel Bosque will count on Villa to go for the Golden
day.Boot, to add to his highest scorer tag at Euro 2008,
Midfielder Mark von Bommel has been Holland's pillar ofespecially as he was denied a strike by the Germans.
strength, and along with De Jong, due back fromI am averse to making a prediction for this game, as it
suspension, should direct the course of the match forwould be a pity to see either team lose. The entry of
the Dutch, in the final. Holland will also have back theHolland and Spain into the World Cup final is the best
services of their right back Gregory Van der Wiel, alsopossible thing that could happen, in the interest of world
returning from suspension. In what will probably be Vanfootball, which is drifting towards efficiency as
Bronckhorst's last match for Holland, the skipper will beopposed to flair, with winning the only thing that
hoping for an encore of his performance againstmatters. Holland dominated an entire decade in the
Uruguay.1970's, without winning football's biggest prize. Spain
 have displayed the kind of genius one associates with
The pressure of expectation has not told on Spain,the likes of Brazil with nothing to show for it, except
joint favourites with Brazil in pre-tournament predictions.the recent Euro 2008 championship win.
Though less than spectacular, Spain have succeeded,There's no denying that Spain are the more complete
in taking rival defennces apart, time and again, duringside. Let's wait and see who emerge as the better
this tournament.team on the day...
The first match loss to the Swiss proved a blessing in