2010 World Cup final: Live blog

 

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By Tony Tannous, 11 Jul 2010 Tony Tannous is a Roar Expert

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 2010 World Cup, dutch football, football, Spain football, World Cup, World Football

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As we look ahead to tomorrow morning’s final and the prospect of an eighth World Champion, it’s tantalising to speculate that it will be an open, free-flowing classic, in keeping with the morning’s pulsating third/fourth play-off. I, like much of the world, certainly hope so.

But given neither of these great football nations has won one yet, the loser is going to be as devastated as you are ever likely to see.

So near, yet so far.

Given the higher than usual stakes (neither side will have a ‘nothing to lose attitude’), don’t be surprised to see a cagey, calculated game of cat and mouse.

Knowing the opposition have the weapons to hurt, neither will want to over-commit. It’s all about the fine margins, and lifting the trophy at the end, even if it has to be via penalties.

For two teams that believe in the virtues of proactive football, it’s been a pragmatic, measured, road to the final, and even if they don’t dish up a classic, there have been many qualities to admire about both;

Spain

1. Ability to keep the ball all day; Germany had gone through the tournament by applying their physical squeeze high up the park, forcing the likes of Australia, England and Argentina into error and then profiting rapidly from their ability to force turn-over’s.

That was until they came up against Spain. As they did in the final of the Euro 2008, which I wrote about here at the time, Spain’s ability to keep the ball has provided an outlet to controlling games. It is not surprise to learn that Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets top the completed passes stats.

Only Paraguay have really been able to upset their rhythm, but even against their high pressing game, La Rojas eventually found a means back to controlling the game.

What the control does wear out the opposition, physically and mentally, ultimately creating chances.

2. Win the ball back quickly; Very much based on the Barcelona model employed by Pepe Guardiola, as soon as they lose the ball, Spain swarm all over the opposition to win it back quickly.

Many will not have noticed this during the semi final, but while Xabi Alonso, Pedro and Andres Iniesta were doing most of the good work on the ball, it was Xavi who was nipping around at the feet of Bastian Schweinsteiger, giving him the most unpleasant evening. Little wonder they are able to keep the ball.

3. Calm; After losing their first game to Switzerland, the chances of Spain even getting through their group, let alone through to the final, looked slim, to say the least. It is a measure of their increased composure, likely borne from their success in Europe four years and the belief that gave then, that they have been able to rescues their campaign.

The reality is they are the great under-achiever no more, and they are playing as if they believe that.

Their tone is invariably set by their manager, the calming presence that is Vicente del Bosque, but they have a couple of on-the-field sleepers in Andres Iniesta and Xavi. Would take much to fire these two up. Even Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos, normally fiery for their club, have been playing relaxed.

Compare del Bosque’s mood with that of Brazil’s Carlos Dunga, who was ranting and raving on the sideline during the first half of their loss to Holland, and that was when his side were winning. Was it any wonder his team ran around like headless chooks in the second period?

4. Patience and ability to find solutions; Earlier on in the tournament I wrote a piece describing some of the ways in which some of the pro-active, keep-ball teams can unlock a packed defence. After the first game it looked like they didn’t have the wherewithal to remain patient and find solutions.

But they have done exactly that, sticking to their game-plan, keeping the ball, turning the opposition over and finding a way. Often it has been the lethal finishing of David Villa, but I have also been impressed with the integration provided by Sergio Ramos, the dynamism of Pedro and the combinations of Alonso and Iniesta.

And in the semi Puyol was even able to find a solution from the set piece.

Holland

1. Mixing grit with the flair; Dutch sides have traditionally all been about flair and creativity, and there’s no doubt this side also has front third quality through the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, despite the latter yet hitting his straps.

But for all the craft, the reason they are in the final is their graft. Mark van Bommel has been much-derided, but he is a vital link in the Oranje chain. In many ways, he is their Gennaro Gattuso, as The Football Tragic Mike Salter suggested during last night’s Sydney FC vs Everton match, a reference of course to the Italian’s work at the last World Cup.

Van Bommel isn’t the only one adding much needed bite. Think of Dirk Kuyt, Nigel de Jong, and, in the semi final, Khalid Boulahrouz.

2. Ability to fight back from the dead; At half-time, in the quarter final against Brazil, they looked gone, out for the count. Dunga’s men had played them off the park but were only up 1-0.

Dutch sides of the past may have started bickering amongst each other, looking for excuses. But Bert van Marwijk spoke of one thing at the break, belief. I had suggested, ahead of the quarters, that Brazil might be the team oozing it, but it was the Dutch who demonstrated the mental strength to fight back, turning the stereotype about them being mentally suspect on its head.

3. Rarely over-exposing themselves at the back; This is the new, pragmatic Holland. Often, in the past, you will see them bombing on, leaving their central defenders exposed to counter-attack.

This team is far more switched on to their defensive transition, with the full-backs never over-committing, while the two screening midfielders, van Bommel and de Jong, provide the buffer.

Essentially, they defend with six and attacked with four, relying more on the brilliance of Sneijder and Robben for their chances.

Even in the semi final, it wasn’t until van Marwijk sacrificed one of his holders, for the more offensive Rafael van der Vaart, that Holland gained the win.

My Prediction: The pattern of this match is likely to be dictated by Spain’s superior passing game.

Holland are likely to try and disrupt this rhythm through the physicality of van Bommel and de Jong, so Howard Webb’s role will be crucial. Germany couldn’t get close enough to the Spanish midfield, but del Bosque will have warned his side to ignore the provocation of van Bommel.

Cool heads will be required. Holland will look to play off their disruption of the Spanish midfield and utilise the class of Robben and Sneijder.

There’s little doubt their finishing has been more efficient than Spain’s, so the likes of Joan Capdevila and Busquets will be crucial to limiting the threat of Robben and Sneijder. It’s shaping as another fascinating tactical battle.

My tip before the tournament was Spain, and while they haven’t exactly been convincing throughout, it appears they are peaking at the right time.

It would be devastating for a football nation like Holland to lose a third final, but I’m tipping Spain by a one-goal margin, 2-1.

Join me LIVE at 4.15am tomorrow (EST) for a running analysis of the World Cup Final between Spain and Holland in the comments section below. Share your thoughts before, during or after the match as we find out who is crowned champion of this wonderful World Cup.

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyTannousTRBA

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