TheValleyRaider
July 10th, 2010, 08:48 AM
WC talk seems to have died a bit with the board transition and everything, but let's see if we can't draw out some talk for tomorrow's big game
An 8th team will join the ranks of World Cup Champions tomorrow, while another will find itself secure only as the greatest soccer nation to never have won it all
Netherlands
The Clockwork Oranje, inventors of Total Football. Twice runners-up, though at least this year, the host nation does not await in the Final. Forgoing their usual free-flowing attack for a slightly more responsible defensive style, the Dutch worked over Denmark, Japan and Cameroon in the group stages. After sweating out a victory over Slovakia, the Dutch masters rallied to oust Brazil, one of the pre-tournament favorites. A victory over upstart Uruguay put the relatively unfancied Netherlands back in the Final
Spain
Long noted for their precision passing and underwhelming international appearances, la Furia Roja appeared to finally be changing the narrative with their triumphant European victory, one that firmly established them as favorites to lift the trophy. If the Netherlands has tempered their style in the quest for victory, Spain has enhanced their's, making their precision game into an athletic artform. Expectations may have seemed too much in the opener, a shocking loss to Switzerland. The Spaniards rebounded to beat Honduras and Chile, before knocking out defensively stalwart Portugal and a gutsy Paraguay. Facing the tournament's hot team in the Semifinals, the Spanish smothered Germany's potent counter with patience and precision
Both teams are searching for that elusive first title
Both teams are lead by the tournament's leading scorer (Sneidjer and Villa each have 5 goals)
Both feature narratives of almost, not quite, just not good enough
For once, ESPN is quite right. For one of these teams, one game will, in fact, change everything
Who's gonna win?
An 8th team will join the ranks of World Cup Champions tomorrow, while another will find itself secure only as the greatest soccer nation to never have won it all
Netherlands
The Clockwork Oranje, inventors of Total Football. Twice runners-up, though at least this year, the host nation does not await in the Final. Forgoing their usual free-flowing attack for a slightly more responsible defensive style, the Dutch worked over Denmark, Japan and Cameroon in the group stages. After sweating out a victory over Slovakia, the Dutch masters rallied to oust Brazil, one of the pre-tournament favorites. A victory over upstart Uruguay put the relatively unfancied Netherlands back in the Final
Spain
Long noted for their precision passing and underwhelming international appearances, la Furia Roja appeared to finally be changing the narrative with their triumphant European victory, one that firmly established them as favorites to lift the trophy. If the Netherlands has tempered their style in the quest for victory, Spain has enhanced their's, making their precision game into an athletic artform. Expectations may have seemed too much in the opener, a shocking loss to Switzerland. The Spaniards rebounded to beat Honduras and Chile, before knocking out defensively stalwart Portugal and a gutsy Paraguay. Facing the tournament's hot team in the Semifinals, the Spanish smothered Germany's potent counter with patience and precision
Both teams are searching for that elusive first title
Both teams are lead by the tournament's leading scorer (Sneidjer and Villa each have 5 goals)
Both feature narratives of almost, not quite, just not good enough
For once, ESPN is quite right. For one of these teams, one game will, in fact, change everything
Who's gonna win?