Holland:
1- Maarten Stekelenburg;
2- Gregory van der Wiel, 3- John Heitinga, 4- Joris Mathijsen, 5- Giovanni van Bronckhorst(C);
7- Dirk Kuyt, 6- Mark van Bommel, 10- Wesley Sneijder, 8- Nigel de Jong,
11- Arjen Robben 9- Robin van Persie.


Spain:
1- Iker Casillas (C);
15- Sergio Ramos, 3- Gerard Pique, 5- Carles Puyol, 11- Joan Capdevila;
14- Xabi Alonso, 8- Xavi, 6- Andres Iniesta, 16- Sergio Busquets;
18- Pedro, 7-David Villa.


Referee: Howard Webb (England)

There is a time every aspiring footballer dreams of in his lifetime. Above the desire to win a domestic league, to win a continental cup, to be made a captain of your club, lies the ultimate dream of winning a World Cup.

Last night, we saw a final showdown between two teams aspiring to win their maiden title. Holland, twice runners-up in the 1970s, had a great tournament, coming through a tightly-contested group to defeat Gods of World Football Brazil, and then South American maestros Uruguay, to reach the final. The Oranje boast some of the most celebrated footballers in the world, with the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Gio Van Bronckhorst, Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben in their starting lineup. Led by Bert van Marwijk, the Dutchies came into the match as determined underdogs, more focused on results than the “Total Football” their countrymen gifted to the world in the seventies.

Their opponents, Spain, came into the tournament as one of the favourites. Long considered underachievers on the big stage, La Roja turned a metaphorical page in 2008 when they won the European Championships, shedding their “bridesmaid” tag. A sense of expectation swept Spain, from Madrid to Barcelona, Valencia to Malaga. The phrase “tenemos derecho creer,” which translates as “we are entitled to believe,” has been the official motto of Vicente Del Bosque’s side. With a squad boasting wondrously talented players such as Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, Pedrito and Fernando Torres, one thinks they were more than entitled to believe. A veritable dream team, Spain came into the final after surviving an unexpected wobble in their opening match to Switzerland and shaky form in the round of 16 and quarter-finals, but with confidence after a majestic victory over a strong Germany squad in the semi-finals.

As Howard Webb blew the whistle to signal kick-off, the match immediately stormed to life. As expected, Spain were passing at an astonishing rate early on, consistently outsmarting the Dutch midfield. The first real chance of the match came from a free kick, sent into the area by Barcelona wonder Xaví, controlled beautifully by Sergio Ramos and shot with great touch at Stekelenburg, who did well to save. The following few minutes gave viewers an insight as to what would unfold for the entire match, with La Roja playing passing, attacking football and the Oranje playing a defensive game, man-making certain players and committing some pretty cynical fouls. Spain were utterly dominating possession in the opening stages, with Ramos coming close in the 9th minute, only to have John Heitinga clear his effort. David Villa also came heartbreakingly close early on, but his wonderful volley went into the side netting.

Webb showed his first card of many in the 14th minute, with Arsenal’s Robin van Persie being booked for a reckless challenge on Joan Capdevila. The Oranje were now beginning to look stronger, and started to press forward more often. Carles Puyol was booked for a blatant late tackle on Arjen Robben, and the unruly nature of the match became clear. The resulting free kick, in a decent position, saw Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder shoot straight into the arms of Spanish skipper Iker Casillas. The Dutchies were now well and truly in the match, winning another corner, this time fruitless.

As the first half progressed, the always controversial Mark Van Bommel was booked for a dirty challenge on diminutive midfielder Andres Iniesta, and just moments later Ramos was booked for a foul on Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt. By the half-hour mark, it was clear to all that this was an ill-tempered match, with Webb under constant pressure. The fifth card was for a disgustingly malicious foul on Xabi Alonso by Nigel De Jong, who was truly lucky not to have been shown a straight red. The sides were cancelling each other out, with Pedrito making a noteworthy run for La Roja only to shoot wide, and Robben forcing a majestic save from the wonderful Casillas. As the teams went off for the half, the match was looking more of a slugfest than a spectacle of beautiful football.

The second half got off to a scorcher. Robben tore through the usually unbreakable Spanish midfield and sending a wonderful ball through for Van Persie, who just failed to reach it in time. We were finally seeing end-to-end football, as Spain created a wonderful chance in the 48th minute. Xavi sent a corner onto the area, headed on by Puyol to Capdevila, who astonishingly missed form mere yards out. Immediately, the Dutchies were on the counter, with the prolific Robben striking a wonderful shot from 30 yards out, only to be denied by an on-fire Casillas.

The match was beginning to open up, however the discipline of the players, and the Dutch players in particular, was still leaving a lot to be desired. Talisman Van Bronckhorst and John Heitinga were both booked by referee Webb. Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque was looking uncharacteristically animated on the sidelines, and made his first change of the night at the hour mark, taking off young Pedrito in place of Jesús Navas, favoring width over speed.

The biggest chance of the match came in the next minute, as Gerard Piqué made an error which allowed Robben to go on a solo run, one-on-one with Spain’s keeper; Holland’s scoring star came up short after a save from Casillas to which no superlatives could do justice.

The match was now a more enjoyable affair, with both sides looking hungry. Capdevila was booked for a hasty foul on Van Persie, our eighth booking of the evening. Navas and Villa teamed up to come agonizingly close for Spain in the 70th minute. Now, both teams were playing solidly, and we were finally being treated to an enjoyable spectacle. As the teams continued to press each other, Spain looked the likelier to snatch a winner. As the minutes flew by, it became clear we were heading for dreaded extra time. Del Bosque took off Xabi Alonso, who had been on great form, for Arsenal’s talismanic attacking midfielder Cesc Fabregas. After three minutes of injury time tentatively played by both sides, Webb blew his whistle, and we were heading into “Added Extra Time.”

Spain were looking more dangerous from the off, with Fabregas being the catalyst of a much-improved spell by La Selección. In the 95th minute, the young midfielder had a majestic shot saved by the revelation that has been Maarten Stekelenburg. Iniesta and Navas both came close, but the Dutch were imperious in their defense. Captain Gio Van Bronckhorst was subbed off for the last time of his professional career, and received thunderous applause from both sets of fans. His replacement Rafael Van Der Vaart showed that the Dutch were determined to attack. Fabregas was truly breathtaking for Spain, setting up wonderful passages of play and having some great solo runs of his own. Still goalless, the match moved to the midway point of AET, with the first of two 15-minute periods coming to an end.

Del Bosque then made the risky move of taking off the wonderful Villa for the out-of-form Fernando Torres, signaling tense times for both sides. We saw the inevitable sending off we’d been expecting in the 110th minute, with Heitinga seeing a second yellow for a challenge on Iniesta. Down to ten men, the Oranje were having a torrid time trying to put paid to Xavi, Fabregas and Iniesta in the Spanish midfield. Sneijder and Robben both had minor chances, but looked like they lacked belief. Then, with just three minutes remaining in overtime, came the goal that changed football history.

Torres, by his own admission not enjoying his best form, sent the ball forward to Fabregas, who shot a spectacular pass forward to the awaiting Iniesta, who volleyed past Stekelenburg. The reaction in the stadium was deafening. The Oranje looked utterly disconsolate, while the Spanish players and fans were beyond elated. Casillas and others openly wept, but the job wasn’t done yet. The minutes flew by, with the Spanish clearly aching to hear that final whistle. When it came, euphoria gripped the Spanish players, their behind-the-scenes staff, and their legions of fans. We saw tears, hugs, kisses, beaming smiles and pats on the back all round for La Roja. The Dutch looked heartbroken, and shed a few tears themselves after failing to do what the 1974 and 1978 teams couldn’t: win a World Cup final.

The match was not wonderful. It had been ill-tempered, with some of the Oranje letting themselves down in the match of their lives due to bad discipline. They can, however, leave South Africa proud of reaching the final, and beating some wonderful teams on the way.

For Spain, this is a moment that will live in history. More than just a trophy, more than just football, this achievement by Vicente Del Bosque and his men has touched off some remarkable events: Catalonia and Madrid celebrating as one, proud people under the Spanish banner is not something we see every day. It may be overstating things to say bridges have been built, but make no mistake, this victory for La Roja has touched the hearts of those in Barcelona just as much as those in Valencia. Spain have played beautiful football, and even when faced with cynical antics from their opposition in the final, they did not change their style. They may not have played their best football, but are, by all accounts, worthy winners.

And so we come to the end of a dramatic World Cup. We have seen shocks, upsets, heartbreak, elation, pride, despair, shame, hope and joy. South Africa did a wonderful job as hosts, and should be congratulated for their efforts. Seeing the tears run down the faces of the Spanish players, be they from the Basque region, Madrid or Barcelona, we are reminded why the beautiful game is as loved as it is; it unifies people like nothing else on earth.

So, Brazil 2014, anyone?

Emma Hickey
DFN Sports Staff Writer

Iker Casillas;
Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Joan Vapdevila;
Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso;
Xavi;
Pedro, David Villa, Andres Iniesta.

Netherlands (4-2-3-1):

Maarten Stekelenburg;
Gregory van der Wiel, Johnny Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni van
Bronckhorst;
Nigel de Jong, Mark van Bommel;
Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuuyt;
Robin van Persie.
Referee: Howard Webb (England).

Venue: Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg.

Just like that, the first ever World Cup to be held in Africa is
coming to an end with Sunday’s final between the reigning European
champions Spain and two-times finalists Holland as the crowning glory
of what has been an eventful, unpredictable – albeit mostly
unspectacular – month of groundbreaking impact. The contrast in style, the
individual talent, and the collective class the two teams boast in
their ranks should make for a fitting and fascinating climax.

Holland look at this showpiece final with a sense of entitlement. The
nation has reached two World Cup finals, provided the collective
memory of football fans with some of the most exquisite and sublime
football, and changed the countenance of the game forever by creating
what is commonly known as the ‘total football’ built around
fluid interplay, constant interchange in the attacking positions,
relentless movement, and the notion that the best way to defend is to
hold onto the ball and pierce an opponent with slick, sharp
passing. Yet their contribution to football, which has won them
endless accolades and earned them a status of sentimental favourites,
has never been rewarded with a World Cup trophy.

The team molded by Bert van Marwijk’s’s conservative and pragmatic
approach is a far cry from the model of the 70s that captured the
hearts of football fans all over the world, but they are on the brink
of outdoing their forebears.

Holland won every single competitive match they have played since
their 3-1 loss to Russia in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals, a stunning
run that includes winning all 10 of their qualifying matches as well
as their six World Cup contests. They were largely unimpressive but
their team ethics, few moments of individual brilliance, and more than
one stroke of luck (a bizarre own goal against Denmark, a goalkeeping
blunder from the Japan keeper, an uncharacteristic mistake by the
Brazilian keeper and a huge deflection that let them back into the
match against Brazil, and their second goal against Uruguay which was
allowed despite a hint of offside) helped guide them to their first
World Cup final in 32 years. The third goal against Uruguay, however,
that all but handed them the ticket to the final, was a brief
illustration of the attacking potential that Holland have. It was
brilliantly a worked attacking move that was capped off with a perfect
finish from Arjen Robben. Needless to say, they will have to come
up with many similar moves if they are to overcome Spain.

Much like Holland, the Spaniards have always felt that history owes
them a heavy debt and it’s payback time. Before this tournament, they
had never advanced beyond the quarter-finals despite consistently
producing a vast array of talent over the years.

What separates this generation from its unsuccessful predecessors
is a newfound toughness, a winning mentality, and a solid defence, all
of which were desperately lacking in previous Spanish teams. Ironically, it’s  Spain – and not Holland – that reaped the fruits of the Total Football model and hold more resemblance to the Dutch’s glorious 70s teams. When he took over as Barcelona coach in the early 1990s, the legendary Johan Cruyff re-shaped Barcelona, enshrining in them the values of total football and creating the perfect combination of style and substance. Even when Cruyff left the club, they remained loyal to his style and legacy which became the trademark of the club and the Barça academy. The current Barcelona generation, who constitute the core of the Spanish team, have inherited Cruyff´s philosophy and you could say it runs in their DNA.

Spain’s road to the final was anything but smooth. Until the
semi-final match against Germany, they couldn’t replicate their Euro
2008 form or even get close to it. They only managed 1-0 wins in all
of their three knock-out games with all three wins having a similar
feel about them: Spain struggled to break their opponents down in the
first half or create any clear-cut chances. They stepped up in the
latter part of the second half either thanks to a substitution or to
an internal swap of positions, and then they scored the decisive winner.
Although their wins were hard-fought and fortunate at times, you never
had the feeling that they were pushed to the limit. Their lack of
goals can be partly attributed to the poor form of rusty striker
Fernando Torres with David Villa forced to shoulder the burden of
scoring goals, to the fact that their opponents defend very tight and
deep, and to Spain’s insistence to score the perfect goal and
basically walk the ball into the net.

Spain are almost unbeatable when they score first, having won the
last 41 matches in which they’ve scored first. This means that Holland
cannot afford to trail the Spaniards because Vicente del Bosque’s
has a team whose ability to keep possession makes it very difficult for their
opponents to score once they’ve taken the lead. On the other hand, Spain’s only two losses in the last three years have occurred when they conceded first: against the USA in the Confederations Cup last year and in the group stages against Switzerland. If Holland, therefore, can take the lead on Sunday, I fancy their chances of hoisting the greatest trophy of all.

Tactical Analysis

I expect Holland to start with a 4-2-3-1 formation that could change
into a 4-3-3 formation when they have the ball. They welcome back
holding midfielder De Jong who served a one-match suspension to miss
the Uruguay game. Holland don’t have the best centre backs around but
their two excellent, aggressive, and experienced holding midfielders,
Van Bommel and De Jong, should provide the cover as they’ve been doing
throughout the tournament. It will be fascinating to see how these
two cope with Spain’s midfield, particularly Xavi. The 30-year-old
playmaker is the heart of both club and country and his peerless
passing and vision have been fundamental to Spain’s success. In order
to cut the main line of supply to Villa, you have to limit Xavi’s
influence and Van Bommel, a former teammate of Xavi at Barcelona, will
have to be at his very best to stand any chance of doing this.

Xavi’s opposite number at the Oranje is Sneijder, who has been
marvellous this season, leading his club Inter Milan to win the
Italian league, the Italian Cup and the Champions League. He carried
his form with his club into the national team, scoring five goals and
being involved in most of their good attacking moves. The task of
stopping Sneijder will be mainly handed to Sergio Busquets. The
21-year-old Barcelona midfielder has been a revelation in this
tournament. He is the sort of player whose name isn’t mentioned a lot, but he does all the dirty work,

getting the ball back, tackling, and covering the back four. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said last year

that the Catalan youngster is on his way to become the best holding midfielder in the world and Del Bosque

preferred him over the much more glamorous Cesc Fabergas, which says a lot about Busquets’ significance.

He and Xabi Alonso will be vital in the attempt to prevent Sneijder from getting the ball in dangerous positions;

the two Spaniards should keep an eye on the brilliant number 10 ánd not allow him freedom to shoot from distance.

I expect the match to hinge on these two midfield battles; the team that emerges victorious in them should win the match.

It’s not only about the midfield, though. The wide lads on both sides
will be crucial. Arjen Robben and Andres Iniesta, two of the most
gifted players in the world, are both capable of determining the
outcome of the match with one moment of magic. Robben is likely to
operate on the right flank and cut in to finish with his devastating
left foot. Capdevila, while a very solid left-back, cannot live with
Robben’s pace and technique. He will need the centre backs to help
him while also requiring Pedro, whom I expect to start in place of Torres, to track back.

Iniesta is slightly less explosive than Robben but he is a more
versatile player. He has been deployed on the wings by Del Bosque but
he is naturally an attacking midfielder. Even if he is to be
man-marked by his former teammate Giovanni van Bronckhorst, he can drop back
to midfield or swap wings with Pedro, but his life will not be easy
with work horse Dirk Kuyt expected to help the defenders in stopping the
diminutive 26-year-old.

When it comes to centre forwards, Spain hold the clear advantage:
While Villa has been superb in this World Cup, scoring five of Spain’s
seven goals and setting up another, Robin van Persie has been
anonymous all tournament. In his defence, though, he has been isolated
most of the time, and he has failed to adapt to the role of the
solitary striker assigned to him at Holland. But he is so talented
that you simply cannot write him off.

Paul the Octopus, one of the biggest stars of this World Cup,
predicted Spain to win and this is not the only superstitious record
that points to Spain. When Rafa Nadal, the Spanish tennis
star who is expected to attend the final in Johannesburg, won
Wimbledon in 2008, Spain won the European Championships in the very
same summer.  In the following year, Nadal missed Wimbledon with knee
injury and Spain lost in the Confederation Cup semi-final.  This year
Nadal won Wimbledon ….
However, never have a team who lost their opening World Cup match
managed to win the World Cup. Spain lost their first Group H game
against Switzerland and will be hoping to end this pattern.
If the Netherlands win on Sunday, they will become the only team to
win all of their qualifying and World Cup games since the great
Brazil of 1970.

These nuggets aside, it’s up to the players on the pitch to decide
matters. Either way, we will have first-time winners which is
refreshing in itself. This is a very tricky match to predict but I will go with Holland,

because the way they reached the final makes you feel they are
destined to win the whole thing. In addition, history has such a funny
way of evening itself out on the long run, and after two
heartbreaking losses in the final, it might finally be third time
lucky for the Oranje.

Budour Hassan
DFN Sports Staff Writer

Uruguay Starting Lineup:

Goalkeeper: Muslera

Uruguay: Fucile, Lugano, Godin, Caceres, Maxi Pereira, Perez (Gargano, 77), Arevalo Rios, Cavani (Abreu, 88), Suarez, Forlan.

Germany Starting Lineup:

Goalkeeper: Butt

Boateng, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Aogo, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Ozil (Tasci, 91), Jansen (Kroos, 81), Cacau (Kiessling, 73).

Speaking from a strictly American point of view, all soccer matches – especially at the World Cup – should be like third-place matches. When two teams want to honor their reputations but don’t face the choking, suffocating pressure of the World Cup final, they play a liberated brand of soccer which seeks an attractive on-field product in addition to a desirable scoreboard result. On Saturday night in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the world was reminded just how delightful the bronze medal game can be.

This is the 19th World Cup. The previous editions of the third-place playoff have generated an average of 3.94 goals. Among the last eight stagings of “the battle for the bronze,” only two – the 1990 match between England and Italy and the 1998 clash between Holland and Croatia – failed to produce an overall total of at least four goals. In the most recent third-place tilt, in 2006, Germany scored three goals in fending off Portugal on home soil. Evidently, the well-practiced boys of Die Mannschaft had so much fun four years ago that they decided to re-create history once again, but this time on the African continent and in the middle of a steady rain that didn’t detract from the quality of play.

Yes, Germany once again scored three goals to take home the bronze. In many ways, however, it was amazing that these two teams combined for only five total goals, because they both created so many more glorious chances over the course of this 94-minute thriller (one minute of stoppage time in the first half, three in the second). Both Thomas Muller (Germany) and Diego Forlan (Uruguay) scored their fifth goals of the World Cup, as the two leading lights on these sides added to their credentials in South Africa. Edinson Cavani also tickled the twine for “La Celeste,” but Germany’s Marcell Jansen and Sami Khedira both produced unexpected goals to lift coach Joachim Low’s team to a satisfying triumph following Wednesday’s crushing semifinal loss to Spain. Yet, as strange as it may sound, those five moments of goal-scoring glory could have been just a part of a greater point-producing orgy. This contest could have been 5-4 without much of a thought, and 6-5 – don’t laugh – was entirely realistic.

Consider: Forlan narrowly missed (to the top left corner) with a free kick from a very dangerous position in the sixth minute. In the ninth minute, Germany’s Arne Friedrich hit the crossbar with a header that – had it been a pinch more accurate – would have cleanly beaten Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. In the 21st minute, Khedira butchered a German attack that looked extremely promising. In the 24th minute, Forlan got free no more than five yards from the left post and released an effective header that was about to beat German keeper Hans-Jorg Butt, but defender Per Mertesacker stuck his leg into the air to deftly block the ball away from the goal mouth and snuff out the likely score for Uruguay.

In the 41st minute, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez – who was shamefully booed by an unsporting South African crowd still smarting over Suarez’s (perfectly reasonable and intelligent) handball in Uruguay’s quarterfinal win over Ghana, the African darling of the tournament – had a tremendous chance as he rode up on the right flank and had plenty of targets to choose from. No more than 15 yards from the goal and slightly to the right of the goal mouth, Suarez could only hit a ground-ball shot that drifted three yards wide of the left post. It was a very disappointing effort from a man who clearly seemed to be affected by the appalling treatment he received from an African crowd that just wouldn’t allow the Ghana-Uruguay match to fade from its collective memory. Suarez is only 23 years old, for all of his excellence, and Saturday night’s events reminded us that inside the body of an elite goal-scorer exists a very human heart and mind.

In the final minute of the first half, Cacau got free for Germany up the middle of the field, but a late tackle from Uruguay’s Jorge Fucile – who missed his team’s semifinal against The Netherlands (as did Suarez) – barely averted that threat.

In the second half, the near-misses on both sides just kept coming, along with the goals that periodically dotted the landscape. In both the 47th and 62nd minutes, Suarez launched quality shots that Butt – who played a strong match despite the 3-2 scoreline – managed to parry aside. The ball Suarez struck in the 62nd minute was particularly loaded with spins and curves, thanks to the Jabulani ball design which has confounded goalkeepers in South Africa, but Butt was up to the task of steering the ball away with his hands.

In the 75th and 87th minutes, it was a German striker who oh-so-easily could have lit up the scoreboard. Substitute Stefan Kiessling – in his 75th-minute chance – unleashed a very strong blast from the left side of the penalty box, but it’s lack of an angle allowed Muslera, standing still in the middle of the goal mouth – to punch the ball away. In the 87th minute, Kiessling got free in the middle of the box near the penalty spot on a counter-attack that the Germans have used so effectively throughout the past month on the African continent. However, his left-footed shot sailed well over the goal in a profound waste of a scoring opportunity.

Then, on what turned out to be the final play of regulation time, came the most agonizing almost-goal of them all. With Germany nursing a 3-2 lead provided by Khedira’s header in the 82nd minute, Uruguay earned one last free kick just outside the penalty area and in the middle section of the field. The ball was placed at a point consistent with the right edge of the goal mouth, meaning that a leftward-swerving kick was in order. This was tailor-made for Forlan, in many eyes the best player at the 2010 World Cup. The Uruguayan superstar delivered a boot that was worthy of a top-class scorer, but his ball whacked the crossbar about two feet from the top-left corner. Butt got his hand up within a foot of the ball as it arrived at the bar, and soccer fans will always wonder if the German keeper could have made the save had the ball been just a foot lower. However, that’s not the scenario which unfolded; the ball stayed out, and the official’s whistle then sounded to end a thrilling match which could have featured 10 goals, not the actual five which were formally tallied.

In the end, the difference for Germany – on all three goals, but especially the last two by Jansen (56th minute) and then the winner by Khedira – was the poor goalkeeping of Muslera. The Uruguayan netminder did not judge the flight of the ball with any acuity or comfort. His bobble on a shot by Bastian Schweinsteiger allowed Muller to tap in an easy goal for the European side in the 18th minute. The two German goals in the second half were both the result of Muslera’s chronic inability to judge the flight of a cross from the right side. Muslera remained trapped in his own six-yard box and made very tardy reactions to balls that should have been caught or, at the very least, punched to safety. Had the goalkeepers been reversed in this game, Uruguay would have won. As it is, Germany – thanks to Butt and a smart use of deliveries into the penalty box – managed to prevail and notch its third top-three finish in the past three World Cups. The Germans notched a runner-up finish in 2002 and have now strung together back-to-pack bronze medals in 2006 and 2010. No nation has been more consistent this past decade at the World Cup; such a fact should be a source of considerable consolation for a squad that will fly home with relatively happy hearts.

Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer

Spain: Puyol, 73
Germany Starting Lineup: (4-2-3-1)

1-Manuel Neuer;
16-Philipp Lahm, 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 20-Jerome Boateng;
6-Sami Khedira, 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger;
15-Piotr Trochowski, 8-Mesut Ozil, 10-Lukas Podolski;
11-Miroslav Klose.
Spain Starting Lineup: (4-2-1-3)

1-Iker Casillas;
15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 11-Joan Capdevila;
14-Xabi Alonso,  16-Sergio Busquets;
8-Xavi;

18-Pedro, 7-David Villa, 6-Andres Iniesta.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary).

This World Cup, while not outstanding in terms of quality and number
of goals, has been every sportswriter’s dream because it has been a
groundbreaking tournament in many ways. We saw some football
superpowers exit from the back door; we saw upsets and drama galore;
we witnessed a 44-year old injustice reversed; and, perhaps most
impressively, we saw longstanding clichés absolutely smashed.

“Those Germans are pretty bloody boring; their football is horribly
unattractive; they somehow keep winning over and over again – you wonder
how on earth their luck does not run out at some point; yeah, they
are born winners and brutally efficient but they are the hardest team
to get behind, hands down.”

Well the Germans have indeed been brutally effective in this World Cup, but
all the other negative tags that have been historically (albeit not
always fairly: Germany played some wonderful football in the
1970 World Cup) engraved on the Mannschaft were removed
in South Africa. Jogi Loew’s well-oiled machine produced some
swashbuckling attacking football to tear apart England and Argentina,
inflicting on two of their most bitter rivals (okay, Germany vs.
England is not much of a rivalry because the head-to-head is too
one-sided in favour of Germany) back-to-back four-goal humiliations.
They demonstrated a rare tactical awareness for such a young team,
they overcame the absence of their captain Michael Ballack in flying
colours, they have been ruthless in front of goal, and even their iffy
defence has held together quite nicely. Moreover, this young and
talented side has been a breath of fresh air as the Germany squad is
made up of a delicious and eclectic blend of culturally and ethnically
diverse backgrounds from Ghana, Nigeria, Tunisia, Spain, Turkey,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland, and Brazil.

Standing in Germany’s way to a record-breaking eighth World Cup
final were first-time semi-finalists Spain, the very team who
outclassed them in the European Championships final two years ago.
The World Cup record of both teams couldn’t have been more
contrasting. While this was Germany’s 12th trip to the World Cup
semi-finals – more than any other country – Spain were playing in the
semifinals for the very first time in their history.

Spain has a reputation of perennial underachievers and near-men who
succumb under the pressure of the occasion. This reputation is usually
enhanced by the bunker, excuse-making and ‘us against the world’
mentality of the Spanish media. La Furia Roja broke a major mental
block by winning Euro 2008, their first major trophy in 44 years. And
despite struggling to find the back of the net and not getting
anywhere near their scintillating Euro 2008 form, they approached this
semi-final clash against Germany with a sense of destiny. Luck,
something they complained of desperately lacking in the past, has been
smiling at them in this tournament and this was perfectly illustrated
in the quarter-final win over Paraguay.

The only change Vicente del Bosque made to the team that started
against Paraguay was replacing struggling striker Fernando Torres with
young winger Pedro, who had a major impact when he came on against
Paraguay. Loew, meanwhile, was forced to bring on Trochowski for the
suspended Thomas Mueller, who has been a key man for Germany in this
World Cup.
As so many of the hyped-up blockbusters are, this was a slow burner.
Indeed, the first half was largely lacklustre with Spain tiki-taka-ing
their way around the German area without being able to create major
goalmouth actions. Just like the Euro 2008 final, Germany struggled to
get hold on the ball with revelation Mesut Ozil running on empty and being
neutralised by the consistently and silently impressive Sergio
Busquets. Xavi and Xabi Alonso ran the midfield, making it incredibly
difficult for Schweinsteiger and Khedira, who have been fantastic all
tournament, to control the tempo of the game. When Germany did get the
ball, however, they either gave it away right back under pressure from
Spain or couldn’t do much with it. Their counter-attacking tactics,
which were so devastatingly effective against both Argentina and
England, did not work well against a team like Spain with two
rock-solid centre backs – Piqué and Puyol – and a skilled and
uncompromising midfield.

Spain’s first chance came in the seventh minute when Pedro rolled a
lovely ball into the box from the right channel. Germany keeper Neuer
came off his line to claim the ball but David Villa was quicker,
getting a toe on the ball, forcing Neuer to save with his chest.
Germany barely touched the ball in the first 10 minutes but they
mounted a bit of pressure on the Spanish goal in the 11th minute.
Spain shot-stopper Iker Casillas was almost stripped of the ball by
World Cup goal-machine Miroslav Klose. Moments later, Ozil was
released free down the right flank and had his sight on goal from 30
yards, but the flag was waved for offside.

Carles Puyol was given a rare chance to score a goal for La Selección
in the 14th minute. Andrés Iniesta whipped a cross in the six-yard box
but the Barcelona captain sent his diving header miles over the bar.

Germany registered their first corner of the contest in the 16th
minute which Ozil swung into the six-yard box but Casillas flapped the
ball for another corner. This corner, swung from the left by
Trochowski, sailed directly out of play. Moments later, Alonso, Capdevila, and Pedro

combined beautifully to set up Iniesta on the left, and the latter won a corner kick when

the ball bounced off Mertesacker, but the corner did not yield any danger.
Germany tried to launch a trademark counter-attack but the move
suffered a premature hijacking after a poor pass to Ozil.

In the 24th minute, Piqué produced a goal-saving interception when he
whipped the ball off Klose’s toe and out of the danger zone. Klose,
who entered the match one goal shy of becoming the joint all-time top scorer in the
World Cup (with Ronaldo), would have almost certainly put Germany in front had it not
been for Piqué’s last-ditch clearance.

Xabi Alonso had a go at goal from 25 yards out in the 30th minute but
his shot was well wide. The Spanish pulse must have raced in the 33rd
minute after some uncertainty from Casillas. The Real Madrid
keeper could only turn a Trochowki shot away for a corner and from the
subsequent corner, he again flapped the ball instead of grasping it,
but Puyol was there to the rescue heading the ball to safety.
From that minute to the last minute of the first half, nothing
terribly noteworthy took place. The first half did end with a bit of
action when Sergio Ramos clipped Ozil on the edge of the area but the
ref waved play on. Pedro had the last kick of the first half when he
lashed a low shot straight into Neuer.

Spain started the second half with an increased sense of urgency and
conviction. In the 49th minute, Pedro danced his way into the area
from the right wing and laid the ball to Alonso, but the latter pulled
his shot just wide. Just a minute later, Alonso had another chance:
Xavi received a pass from Ramos on the right and set up Alonso with a
delightfully deft ball pass but the Basque crushed his 20-yard shot
off the post. Loew, seeing that Spain were exploiting Germany’s left side, replaced
left-back Boateng by Jansen in the 52nd minute to try and calm matters
down a bit.

Pedro tried to surprise Neuer from distance after some neat play by
Spain in the 59th minute. Soon afterwards, Iniesta received a little
backflick from Alonso but the angle was tight; he decided to whip
the ball across the face of goal.  Villa, who had been very calm hitherto, slid to get the ball but he
just failed to toe-tap the ball into the net.

A minute later, Jansen found Klose with a fine cross. The Bayern
Munich, with his back to goal, shot just over. In the 63rd minute, Spain appealed for a penalty

after both Ramos and Podolski bundled in the German penalty area but the ref correctly gave
nothing. Spain was upping the ante in the second half after a cagey affair in the
first, but one had the sense that Germany, though chasing shadows for
most of the half, would definitely create clear-cut chances every now
and then. This was proven true just before the 70th minute.

Germany demonstrated how dangerous they can be on the break when Klose’s cross

was met with a first-time volley from substitute Tony Kroos in open space on the right

side of the penalty area, but the 19-year old midfielder’s shot was well saved by a lunging Casillas.

Ironically, for all of their tiki-taka and delightful passing, it was
an old-fashioned English goal that broke the deadlock and put Spain
one step closer to an encounter with history. Iniesta won a corner in
the 73rd minute after some good work on the left flank. Playmaker Xavi
snapped a perfectly-weighted cross to the six–yard box and talismanic
defender Carles ‘Tarzan’ Puyol rose like a phoenix to thunder an
unstoppable header into the top-right corner of the net. The blast possessed quality of which even
his opponent Klose, who has scored a record seven headers in three World Cups,
would be proud.  This header by Puyol was almost a carbon copy of the
vital header he scored against Real Madrid in May 2009, and if anyone
to deserved to write his name into the history books, it would be this
Catalan warrior who always wears his heart on his sleeves and who,
alongside Piqué, has been a stud in defence for club and country.

Germany, though shell-shocked by the goal, knew they needed to react
which led to some tasty end-to-end stuff in the final 17 minutes. Villa lurked dangerously in
the German area in the 76th minute but Friedrich cleared, and in a
blink of an eye, Kroos sent two good balls into the danger zone but
Puyol showed his defensive skill and courage, clearing twice with his
forehead.

Pedro’s decision making and lack of experience prevented Spain from
putting this match to bed in the 82nd minute. The 22-year old, who was
starting his first ever competitive match for Spain, created space on
the right. Two teammates, including Torres – who had replaced Villa two
minutes earlier – were free; all Pedro needed to do was roll the ball back for
Torres but instead he tried to beat Friedrich and ended up losing the
ball. If Germany had drawn level, people would have looked to this
instance as the moment Spain let the match slip away.

Casillas was forced into action in the 86th minute when Lahm robbed
the ball in the Spanish area with three German shirts there.
Spain’s unrivalled ability to keep the ball didn’t allow Germany to
stage a late raid on the Spanish goal and it was Spain that were
closer to a second. They had to contend for one goal, though, and it sufficed. Spain were
just too strong for Germany and just like the Euro 2008 final, it was
Spain’s superior quality in midfield that set the tone.

Germany will be understandably disappointed, for though Spain
dominated, Germany did have their moments and had Muller played, the
complexion of the match might very well have changed. When all is
said and done, though, Germany can take away numerous positives from
this tournament. They are an incredibly talented young side that can
only get better with time and experience.
It’s Spain’s grand day, however, and they deserve all the credit for
another hard-fought win. This was – by far – their best
performance in the tournament and their patience and superiority
eventually paid dividends in the most unexpected – and probably
fitting – way:

Through a headed goal! From a corner! By a central
defender!

Budour Hassan
DFN Sports Staff Writer

Uruguay Starting Lineup:

Goalkeeper: Muslera

Godín,  Victorino,  Cáceres,  Maxi Pereira,  Gargano,  Arévalo,  Álvaro Pereira (Abreu, 78),  Pérez,  Cavani,  Forlán (Fernandez, 84)

Netherlands Starting Lineup:

Goalkeeper: Stekelenburg

Mathijsen, Heitinga, Van Bronckhorst, Boulahrouz, De Zeeuw (Van der Vaart, 45), Van Bommel, Van Persie, Sneijder, Kuyt, Robben (Elia, 90)

________________________________________________________________________________

Cruyff.

Van Basten.

Gulitt.

Bergkamp.

Total Football.

The Netherlands has given many stars and a rich legacy of excellence to the sport of international football. For decades, Holland has delighted neutral observers with an aesthetically pleasing brand of play, earning admiration even in defeat. Fans of the world’s most popular athletic competition are often inclined to value style more than bottom-line results. The way a team plays is often more cherished than the scoreboard outcome it ultimately manages to produce.

For so many years, the Dutch were beloved by footie fans for this very set of reasons: They didn’t lift a major international trophy, but oh, they made soccer savants ooh and ahh in appreciation for playing “the beautiful game” with artistry, elegance and flair.

With this meta-narrative serving as the backdrop for Holland’s 2010 World Cup semifinal on Tuesday against Uruguay, it is at once fitting and ironic that the Dutch occupied such a stage. This version of the Oranje has won consistently in South Africa, shedding its reputation as a late-stage choker. Then again, coach Bert van Marwijk’s team arrived at soccer’s version of the “Final Four” without playing with the verve and panache of other Oranje outfits.

Using an airtight defense, a few timely plays from the ever-present Wesley Sneijder, and a key blunder by Brazil’s goalkeeper Julio Cesar in the quarterfinals, Holland worked its way to the semifinals without a lot of razzle-dazzle. The series of events might have soured some internationals on The Netherlands, but for anyone in Amsterdam or other places where Dutch is spoken, the ability to go deep into a World Cup mattered most. As this new-look squad took on uber-underdog Uruguay in Cape Town, the challenge was to avoid the surprising loss that has dogged Holland in past World Cups. With one more survival act against an opponent they were expected to beat, van Marwijk’s men would reach the World Cup final and add some bottom-line ballast to the Oranje’s record in international competition.

By the skin of their teeth, they managed to do just that.

Holland didn’t produce the best 95-minute canvas (including stoppage time) you’ll ever see, but the heavy favorite created just enough special stuff to ensure an all-Europe World Cup final for the second straight time. Two of the Oranje’s goals were absolutely spectacular on Tuesday night in a city originally founded by the Dutch.

Captain and defensive stalwart Giovanni van Bronckhorst struck the goal of the tournament in the 18th minute. Standing outside the front left corner of the penalty box, van Bronckhorst uncorked a diagonal dandy of a shot. With absolutely no sidespin but a few vertical rotations, his left-footed missile rose before dipping at the last instant. The shot kissed the inside of the right post about one foot underneath the crossbar. The placement essentially landed the ball in the very corner of the goal frame, with the bounce off the post putting the ball past the goal line. The van-bomb by van Bronckhorst was soccer’s “perfect shot,” a long-range attempt that would generally be thought of as low-percentage in nature, but which would have beaten any world-class goalkeeper. Replays showed that Uruguayan netminder Fernando Muslera might have gotten a finger or two on the ball, but the power of the shot required a full hand in order to steer it off course.

Then came the second glorious goal, the one that wound up making the difference for van Marwijk and Company.

After Uruguay’s superstar Diego Forlan tied the game in the 41st minute on a superb shot that still should have been stopped by Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, the lads from Holland eventually regrouped. The first 25 minutes represented tough sledding for The Netherlands, as Uruguay’s defense remained resolute and the prospect of extra time began to enter into the minds of players and spectators alike. However, a devastating four-minute sequence crushed the South Americans and guaranteed that a European team will win the World Cup outside European borders for the very first time.

Holland’s second goal – scored by Sneijder in the 70th minute off a deflection – was both lucky and subject to an offside call. Robin van Persie didn’t touch Sneijder’s deflected shot, but he made an attempt to re-direct it, which should have made the linesman’s flag come up in a manner similar to the sequence that disallowed Paraguay’s goal in the quarterfinals against Spain. However, no flag was raised, and the Dutch earned a 2-1 lead. Then, however, came the goal which thrilled fans as much as the van Bronckhorst bullet an hour earlier.

Dirk Kuyt, just to the left on the penalty area, served a lovely cross to the middle of the box in the 73rd minute. Arjen Robben – roughly near the penalty spot – deftly took hold of the ball with his bald dome and headed the ball to the ground. The ball hit near the goal line just inside the left post. It then bounced off the inside portion of the post and into the net. The angle of the shot was at once surprising and severe. Much like van Bronckhorst’s shot, it hit a “coffin corner” of the goal mouth. Yes, it was the opposite corner, but a corner just the same. One long-distance kick painted the top-right corner, and this header from Robben found the bottom-left corner. Just the same, Muslera had no chance and could not be blamed for failing to make the save. Holland – with its second “wonder goal” of the night – owned a 3-1 lead and, as it turned out, the goal that would carry the Dutch to Sunday’s final battle.

Uruguay lost scoreboard leverage with that Robben goal, but the South Americans never lost heart, in keeping with their mindset throughout a fabulously successful tournament for coach Oscar Tabarez’s team. The men in light blue shirts struck paydirt in stoppage time when Maxi Pereira lashed a beautiful left-footed strike that beat Stekelenburg. Sneijder’s questionable goal might have given the Oranje the lead, but when Pereira scored in stoppage time, Robben’s amazing header loomed larger in this clamorous contest.

With the referee refusing to blow his whistle until five minutes of stoppage time had been played (two more than the FIFA sign-holder showed in the 90th minute of regulation), Uruguay – in search of a miraculous tying tally – penetrated the Dutch penalty box on a few occasions. However, a few orange-clad defenders blocked the desperate shots that came their way. A final Uruguayan surge was rebuffed by Holland, and at the end of the 95th minute, the sweet tweet resounded from the official’s whistle. The Dutch had indeed reached their the third World Cup final and their first since 1978, when Mario Kempes led Argentina to a home-soil triumph over the Total Football juggernaut that made Dutch soccer famous.

Holland might not have played its best game on Tuesday. This team might not be as sexy as the legends who have gone before, both in the 1970s and subsequent decades. However, one can’t deny the plain truth of the matter: The Dutch are back in the world’s single most important sporting event, the World Cup final. Pardon them if they don’t apologize for the scoreboard success that has evaded them for a third of a century.

Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer

Netherlands:

1- Maarten Stekelenburg; 2- Gregory van der Wiel, 3- John Heitinga, 4- Joris Mathijsen, 5- Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 7- Dirk Kuyt,

6- Mark van Bommel, 10- Wesley Sneijder, 8- Nigel de Jong, 11- Arjen Robben; 9- Robin van Persie.
Brazil:

1- Julio Cesar; 2- Maicon, 3- Lucio, 4- Juan, 6- Michel Bastos, 5- Felipe Melo, 8-Gilberto Silva, 13- Dani Alves, 10- Kaka, 11- Robinho, 9- Luis Fabiano.
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan).

This, the first of four World Cup quarter-finals, saw the No. 1-ranked gods of international football, Brazil, take on perennial underachievers, The Netherlands. The South American superstars have won more World Cup trophies than anyone in history, have been on great form in South Africa, and were the bookies’ favourites coming into the tournament. The Oranje, meanwhile, are ranked at a very respectable No. 4 in the world by FIFA and have enjoyed good play in their opening matches; however, they were most certainly pegged as underdogs against Brazil, whom they hadn’t beaten since 1974.

From the off, it was clear that Bert van Merwijk’s Dutchies were up for the match. They were determined to keep their talented opponents off the ball, with Dirk Kuyt clearly assigned the task of man-marking Real Madrid Galactico Kaka to ensure that he could take little part in the match. The opening minutes saw tentative play by both sides, effectively sizing each other up. Things began to heat up in the 8th minute, when Dani Alves and Michel Bastos teamed up in midfield, passed forward to the awaiting Robinho, who slotted home only to have his effort ruled offside.

The disallowed goal seemed to inspire the Brazilians, who claimed an actual goal just two minutes later. Felipe Melo single-handedly tore through the Dutch midfield, and played the ball forward to Robinho, who seamlessly slotted home past Maarten Stekelenburg in the Dutch net from 20 yards out. The goal was beautiful because of its simplicity, rather than in spite of it. Holland immediately countered, with dynamic striker Robin Van Persie setting up Kuyt, whose shot forced a save from Julio Cesar. In the 12th minute, John Heitinga was booked for a rather reckless challenge on Luis Fabiano, but the free kick that came from it was sent over the top by Barcelona star Alves.

As the half progressed, both sides were on the attack with regularity, and were treating spectators to some wonderful football. Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and skipper Giovanni Van Bronckhorst in particular were teaming up well for the Oranje, but were consistently shut down by the brilliant Alves and Maicon. Conversely, Juan and Kaka both came close for Brazil, only to be denied by Stekelenburg in the Dutch goal. There was some truly brilliant instinctive football being played, but as the teams went off for the interval, Robinho’s goal was still the only thing separating the sides.

The second half got underway in dramatic fashion, with the Dutch immediately upping their game and seeming more hungry for the ball. Robben had moved slightly more forward, and the game had taken on a different look with the Oranje now the aggressors. Their breakthrough was solidified in the 53rd minute, when against the run of play, Sneijder took a rather haphazard attempt on goal from forty yards out, which came a surprise to the usually impeccable Cesar, who fumbled in his attempt to reach for the ball. Sneijder’s unlikely shot was then tipped home by the unfortunate Felipe Melo. This was not the prettiest of goals, but overall, it was most deserved. Game on.

With their confidence now boosted, the Oranje really began to play in a more expansive manner, and Brazil were having a tough time containing them. Robben in particular was tearing up the left side of the pitch with astonishing pace, and only Maicon’s defensive majesty was preventing him from scoring. Dani Alves was sharp on the counter attack, his 60th minute shot from distance curling wide at the last second. The Brazilians stung a great passage of possession together, with Kaka also coming agonisingly close in the 65th minute; his powerful shot was also just wide of the mark.

The shock of the tournament came in the 67th minute, when Robben swung in a corner to Kuyt, who flicked on for the in-form Sneijder, who headed home inside the area. Cue scenes of hysteria from the Oranje players and supporters, and looks of utter bewilderment from the heavily-favoured Brazil. The South Americans were effectively shut down by the Dutch, and tempers were flaring; even the usually mild-mannered Kaka was warned about his behaviour by the referee. The most blatant offence, however, came in the 72nd minute, when Melo made a dirty and most unnecessary stamp on Robben, an act that was seen by the referee. Melo was shown a much deserved straight red.

As the final whistle approached, the Brazilians were desperately attempting to claw back the deficit, but down to ten men, they were having even more problems trying to cut through the now razor-sharp Dutch defence. The Oranje came close again, with both Kuyt and man of the match Sneijder forcing saves from Cesar. The final whistle sounded in Port Elizabeth, and with it came one of the greatest upsets in Word Cup history.

There were scenes of utter elation as the Dutch bench ran onto the pitch to celebrate their miraculous achievement, while the Brazilians, many of them in tears, looked dejected and astonished in equal measure. Heavily favoured before the tournament, they now head home after being comprehensively outplayed by lesser opponents. Brazil is also in need of a new coach after their enigmatic manager Dunga quit immediately following the match. The Netherlands, meanwhile, will now face Uruguay for a place in the final, and will fancy their chances of making it to the final stage.

Emma Hickey
DFN Sports Staff Writer

Spain: 1- Iker Casillas; 15- Sergio Ramos, 3- Gerard Pique, 5- Carles Puyol, 11- Joan Capdevila; 14- Xabi Alonso, 8- Xavi, 6- Andres Iniesta, 16- Sergio Busquets; 9- Fernando Torres, 7- David Villa

Portugal: 1- Eduardo; 2- Bruno Alves, 21- Ricardo Costa, 6- Ricardo Carvalho, 23- Fabio Coentrao, 16- Raul Meireles, 15- Pepe, 19- Tiago, 7- Cristiano Ronaldo, 11- Simao Sabrosa, 18- Hugo Almeida

Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina)

Rivalry, by its very nature, is a fiercely passionate beast. In international football, we are privy to many storied rivalries; England v Germany, Argentina v Brazil, Ireland v England, France v Spain and so on. But one rivalry that tends to fly under the radar is that of Iberian neighbors Spain and Portugal. Their rivalry is one borne both of a somewhat fractious shared history and geographical location. Spain, currently ranked as the 2nd-best team in the world by FIFA, have looked to be back to their best since an embarrassing and unexpected defeat to Switzerland in their opening match. Portugal meanwhile have been rock solid defensively, failing to concede a goal as of yet, and smashed home 7 goals against North Korea. Both teams play good football, so this was the pick of the crop in the Round of 16 matches.

The match got off to a great start, as after a mere 45 seconds, the slightly off-form Fernando Torres came close for Spain, with a good shot on target from the left, which was duly cleared by the wonderful Eduardo in the Portuguese goal. The tone of the match was set in those opening seconds. Spain looked hungry, and Portugal looked defensively sharp. Spain had no less than three shots on target in the opening 10 minutes, all three times seeing danger averted by arguably the keeper of the tournament so far, Eduardo.

The Portuguese seemed content to allow La Roja space to play, preferring to close them down on the wings, rather than attempting to counter-act the ludicrously strong Spanish midfield. Spain were spreading their metaphorical passing wings, showing off their ample skills with typical Latin flair. It was Portugal, however, who provided the first heart-stopping chance of the game.

It came in the 20th minute, when Fabio Coentrao and Portuguese skipper Cristiano Ronaldo combined deliciously to pass to the awaiting Tiago, whose close-range effort was saved brilliantly by Iker Casillas Both teams continued to attack, Spain from the front and their Iberian neighbors on the counterattack. Talismanic Real Madrid Galactic Rolando came close from well outside the area for Portugal in the 29th minute, his shot forcing a wonder-save from Casillas.

Spain were looking majestic in midfield, as is their wont. Blaugrana boys Xavi and Iniesta were setting up shots for David Villa and Fernando Torres with ease. Portugal meanwhile were having some lovely moments of passing football, with Simao, Ronaldo and Hugo Almeida in particular looking impressive. As the teams went off for halftime, we had been treated to an enjoyable, albeit goalless spectacle. The second half, initially, saw more of the same as we’d seen in the first; Spain, while maintaining the vast majority of possession, were failing to seal the deal time and again with their final touch. The Portuguese looked defensively rock solid, and when they did go on the counter, had moments of spectacular passing.

As the minutes ticked by and the score remained goalless, both coaches saw fit to make changes, with Carlos Queiroz trading youth for experience; bringing Almeida off for veteran Danny. Vicente Del Bosque, under fire from the Spanish media for some of his selection choices, subbed Fernando Llorente on in place of the frankly abysmal Torres who has been looking but a shadow of his usual immaculate self. The latter change had an immediate effect, with Llorente coming teasingly close with his literal first touch of the ball; his header was unfortunately aimed straight at the brilliant Eduardo.

Spain, however, seemed to be boosted by his introduction regardless, and began to play a more expansive game. Defender Sergio Ramos was going on the break solo, and ripping the Portuguese midfield apart. The goal Spain had been pushing for came from some beautiful football and seamless teamwork. Xabi Alonso, who had been playing well in midfield, passed the ball through to the diminutive linchpin Andres Iniesta, who controlled the ball with outstanding touch. Iniesta then passed to the aptly nicknamed “Villa Maravilla,” who struck an absolute belter past Eduardo in the 62nd minute. The angle of the goal was almost impossible, and beautifully pulled off.

The game immediately took on another countenance; La Selección looked sharper and more relaxed after their breakthrough, while Portugal, and their captain Ronaldo in particular, looked at a loss as how to go about dealing with the deficit. Spain were now even more merciless in their attack, and a tired looking Portuguese defense were saved repeatedly by the brilliance of their keeper.

As La Roja continued to push them to breaking point, Portugal’s players looked more and more frustrated. Things boiled over when Ricardo Costa was controversially sent off in the 88th minute for an offence on defender Joan Capdevila. At first, it seemed that this had been a case of ham-acting on the part of the Spaniard, however replays showed that Costa had indeed elbowed the defender. Players became involved in a minor scuffle, which was duly broken up by the Argentine referee, who had been sharp and fair throughout the match.

As the final whistle was blown, it was clear that the better team had won. Portugal had played well, were defensively strong and had periods of brilliance, yet just couldn’t match up to the consistent majesty of Spain. There was a heart-wrenching moment at the end of the match, when Portugal’s best player of the match, keeper Eduardo, sobbed into his gloves, looking to all the world a broken man, seemingly not comforted by the fact that he and his countrymen put in a performance to be proud of. Spain’s players meanwhile looked ecstatic. While they have yet to look as spectacular as they did winning Euro 2008, they do look like capable champions. They will next face Paraguay, and will be heavily favoured to reach their first-ever World Cup semifinal.

Emma Hickey
DFN Sports Staff Writer