Spain v. The Netherlands

The 2010 World Cup final will go down as only the 3rd of those rare finals over the past 60 years lacking the presence of either Brazil or Germany. The first such final in the modern era was in 1978; followed 28 years later by the Italy v. France final of 2006. Hopefully we are on the cusp of a global trend in modern football departing from the hegemony of the duo who between them have annexed the World Cup 8 times, representing 8 wins out of 13 World Cup championship games in which they have featured.

This match up between Spain and Holland --2 teams neither of which has ever won the World Cup-- promises to be an exhilarating technical and tactical extravaganza which will probably set a new benchmark for what positive football means.

No other team in the world plays with Spain's unique and elegant mixture of possession and positioning. Nobody moves with or without the ball in quite the same way as Spain. Spain are today the foremost exponents of the 4-3-3 style which, ironically, has its roots essentially in the Ajax Total Football academy and was transplanted to Spain in 1974 via Barcelona and the two Johans, Cruyff and Neeskens. Cruyff continues to powerfully influence coaching selections and consequently, tactical decisions, at Barcelona, who to this day remain religiously faithful to this Holy Grail of 4-3-3, which has similarly transferred on to Spain itself who play the same elegant, possession + positioning style as Barcelona. It is advantageous to the execution of the style that the heart of Spain's defense and midfield are, respectively, the Barca duo of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, and the Barca duo of Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

But their 4-3-3 is a flexible formation -- in reality they attack and defend as one.

Holland for their part, having parted ways with avowed Cruyff tactical disciple Marco van Basten, have departed significantly from the vicarious influence of Johan Cruyff and the Ajax method and style of 4-3-3. Under Bert van Marwijk whose entire career as a player was spent with sides like Go Ahead Eagles, MVV Maastricht, Fortuna Sittard and AZ 67 Alkmaar, hardly the cream of Dutch football in a country and a long era dominated by Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord, they're plowing a new furrow. In fact van Marwijk only won one cap for Holland, and his management career has been spent with Fortuna Sittard, Feyenoord --the antithesis of Ajax-- and the German side Borussia Dortmund. Relatively modest credentials, those, and far removed from the exploits and associations of a Rinus Michels, or a Louis van Gaal, or even, indeed, a Guus Hiddink.

So the bottom line is that this final which will throw up a new World Champion whatever the outcome, will be a test of superiority between Cruyff's beliefs --which earned Holland 2 successive World Cup final defeats and an European Championship victory in the span of 14 years-- and the style espoused by van Marwijk --which has met with success at club level and now has brought Holland to a third World Cup final in a tournament wherein it remains the only undefeated side.

It may be to Holland's advantage that Wesley Sneijder was in the Inter Milan side which destroyed Barcelona in last season's European Champions League, as he will know from experience that what was required for Inter to neutralize Barca is also what is required to neutralize Spain. There are also the superstitions about the third itme being lucky. That will not matter.

Spain have the advantage. Spain have the ability to keep possession for as long as it takes to break down the Dutch --or any-- defense. If the formidable Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique maintain their rock-solid form at the heart of defense, if the coruscating pair of Xavi and Andres Iniesta are at the races, if the incisive David Villa's finishing boots are on, Holland will not be able to contain Spain.

Oranje are a well-balanced side along the lines of Germany, Uruguay, Ghana. That is to say, they possess some world class performers, but their style is not remarkable, unlike Spain. So in terms of their quality, they have the ability to inflict damage on Spain. The keys will be how much possession they are able to wrest and maintain; and how profligate Spain are in front of goal -- if the Spain attack that misfired so spectacularly against Switzerland shows up, the trophy is heading back to Amsterdam.

What the Dutch do have going for them is something better known as fighting spirit -- vechtlust --which has ensured their 100% record over the past 4 weeks of ruthless competition. But that's hardly an advantage, because Spain has that in abundance as well.

All things being equal, the World Cup is going to Madrid for the first time in its history.