Well, i was thinking whether i should be really posting this in between some great football stuff shared by BeckRam. But never the less, i felt this was the right time to post this right after the football world cup got over with spain winning it. Wishes to them for wining it(I know BeckRam wouldn’t agree with me on the wishes part here..)
Off to the topic now. “Work!”, this is what your mind is garbled with after a week full of sitting before files/folders physically (typical offices in the past) and now files/folders virtually (typical offices presently). Saturday comes and the mind seeks some rest to get away from all the garbling. What do you do to rest your mind? Give your body ample amount of rest by sleeping? Thats a right thing to do, but ask me and i would say that it would give rest to your body alone leaving your mind with the always thoughtful things. So what to do in order to break free from thoughts? Shift the focus on interesting things like to get engaged in games that would be fun for the body and as well as give a small amount of work to the brain and help it to loosen up after a tight week at work.
This is where a short tour would help you to freshen up your mind. A walk along the beaches, meeting your school/university friends/a not so long drive on an empty road/listen to some peppy music/watch great movies OR plainly spending time chatting up with your family members! Best thing to do would be to gather your family members and plan for a quick and short weekend getaway and off you go, enjoy the weekend, freshen up your mind and come back on Sunday night to have a nights rest before starting to work on Monday!
The Final – Netherlands v Spain
Iniesta, Xavi and Villa
This is the kind of match every football fan across the world would love to see. Two of the most stylish European teams facing each other to win their first World Cup(believe or not). We are talking about two teams that have produced so many talented players year after year but never won a World Cup. Netherlands were twice runners-up back in 1974 and 1978 to West Germany and Argentina respectively, while Spain(you won’t believe it again) are playing their first finals in their World Cup history. Netherlands have finally come close to the trophy which they should have won 36 years ago. They aren’t playing the usual “total football” style, the style which took them to the runners-up place. They haven’t done that this time but no one can take away the credits for the disciplined football they played. The match against Brazil also showed that they will fight till the end and not bow down. when you have players like Kuyt in the team, you have someone who really sets an example of how one works so hard for the team’s cause. Spain had a stuttering start losing 1-0 to Switzerland. But they recovered well and went on to win all other matches. This is the usual Spain which everyone sees, beautiful passing football, more like the Dutch “total football”. Things would have been great only if Torres had been in good form, otherwise Spain have been fantastic. the referee for this match is Howard Webb and I have never seen him blow the whistle for any foul on Torres whenever he used to be the referee for Liverpool matches. Both the teams will have all their players available. Jong and van der Weil return after they were suspended for the semi-final. Both have players who are fighting for the Golden Ball award – Robben and Sneijder from Netherlands and, Villa, Iniesta and Xavi from Spain. Villa and Sneijder also have the opportunity to become leading goal scorers of 2010 World Cup.
Robben and Sneijder
Key Players-
Netherlands: Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt.
Spain: David Villa, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas.
These two are my favorite teams and i wished one of them must win this World Cup. Both have the chance now and its really tought to choose between them. Netherlands have beaten Julio Cesar and they just might have enough to beat Casillas, so they might just make it. But Spain have so far conceded just 2 goals. Tough call, but I have been supporting Netherlands from the start of the tournament and I hope the two time runners-up win it, Spain can do it in 2014 in Brazil.
PS: Sorry all, I couldn’t post the preview for the third place match between Germany and Uruguay, and I hope you all know that germany won that tightly fought match 3-2.
Netherlands V Uruguay
Many would have not expected both the teams to make it so far but the two have indeed done an outstanding job reaching the semifinals despite being dark horses. Netherlands are playing their first World Cup semi-final since 1998 and their coach Bert Van Marjwik should be appreciated for maintaining peace in the Dutch camp. The previous years had seen a lot of disharmony and even recently in the second round win over Slovakia van Persie seemed to be unhappy after being substituted and media claimed that he was angry because he felt Sneijder sould have been taken off. But both the players denied that stating the team is united and Sneijder did score the two goals which helped them beat Brazil. Brazil, one of the tournament favorites had to go home early and certainly no one can call this Dutch team as underdogs. They will be without de Jong and van der Weil, both being suspended. Uruguay meanwhile are the only South American team left. They were lucky enough to be in the semi-final with help of a blatant handball save by Suarez. They played well, they were good against Ghana, but still its not good that a team qualifies in unfair ways. The last time Uruguay reached semi-finals was back in 1970 and reaching this stage this time when teams like Brazil and Argentina are knocked is highly commendable. Suarez and Fucile are suspended while Lodeiro is out with broken foot and their captain Lugano is doubtful with an injury. All Netherlands might have to do is to keep an eye on Diego Forlan.
This World Cup has been unpredictable but I have been supporting Netherlands from the beginning and I expect the Oranje to beat Uruguay.
Germany v Spain
This could have been a final and it is a replay of the Euro 08 final. So far Germany have been the team that has been winning matches in a very convincing manner barring their defeat to Serbia in group stages. Scoring 4 goals against England and Argentina is no joke. It was like a slap on Maradona\’s face after all his comments before the quarter-final. They were simply outstanding and disciplined. Among all the other teams, it is Germany that has faced and will be facing strongest opponents in each of the knockout matches. Low has to make only one change in his line-up as Muller is suspended. Spain have not yet played at their best. They had to work really hard to beat Paraguay in the quarter-finals. Thanks to brilliant goal keeping by their captain Casillas and yet another Villa goal they are playing their first semi-final in their World Cup history. There is speculation that Torres will be dropped to the bench and either Llorente will start in his place or Fabregas might be introduced into the midfield with Villa moving up front. One thing that baffles me is why does Del Bosque start with Busquets. That really affects the attacking football that Spain play. But they must be appreciated for their patient build up. Their defenders must remember that Germany ave thrashed England and Argentina, and they must hold themselves tight to maintain clean sheet until they score. There is also this myth that Germans shouldn’t be allowed to score the first goal and if they do Spain will be out for sure. This could indeed be true and Spain cant afford to let that happen. Back in Euro 08, Torres scored his only goal of the tournament and that goal handed Spain their first trophy since 1964. This time however it remains uncertain whether Torres will start but may be Villa will.
Both were tournament favorites but Germany are favorites for this match. If I were to pick a winner, I would choose Spain for their patience, experienced players, the fact that they have never been in a World Cup final and since this World Cup started I have been dreaming of Spain V Netherlands finals.