Netherlands and Spain have an opportunity to bury the ghosts of the past when they lock horns tonight to claim the ultimate prize in football, the World Cup.
Sixty three games, more than double of that number of goals (139 before the 3rd place play-off) and several memorable moments later we are down to two teams. The teams who have come the farthest, surviving the hardest opponents and one of them will create history on Sunday night.
In a final that promises to be a football lovers’ delight, it is a chance for two of the greatest footballing nations, Spain and Holland, to join the elusive club that comprises heavyweights Brazil, Italy and Germany, to name a few.
The Soccer City Stadium here in Johannesburg will be the venue where around 90, 000 fans are expected to fill the stands, as both teams will look to bury the ghosts of past and look forward to a glorious future. Spain enter a virgin territory, having never made it to the final of the World Cup while the Dutch will aim to set apart the legacy created by Johan Cruyff and Co.
The margins between success and failure will be small and the Netherlands have certainly been galvanized by comments from Johan Cruyff, the star of that 1974 side who has made it clear that he regards Spain, the European champions, as by far the superior side technically.
But Bert van Marwijk’s side, now unbeaten in 25 games, could do away with the old ‘nearly men’ tag by emulating the unrivaled Brazilian side of 1970 as the only team to have a 100 per cent record in both qualifying and the tournament itself.
The Netherlands have played with the pomp of world champions. Wesley Sneijder has been superb in the playmaking role, Arjen Robben looks sharp after injury out wide, while Mark van Bommel has dictated things from his anchoring role in the centre of the field. “It is going to be interesting how things unfold. We have being doing very well until now but we have to make sure that all the hard work doesn’t go in vain in the final,” Van Marwijk said.
Spain, home to arguably the two greatest clubs in football history, famously boast a dismal World Cup record, having never finished higher than fourth place, which came in Brazil 60 years ago. Yet having won Euro 2008 and on a wondrous run themselves, with two defeats in 25 games under Vicente del Bosque, the coach believes their time has arrived.
It should be an intriguing battle, one with many sub-plots. While few of the world’s best midfielders will come face to face during those 90 minutes, it also will be a stern test for the Dutch offence and the Spanish defence. Spain have conceded just two goals in the tournament thus far, while Netherlands have netted 12 goals in their six matches.
“People of Spain have waited a long, long time for this moment. They have been patient with us. Now is the time we pay them back,” Del Bosque said. Will the wait end?
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