It’s a final for the purists
WITH their slick passing styles and fantastic quality on show, Holland and Spain will provide the perfect showpiece at Soccer City on Sunday.
We saw last night just what a complete side Spain are. Xavi and Andreas Iniesta controlled the midfield, while Carles Puyol was a real hero at either end, scoring what proved to be the winning goal, then throwing himself at every German attack.
Germany have enjoyed a fantastic tournament, make no bones about it, but I was disappointed with them last night to be honest.
Instead of showing the kind of attacking instinct which blew England and Argentina away, Joachim Low, adopted a more negative approach, keeping things compact across the middle and trying to make the Spanish play from side to side.
Holding them at bay for the whole 90 minutes was always going to be tough, although it took the direct route to finally prise them open.
So, it’s Spain versus Holland, and that immediately throws up an intriguing duel between the two playmakers, Xavi and Wesley Sneijder.
Whereas Sniejder is cuter than Xavi, the Spaniard will run and run, and I feel that whoever performs the better in Johannesburg will go a long way in determining which of the sides will claim a first-ever World Cup.
With Sniejder’s guile and Arjen Robben cutting in from out wide, Holland will pose the biggest threat yet to Puyol and the Spanish defence, but with a European crown already under their belts, I just feel Vicente del Bosque’s men are better equipped for the occasion.
Mandela doubt is cup final headache
WE may be one step closer to knowing who will lift the World Cup on Sunday night, but organisers have yet to decide who will present the trophy.
South African icon Nelson Mandela is thought to be the preferred choice but the 91-year-old is leaving it until the last minute to decide whether to attend.
“He has an open invitation,” said a spokesman for organisers. “The Mandela family will make a decision on the day of the final.”
A spokesman for world governing body Fifa said yesterday it had “no information on this so far”.