Spain’s diet of success
HOLLAND vs SPAIN
WHEN Holland take on Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final in Johannesburg they will come up against not just a highly accomplished team, but a whole culture of success.
The Dutch are not short of players who have plied their trade across Europe, while the national team boast a 25-match unbeaten run. But in terms of claiming the very biggest prizes in the game, Vicente del Bosque’s men are in a different liga; winning silverware is in their blood.
Spain are, of course, reigning European champions and eight of the team likely to start at Soccer City were in the team that triumphed two years ago. Then consider that 10 of Del Bosque’s likely final XI play for either Barcelona or Real Madrid – who have a duopoly on the Primera Division and are both European behemoths – and the honours really start to add up.
Eight of the Spain side have scaled the heights of club football by winning the Champions League. Five have won it more than once and in total the starting XI have accumulated 14 winners’ medals. Eight more havWebb gets the nod to achieve lifelong World Cup dream
HOWARD WEBB will achieve a boyhood dream on Sunday when he becomes the first English referee to officiate a World Cup final in 36 years.
The 38-year-old from Rotherham will take charge of the showpiece between Holland and Spain at Johannesburg’s Soccer City with Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey as is assistants.
Webb becomes the first Englishman to referee a World Cup final since Jack Taylor in 1974 when he became the first referee to award a penalty in the final – ironically to Holland – in the opening minute of their defeat to West Germany.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “It is great to see their fantastic season topped off with the ultimate appointment.”
e won a domestic title, all more than once.
Holland, by comparison, have just three Champions League winners in their first team – Wesley Sneijder, Mark van Bommel and Giovanni van Bronckhorst – and only five have won more than one league title. Defender Joris Mathijsen has never won a major honour, while forward Dirk Kuyt has only an FA Cup to his name.
Spain have proven they know what it takes to succeed, even on the biggest occasions, and that is sure to stand them in good stead in their first world final. Holland – consistent, gifted and gritty – may have met their match.
Webb gets the nod to achieve lifelong World Cup dream
HOWARD WEBB will achieve a boyhood dream on Sunday when he becomes the first English referee to officiate a World Cup final in 36 years.
The 38-year-old from Rotherham will take charge of the showpiece between Holland and Spain at Johannesburg’s Soccer City with Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey as is assistants.
Webb becomes the first Englishman to referee a World Cup final since Jack Taylor in 1974 when he became the first referee to award a penalty in the final – ironically to Holland – in the opening minute of their defeat to West Germany.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “It is great to see their fantastic season topped off with the ultimate appointment.”