JOHANNESBURG European champions Spain go into tonights potentially explosive World Cup final clash against the Netherlands hoping to shake off once and for all their tag as the nearly men of world football by lifting the coveted trophy. (Pictured: Xavi A match winner for Spain)
It is a feat that La Roja, who have never been in a World Cup final before, have previously failed to achieve. But one that after a 1-0 but efficient victory over Germany, at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban last Wednesday night most pundits say La Roja are well capable of achieving at Johannesburgs Soccer City Stadium tonight.
Before falling to Spain in a repeat of the 2008 European Cup final, the Germans had looked on cruise control decimating old foes England 4-1 in a second round match in Mangaung and humbling Diego Maradonas erstwhile high-riding Argentina 4-0 in Cape Town.
That is as far as they could go though, as they could not find their rhythm against Spain, powered by mostly players from two of their biggest clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid to exhibit free-flowing soccer that has seen them recover from a shock 1-0 loss to lowly Switzerland in their first game to win all those that followed without earning a single yellow card.
Powered by the agility of goalkeeper and skipper Iker Casillas, the dependability of twin centre backs Carlos Puyol and Gerrard Pique, the overlapping runs of fullbacks Joan Capdevila and Sergio Ramos and the steel of defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets, the La Roja gave Germany very little, if any, breathing space and restricted them to their own half.
Then came the dynamism and passing abilities of Barcelona playmaker Xavi Hernandez, the wit and dribbling skills of Andreas Iniesta and the tenacity of Xabi Alonso and Spain were a complete, compact package too much for the Germans to handle.
The European champions could have sent the Germans to the cleaners had their strikers played more as part of the team than treasure hunters seeking personal glory David Villa and Pedro choosing to shoot even from the tightest of angles when better positioned team-mates are crying fro the ball.
The current generation of Spanish players, the first team from that country to reach both the semi-finals and final of the World Cup, will be out to etch their names in the annals of history by becoming the first generation to win the biggest price in world soccer. In their dizziest of previous heights, Spain had only managed to reach four quarterfinals of the World Cup.
On their part, the Dutch are far from being hapless lambs on the way to the slaughterhouse and have as strong a chance of lifting the trophy as do their opponents. Famed Manchester United Alex Ferguson has tipped Holland to lift the gold.
Not as fluent in edging Uruguay 3-2 in their semi-final match at Cape Towns Green Point stadium last Tuesday night as they were when eliminating five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in the quarter-finals, the Netherlands remain the only team to have won all their games so far in this World Cup.
Emulating Philip Big Phil Scolaris 2002 all-conquering Brazilian squad that won all their matches including the final will no doubt be an added incentive to the Netherlands.
The Dutch will largely pin their hopes on Captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst scorer of a screamer against Uruguay, the free-scoring Wesley Schneider, a European club champion, Robin Van Persie and the talismanic Arjen Robben and the hard-running Dirk Kuyt to deliver the goods for them.
Whichever side ends on the triumphant end of the pitch, this World Cup final match promises to be free-flowing, laden with skill and exceptionally clean.
Iniesta said after the game that he and his Spanish teammates were ready for the Dutch. Winning is the reward for wanting to play well. We will enjoy it now and hopefully also on Sunday. I hope this Sunday we have the same feeling or better. Hopefully we can fulfill the dream of being world champions,” said the Barcelona midfielder.
Post published in: Football