I got half the final match-up right: the Netherlands got out of their side of the bracket (upsetting Brazil and beating Uruguay) but Argentina fell to Germany. Spain then got past Germany setting up the final match of 2 countries with rich soccer histories but no World Cup trophies.
There is an interesting history leading up to how these 2 teams play today. In the 1970s, the Dutch (led by forward Johan Cruyff) played what is known as "total football." It was a revolutionary style of soccer where the each player could play any position on the field. So a defender could surge forward and join the attack, while a forward could drop back and defend. The Dutch national team played this attractive, aggressive form of soccer as well as anyone but fell twice in World Cup Finals (in 1974 to W. Germany and in 1978 to Argentina). Their flowing style of play, coupled with losses in finals, made the Dutch teams of the 1970s the favorite team of romantic, intellectual soccer fans worldwide.
Cruyff later went on to play at the Spanish club Barcelona, where the club adopted the same free-flowing, attacking style of play. Cruyff later became coach of Barcelona. And since his playing and coaching days, Barcelona has been dedicated to playing a similar type of total football.
Many of the players on Spain's WC team currently play at Barcelona (Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and David Villa). Leo Missi of Argentina also plays for Barcelona.
So in the WC Final, the Spanish team will likely be playing a form of Dutch-style total football. Ironically, the Dutch team will be playing a more conservative style of play. In fact, some commentators argue that this Dutch team has defiled the tradition of total football and should not be counted on to carry on the tradition of past teams. Slate explains:
"This year's team, for all Wesley Sneijder's individual panache, has been even more stolid, relying excessively on Arjen Robben's ability to cut inside from the right. The Dutch have depended on Dirk Kuyt's lumbering work-rate, Mark van Bommel's spectacularly dirty midfield play, and a lot of sheer luck to survive, while their manager, Bert van Marwijk, has taken every opportunity to distance his squad from the legacy of total football. We're here to win, he says, nothing else."
As a long-time fan of the Netherlands, I have been rooting for them throughout the tournament. But watching them play is not as fun as I had hoped. The Slate piece got it right: they play a fairly conservative style, that allows its flair players (Sneijder and Robben) to conjure a moment of brilliance to win their games. And credit to them -- this has worked. Holland have not lost a game during the WC.
And I still think they will win on Sunday (2:30 pm EST, ABC). Their dual midfield enforcers (de Jong and van Bommel) will do enough to stymie Span's creative and elegant midfielders and Holland will nick a goal to win their first World Cup trophy. I'll be happy for the Dutch people, but I'd be happier if they had been able to do it playing total football.
My new favorite player is Diego Forlan. He was considered a bit of a bust at Manchester United years ago, but he's gone on to a successful career in the Spanish league and he put Uruguay on his shoulders and carried them to the semi-finals. He scored some wonderful goals and always played with vigor, style and energy. Plus he looks like Bjorn Borg's soccer-playing cousin. Meg even asked if I had a man-crush on Forlan. I had to plead guilty.
Finally, here's a great video from Nike that thanks the US team for playing like Americans:
Enjoy Sunday's final!
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