2010 FIFA World Cup – The Final

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.