Why the Dutch may not clinch world football's greatest prize tonight
Why the Dutch may not clinch world football's greatest prize tonight
Anyone who tipped a World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands can be congratulated for having the visionary talent of a clairvoyant.
It means we will for the first time be seeing an all-European final outside the European continent. I personally had been hoping Germany would be in the final. The German team has given this World Cup some of its lustre. There was real quality about the victories over England and Argentina.
Germany made players like England's Wayne Rooney and Argentina's world footballer of the year Lionel Messi look ordinary in the respective 4-1 and 4-0 victories.
I am also certain Germany would have had a good chance of beating Spain had not Thomas Mueller been suspended. Mueller's yellow card for a handball offence against Argentina was a poor joke.
The Spanish have not convinced me throughout this tournament. That has something to do with the fact that they had a sorry-looking striker on the pitch in Fernando Torres who must feel himself he is not at his sharpest following knee surgery. It was left to fleet-footed Andres Iniesta and passing supremo Xavi to produce the goods.
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Xavi's the man
On the one hand, I love this combination football. On the other hand, I sometimes have the feeling Spain could pass the ball right without scoring a goal. If they didn't have David Villa, the scorer of five goals so far, where would they be?
However, Spain are favourites in the final. Their good old coach Vicente del Bosque has nearly always enjoyed success, as he showed when he was in charge of Real Madrid.
Experience is key
But most of all it is because Spain have a seasoned team with six players from Barcelona and three from Real Madrid. They know each other's game so well and despite the club rivalry, get on superbly both on and
off the pitch.
The Netherlands won't be able to barricade themselves in defence as Switzerland did in their opening 1-0 victory over Spain.
If Spain raise the pace of their game, as they often do in the second half, if Sergio Ramos can get forward on the right, Alonso takes shots from outside the area and Torres finally explodes, the Dutch won't have a chance.
And yet they do have their chances. I know well my Dutch players at Bayern.
There is no one better equipped both to neutralise the opponent's midfield and crank up his own team than Mark van Bommel.
The Bayern captain has even more power and influence in the Dutch side, one reason being that coach Bert van Marwijk is his father-in-law. Yet, they both seem to manage the relationship so well that there are no jealousies within the team.
And then, the Dutch have Arjen Robben, really a right-winger in disguise, who has now become a big favourite in Munich. Everyone knows Robben likes to cut in from the right flank to get a shot in on his left foot, but because he is so fast defenders can't seem to do anything about it.
The Dutch also have an in-form player in Wesley Sneijder of Inter Milan, who like Robben was discarded by Real Madrid. He is on a good run right now.
Whenever he shoots, the ball seems to land near the goal, even if it is deflected off a defender. That's what you call having a run. On top of this, I also like the way Robin van Persie can quickly create goal opportunities.
I can imagine it being a great final on Sunday. A great final would be a fitting end to a World Cup in which South Africa has shone. A lot of people have had a great deal of fun at the venues and also around the world thanks to the public screenings at fan festivals. But this is something I will look at more closely after the final.u00a0
Team news
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Netherlands
Bert van Marwijk's side are in a state of excellent health. Though a handful of the top Oranje stars were rested from training on Friday, the coach will have a full complement of players to select from. Maarten Stekelenburg had caused some concern due to a hip problem, but he has been training normally. Demy de Zeeuw and Khalid Boulahrouz will both drop to the bench as Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong return from suspension.
Probable Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; Van Bommel, De Jong; Robben, Sneijder, Kuyt; Van Persie
Spain
Vicente del Bosque, like his counterpart in the opposite dugout, will be able to field his first choice XI. That may mean that Fernando Torres is once again on the bench, especially after Pedro produced such an exciting display in the semi-final.
Raul Albiol is the main injury concern for La Roja, and it seems likely that he won't have a role to play come Sunday.
Probable Starting XI: Casillas; Ramos, Pique, Puyol, Capdevila; Busquets, Alonso; Pedro, Xavi, Iniesta; Villa
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