TC Admin

Jul 9 2010, 11:58 AM

The Best Young Player shortlist has been announced also: Thomas Mueller (Germany), Giovani Dos Santos (Mexico) and Andre Ayew (Ghana).

NZ

Jul 10 2010, 07:44 PM

Does this playoff go to ET & penalties or do they just share 3rd place?

NZ

Jul 10 2010, 06:41 PM

TC Admin

Jul 10 2010, 05:25 PM

I'd normally predict Germany here but Uruguay, as we all know, have been decent at this World Cup.

So have Germany. They both got to the semi finals remember

BBC Sport

 

TEAM NEWS

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is expected to recall Gregory van der Wiel at right back and defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong after both missed the semi-final win over Uruguay through suspension. Demy de Zeeuw did not break his jaw after receiving a kick in the face against Uruguay as was first feared, but his teeth were damaged and it is unclear if he will play any role.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has to decide whether or not to recall Fernando Torres to the starting line-up, or stick with Barcelona forward Pedro. Cesc Fabregas is thought to have overcome a training-ground injury to his right leg, but played no part in the semi-final win over Germany.

MATCH PREVIEW

The first World Cup in Africa will produce a new winner when the two greatest footballing nations never to have won the game's biggest prize meet at Soccer City on Sunday. Will the Spanish finally find El Dorado, or is the future Oranje?

Spain's previous best finish at the World Cup was fourth place in 1950, but football's great underachievers now have the opportunity to win their second major title in as many years to confirm their status as the greatest current team in international football. Vicente del Bosque's side have won 50 of their last 54 games playing a mesmeric passing game, demoralising and eventually exhausting their opponents with one-touch possession football.

The Netherlands reached the 1974 and 1978 finals playing their own brand of the beautiful game, but while Total Football may have been consigned to history, Bert van Marwijk's class of 2010 have discovered a winning formula just as effective. The Dutch are on a 25-match unbeaten streak and are hoping to emulate the Brazilian side of 1970 as the only team to have a 100% record in both qualifying and the tournament itself.

For Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart, Sunday's final provides the perfect occasion to remind Spain of their talents. The first three were deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, while the latter's future there is in doubt. In a further subplot, Sneijder will go head-to-head with David Villa for the golden shoe, with both players on five goals.

Spain are at their 13th World Cup, the Netherlands their ninth, but remarkably they have never played each other in a major championship. Their biggest clash was their first when they met in Antwerp for the 1920 Olympic silver medal. On Sunday, for one of football's 'nearly men', the prize will finally be gold.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

- Spain and the Netherlands have never met at the World Cup or European Championship before.

- In over 90 years of competition, they have met just nine times: they have won four encounters apiece, and drawn once.

- This will be the first World Cup final that does not involve one of Brazil, Argentina, Italy or (West) Germany.

- Their most recent meeting was a 1-0 friendly win for the Dutch in Rotterdam in 2002.

Netherlands

- The Netherlands are playing in their third World Cup final. They lost the 1974 and 1978 finals, to hosts West Germany and Argentina respectively.

- The Dutch are bidding to become only the second team to qualify for the World Cup with a 100% record and win every match at the tournament itself (matching Brazil in 1970).

- The Netherlands have won six World Cup matches at a single tournament for the first time. This beats their previous best of five in 1974, when they lost in the final.

- Van Marwijk's side are on a 25-match unbeaten streak, a record for the Dutch. Their last defeat was in September 2008 (a 2-1 loss to Australia in Eindhoven).

- They have scored 12 goals in South Africa - only Germany have scored more (13).

- Wesley Sneijder has scored 7 goals in his last 8 internationals. He was credited with Holland's first goal against Brazil, despite Felipe Melo appearing to get the last touch.

Spain

- Spain have lost only two of their last 54 games (to USA and Switzerland). Defeat to the Swiss was a bad omen - no side has ever won the World Cup after losing their opening game.

- Italy (1994), Argentina (1990) and West Germany (1982) all reached the final despite beginning their campaign with a loss. Argentina (1978) were the last team to win the tournament despite losing a game in the group stage.

- This is the fourth time the reigning European champions have reached a World Cup final. The only side to have lifted Fifa's trophy, West Germany, beat the Dutch in the 1974 final.

- The Germans failed to double up against Italy in 1982, while the Azzurri lost to Brazil in 1970 two years after winning Euro '68. France also held both titles concurrently, though they were crowned world champions first (in 1998).

- The Spanish are through to their first ever World Cup final. They did reach the final four in 1950 under a different format, when the remaining teams played out a group stage. The Spanish finished bottom, behind winners Uruguay plus Brazil and Sweden.

- David Villa is one goal away from equalling Raul's record of 44 goals for Spain. He has already equalled the Spanish record for most goals at a single World Cup (five), set by Emilio Butragueno in 1986.

- Spain have completed 3,387 passes at the World Cup, more than any other side. The Netherlands have managed 2,434. Prior to the third-place play-off, Spain had the tournament's top four passers: Xavi (464 completed passes), Busquets (420), Alonso (399) and Pique (378).

ligue1marseille

Jul 9 2010, 04:12 PM

Rosenborg91

Jul 3 2010, 01:20 PM

I bet Chris would just let that ball go in then, but you have to accept that Suarez wanted his country to play in the semis.

And dont compare it to Henry, please. He cheated. Suarez was smart. It was the last chance of the match, that ball couldn't go in.

No comment seriously, this is just too hilarious. Henry didn't even score and you're still on his sack, a former Arsenal player on top of that. I'm sure it's because he's French. Who's the player you hate the most at the moment, eh Marius? "Henry" Suarez cheated too, you're saying it's good to touch the ball now? Smart it was, but it's still handball - just like your #1 terrorist Henry - who you went after eversince Ireland, criticizing him back and forth as if he did the hand of God against Rosenborg in the Champions League final. If you're so interested in Henry, I wonder what your reaction was like when you found out that Maradona actually scored with his hand against England ages ago? Was his hand better than Henry's? I would've understood the complaints if it was coming from someone like Kev, but even he, surprisingly, is laid back on all of this - he moved on. And you? Still rocking the boat months later. Fuck off already.