Three weeks ago, Spain took to the field at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and were left licking their wounds after a surprise defeat by Switzerland.
However, La Furia Roja have bounced back in a big way and now stand on the verge of winning their first ever World Cup after their semi-final win over Germany.
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The Spanish are clearly the best football team in the competition, something which has led most of their opponents to assemble men behind the ball in an attempt to frustrate their opponents. However, they have now won five matches on the spin in South Africa and can be backed at 6/5 (Sky Bet) to win in normal time when they face the Dutch at Soccer City.
The Netherlands have beaten Denmark, Japan, Cameroon, Slovakia, Brazil and Uruguay to reach their third World Cup final and Bert van Marwijk’s team will be looking to succeed where his predecessors of 1974 and 1978 failed. Bet365 currently offer 11/4 that they win in normal time and they were a similar price to beat the Selecao in the quarter final.
Either way, there will be a new name on the trophy and we could be in for a tight encounter. Ladbrokes currently quote the draw price at 23/10 and we should expect Holland to try and nullify their opponents, especially with Nigel de Jong back in the team from suspension.
It’s getting a little tiresome hearing various media commentators wax lyrical about Total Football and waiting for this Dutch team to ‘come to life’. The simple fact is that the Oranje play with seven defensive players, allowing Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben to weave some magic going forward.
Sneijder has been the tour de force for his team and the Inter midfielder is 9/1 (Victor Chandler) to open the scoring in Johannesburg and have them dancing in the streets of Amsterdam once again. He’s currently the joint-top scorer with five goals and will be scrapping it out with one of the opposition for the Golden Shoe.
David Villa is probably more likely to find the back of the net in ninety minutes, especially as Spain are likely to have the lion’s share of possession during the World Cup final. He’s been installed as the 4/1 favourite (Victor Chandler) to break the deadlock, although Carlos Puyol catches the eye at 50/1 (bet365) after the central defender scored against Germany.
Ultimately, if Spain play to their potential, then they will win the World Cup and they are no bigger than 4/7 (William Hill) to get their hands on the trophy.