Football will win out in a final for the purists

I don’t often have the chance to use this phrase so I’ll exploit the moment. And then there were two. That feels better. Coming into the tournament, the Netherlands were the world’s fourth best team, Spain, the second best.  

Reuters

The Netherlands haven’t been beaten for more than 20 matches. And if they prevail in tonight’s final, they’ll be the first team since Brazil in 1970 to win all their World Cup qualifying matches and all the games in the competition itself.

That would be a feat.

For the second time in as many weeks, I crossed paths with the former Netherlands skipper Rudy Krol. He told me the key was to stop the ball reaching Xabi.

Krol led the Netherlands in their last World Cup final in Argentina in 1978. But then scores of teams have tried to halt Xabi's supply and failed miserably.

My guess is that the final will be a game for the purists. The former Brazil striker Romario said these are the two best sides from a technical point of view and so, bar a few opening minute nerves, they’re likely to guard the ball with a passion.

Romario was asked who he thought would win. As he’d played in both countries, he hedged his bets and said that football would be the winner. Politician in the offing there, methinks.

When Spain played Germany, the Germans defended with vigour and should have gone ahead, but Toni Kroos messed up his shot allowing Iker Casillas to save.

Spain finally broke through from a set piece. It wasn’t what was expected after all their frilly build-up play. But it went over the line – and as it wasn’t the referee who was officiating Germany v England – it was validated.

Thomas Mueller was missing from the Spain v Germany semi final. But he was back for the Germans on Saturday night and he was on the scoresheet as Germany beat Uruguay 3-2 to win the third place play off.

That performance should seal the prize as young player of the tournament. Ghana’s André Ayew is also up for the award but I can’t see him winning it. Mueller has had the extra game to show his worth and of course if the team loses when you don’t play and wins when you do, that kind of helps your cause.

There’s been loads of coverage of an octopus in Germany which has been successfully predicting the outcome of matches. Paul, the octopus, saw that Spain would beat Germany.

What about Paul, the journalist ?

I backed the Netherlands to do well and I also said that Spain would be a force.
I’m pleased with my earlier evaluation. And as readers of the blog will know, it is poetry not pulp fiction.

And as I’m neither Spanish nor Dutch, I really don’t mind who takes the crown.
Like Romario, I want football to the winner.