FIFA Rankings
Spain – #2
Netherlands – #4
Head to Head matchups
Since 1920, Spain and the Netherlands have played 9 times. Each team has won 4 times, lost 4 times, and drawn once. The last meeting was a 1-0 victory for Netherlands in 2002.
Best World Cup Performance
Spain – 4th Place in 1950. Quarterfinalists in 1934, 1986, 1994, and 2002.
Netherlands – Finalists in 1974 and 1978. Fourth place in 1998.
The Netherlands are arguably the best team in World Cup history to have never won the title.
Best European Championship Performance
Spain – Won the Euro in 2008 and 1964.
Netherlands – Won in 1988. Was Semifinalists in 1992, 2000, and 2004.
How did they get here?
In the final round of qualifying for the World Cup, 9 teams in the World finished with no losses, either all wins or ties: Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Australia, South Korea, and Nigeria.
Interestingly enough, only two teams won every single final round qualifying game: Spain and the Netherlands.
World Cup 2010 Performance
Spain: Lost their opening round game against Switzerland in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Despite the loss, they went on to win their group. Beat Portugal, Paraguay, and Germany to advance to the Finals. Outscored opponents 7-2 in 6 games.
Netherlands: Went undefeated in the group stage, and beat Slovakia, Brazil and Uruguay in the knockout rounds to advance to the finals. Outscored opponents 12-5 in 6 games.
Players to Watch
Netherlands: Wesley Sniejder, Arjen Robben, Mark Van Bommell, Drik Kuyt, Robin van Persie
Spain: Xavi, David Villa, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres
Just take a look at the nominees for the Golden Ball, the trophy given to the best player of the tournament and the characteristics as identified by the FIFA Technical Study Group. 5 of the 10 players play for the Netherlands or Spain.
Andres Iniesta (Spain) – Very fine ball-playing attacking midfielder, a star for the team, impressive dribbling ability
Arjen Robben (Netherlands) – Very good pace and dribbling skills, wonderful ability to cut inside from the right, effective to his team
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands) – A maestro in midfield, exceptional work rate, the engine of Netherland’s attacks, excellent passer and scorer
David Villa (Spain) – Top scorer; quick, two footed, very good on one-on-one situations, provides good final passes, excellent finisher
Xavi (Spain) – The metronome and the engine of the Spanish team, very influential in the passing style of the game, one of the finest midfielders in the tournament
The outcome of the game will be determined by…
…who will control possession and dominate the midfield.
The Spanish midfield composed of Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, and co. is the best unit in the World, and as a result, they are the best passing and possession keeping teams in the tournament. Against Germany, Xavi completed 105 passes, just only the 8th player to complete at least 100 passes since 1966. For the tournament, he now has 509 passes, only the 2nd player in history to complete at least 500 passes in a single World Cup (the other was Brazil’s Dunga who completed 589 in 1994). If the Spanish midfield is clicking on Sunday, they will give David Villa plenty of opportunities for chances on goal.
However, the Dutch midfield is pretty dang good as well, with Wesley Sneijder, Mark Van Bommell, and Nigel De Jong more than capable of holding their own.
The key will be whether or not van Bommell and De Jong can contain Xavi, Alonso, and Iniesta, and whether or not Sneijder can work his magic up front.
The competition within the competition
Currently, Spain’s David Villa and the Netherland’s Wesley Sneijder share the tournament goal scoring lead, with each scoring 5 goals. With both teams probably playing a very tight game, the lone goal can very well come from either Villa or Sneijder. Their team will win the title, and they’ll win the “Golden Boot”.
However, you can’t rule out Diego Forlan of Uruguay who sits behind Villa and Sneijder with 4 goals. If Villa or Sneijder dont score in the finals and Forlan scores 1 or more goals against Germany in the 3rd place goal, Forlan will pull the upset and win the Golden Boot.
For what it’s worth, in my group stage recap post, I had David Villa winning the Golden Boot Trophy.
The X-Factor
The biggest X-Factor has to be Fernando Torres, the player who scored the game winning goal against Germany in the Euro 2008. One of the best strikers in the World, Torres was hurt while playing for Liverpool earlier this year, and has struggled to regain his form. To a shock of many, Torres has scored no goals in 6 appearances this World Cup.
It’ll be interesting to see if Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque gives him the start this coming Sunday. If he happens to find his form and contributes well, he will form once again a very scary strike partner with David Villa, and give the already shaky Dutch defense even more problems.
The Predictions
I will agree with Paul the Octopus, and predict a Spanish victory.
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