We Have The Final Two.
Its Netherlands v Spain at World Cup Spread Betting after Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the semi final in Durban last night. It is now definite that we will have a new name on the trophy come Sunday evening. Spain have reached their first world cup final and Netherlands are in their third having failed to win in their previous two encounters. They will now go head to head at Soccer City, Johannesburg for the title of world football champions, the trophy and the right to wear the world cup star on their shirts for all time.
It wasn’t the most exciting of matches but as a tactical battle it was quite interesting with the Spanish playing their neat possession football and the Germans defending well and trying to hit them with their high speed counter attacking game which has served them so well during this world cup. Chances were few and far between for both sides and it took 73 minutes for the first and deciding goal to arrive via the head of Carles Puyol. Puyol should have given Spain the lead in the first half from a similar situation but sent his header wildly over the bar. From Xavi’s corner, Puyol arrived unmarked and sent a powerful header past Neuer in the German goal. In fact Puyol biggest threat was his fellow defender Pique who he outjumped to get the ball and that’s saying something when you see the height difference between them. The Germans had time to reply but were unable to find the goal needed to send the tie into extra time. Indeed they were almost caught out at their own counter attacking game by the Spanish on a few occasions but the Spanish didn’t have the same quick decisive ball that the Germans had used against both England and Argentina. If there is one fault with the Spanish it is that they seem to be intent on walking the ball into the net.
The Germans have to be commended for the football they have played during the last four weeks and being such a young team we haven’t seen the last of them. They will surely be contenders for the European Championships in 2012 and Brazil 2014 for the next world cup. For now they will have to be content with a place in the play off for third place against Uruguay but one thing for sure, when both these teams return to their home soil they will be greeted ecstatically by their fans and so they should, they have done themselves proud. Such a difference from the English and French who made no impact at all and left something of a bitter taste in the mouth.
So it’s onward and upward for Netherlands and Spain and the chance of football immortality for whoever can lift the trophy on Saturday night. Here’s hoping it’s a good game to round off the first World Cup on African soil.
