The Final Act

After a thrilling, high-scoring third-place match today, the World Cup is down to the final chapter. The Netherlands and Spain meet tomorrow in Johannesburg and one club will bring back to its country a first World Cup championship.

The game will pair two of the strongest tactical sides in the tournament. Possession is the key word for both teams and the side that wins in that department has a great shot of winning the match. Both sides typically like to lull the opponents to sleep with short, timely passes, waiting for the defense to make a mistake. In this manner, both teams hover around 60% possession fo the game. The Netherlands were the sharpest passers (88%) in the first 10 days of the group stage and throughout the Cup, Spain has completed 81% of their passes.

If Spain is to score it will likely come off one of these prolonged attacks or off a set piece, where both sides have excelled at this Cup. David Villa has certainly had a nose for the ball, putting several loose balls in the back of the net, but it is the creative players behind him that earn their goals. Xavi and Andres Iniesta have lived up to high expectations at the midfield, pacing the game to Spain's liking. Carles Puyol always seems to stick his nose in the right place as a scoring back, so keep an eye on the hairy brute during set pieces.

The Netherlands are much more apt to strike on counter opportunities. As Spain will attempt to press the Dutch deep into their zone on long possessions, it only takes one turnover for the counter. On the offensive third, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Robin Van Persie are all capable goal scorers from long range. Much like Germany's Lukas Podolski, Robben has a rocket of a left foot and Spain must be mindful to force him to the right. On breaks he is apt to move right to left across the goal and has been very effective scoring in this fashion.

Professionally and tactically, this will is the best matchup FIFA and kids learning the game could have hoped for. Neither team hurts themselves too often, preferring to pounce on miscues of their opponents. The Dutch are the more physical team, an advantage that could be the deciding point in a low-scoring affair. All it takes is an extra shove in the box to get the difference-maker.

Soccer fans hopefully lapped up enough scoring from the wide-open Germany-Uruguay match as this one will come down to one or two goals. After falling apart in 1974 and then having key players refuse to play for the 1978 team, the Dutch finally bring a team to the finals that is healthy, composed and skilled. If Fernando Torres was healthy, I might just give Spain the advantage, but the Orangemen get the slight nod: 2-1 Netherlands.

RH