Dutch and Spaniards seek overdue glory
Reuters - Friday 09 July 2010, 11:05
PRETORIA - The world's most impressive
passing team, Spain, face an explosive Netherlands attack in a
highly anticipated World Cup final on Sunday with the only
certainty being a new, first-time, world champion.
Despite their great traditions, generations of top players
and leading clubs, neither the Dutch nor the Spanish have ever
had their hands on the game's top prize.
European champions Spain have never previously gone beyond
the quarter-final stage while the Dutch emerged from their glory
years in the 1970s having lost in two successive World Cup
finals in 1974 and 1978.
Spain's mesmerising passing game this time was too much in
the semi-finals for a Germany team that had impressed so many
with their crushing wins over England and Argentina but
succumbed to a 1-0 defeat.
The Netherlands showed their power in the final third in
their 3-2 semi-final victory over Uruguay with the impressive
Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scoring after arguably the goal
of the tournament from captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
But Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk is well aware of the
quality of opposition his team now faces.
"Spain were the better team against Germany and really
deserved to win. They are the best team in the world at this
moment," he said.
The Dutch head into the final with a remarkable run of wins - they have won now 14 competitive matches in a row, including
all their World Cup qualifying matches, yet they can hardly be
considered favourites against a Spanish team which has lost just
twice in their last 53 matches.
"It doesn't interest me who is favourite for the final, I
just don't care what the whole world is saying," said Van
Marwijk.
"We will just go out and play our own game - we see it as a
great challenge to play them," he said.
Incredibly given their pedigree, it will be the first
competitive meeting between both countries since November 16
1983, when they played in a European Championship qualifier in
Rotterdam, the Dutch coming out top 2-1 thanks to a winner from
Ruud Gullit.
The Dutch squad is completely fit and even Gregory van der
Wiel and Nigel de Jong, who both were suspended for the semi
against Uruguay, are available again.
Spain's success has come despite the lack of form of their
leading striker Fernando Torres but David Villa's five goals
have made up for the Liverpool forward's problems and dangerous
winger Andres Iniesta is hitting his stride at just the right
time.
Spain lost their opening game of the tournament to
Switzerland but have gradually eased through the gears to find
their best form for when it really matters.
Although Spain's brand of quick, short passes and retention
of possession does not make for wide open games, it lends itself
to fascinating tactical battles and - as Germany found to their
cost - the counter-attacking approach is hard to apply.
The Dutch also like to break with speed and numbers but they
may well have to engage in more of a midfield chess game if they
are to avoid the fate of the Germans.
"We will try not to let the win over Germany blind us to the
task in hand. We'll focus on the job we have to do because we
want more," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.
"Holland is a country with a great football tradition and
these are two teams who are so keen to be world champions for
the first time."
Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times, Italy
have been crowned on four occasions and Germany have three
victories.
Argentina and Uruguay have won the tournament twice and
England and France have each won once.
Sunday's game will also mark the first time that a European
team has won a tournament held outside of their own continent.
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