It's Spain!
Wednesday, 7 July
2010
It isn't opponent
Dutch fans hoped for, but the last hurdle for the Netherlands
to the first World Cup in their history will be Spain.
As it would be the first World Cup for Spain as well,
a new name will be added to the list of World Champions;
a prospect the world will relish.
It will be the first
ever encounter of Spain and Holland at a big tournament,
and that in itself is a reason to expect something special.
Spain made it to
the final by beating Germany in the semifinal 1-0; a
fully deserved victory as Spain were looking for it
from kickoff. The Germans, who had swept England and
Argentina off the pitch with four goals each in previous
rounds, looked harmless through long stretches of the
game. A harmlessness that can not only be blamed on
the absence of 20-year-old Thomas Müller.
Spain were always
on top of their game, but if Bert van Marwijk is looking
for inroads into the Spanish defense in the coming days,
he shouldn't only look at the last three games that
Spain won with the slightest of margins.
Chile caused the
Spaniards some serious problems in the first half of
their group encounter, and they did so by taking the
game to Spain rather than sitting back and hope for
a counter attack.
Holland have the
players to take the game to Spain and the reigning European
Champions do not really have the players to withstand
long when put under pressure. It's not their way of
playing.
Arjen Robben, Robin
van Persie, Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder can be expected
to do better against a decent Spanish defense than Klose
& Co were able to do today.
Much will depend
on to what extend Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong
will be able to disturb the flow between Iniesta and
Xavi and just how well they can keep Villa out of the
box.
It's unpredictable
and much will depend on the form of the day. Holland
are still to play that one excellent game this tournament,
and there is no reason why that perfect game couldn't
emerge in the final.
One thing is sure:
we're in for a real treat!
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