| | Spain
vs Netherlands: Stage set for
Grand Finale
The World Cup
final between Spain and the Netherlands will have historical ramifications. Not
only will there be a new champion on the roster of Football World Cup champions,
but also that no matter which team wins, this is will be the first time that there
will be a European champion in a World Cup tournament held outside Europe. This
final also brings together two of the best teams never to have won the World Cup
before. |
| | Spain,
home to some of the most talented players in the world, has had a dismal World
Cup record, never having finished higher than fourth in Brazil more than 50 years
ago. Even that was in a playoff system where they finished on the bottom of the
pile. Yet after winning the Euro 2008, they have embarked on a brilliant run which
has made them one of the most successful and feared teams of modern times. Under
the stewardship of former Real Madrid coach, Vicente Del Bosque, Spain look primed
to win the greatest award of all. Holland,
on the other hand, have been the exponents of "Total Football", a concept
which purists of the game have been purring over since that infamous final in
Germany in 1974 when Johan Cruyff's team was consigned to defeat. Another Finals
loss to Argentina four years later deprived some of the most talented footballers
of all time the greatest footballing award. | Now
both teams meet on the battleground with one team which will finally cast off
its tag as underachievers of the game. Despite being such luminaries of the sport,
these two teams have curiously only met thrice in championships in over 90 years
of International football. In the head-to-head between the two teams, it is Spain
which slightly edges out the Netherlands two to one. Maybe it is time the Netherlands
draw level with a win on the biggest stage of all.
|
