Whatever happens we’re going to have new World Cup champions. Let’s just hope whoever wins plays like one.
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You may have noticed a distinct lack of a preview for the third-fourth place play-off. Well that’s because it’s an irrelevant game. Yes I watched it and was suitably entertained but nobody really cares who gets the bronze medal in this competition. This isn’t the Olympics, this is real sport in the real world.
Congratulations to both sides for great tournaments but it’s time to move on to a game which really matters.
From what we’re hearing out of the Dutch camp this could be something of a war of attrition, so Iniesta and the lads will want to make sure they have their extra padded shin-guards in. Mark van Bommel is an unsurprising favourite to be sent off in 90 minutes at 16/1. If he performs the way he did in the quarters and semis, then he’ll be lucky to make it to half-time. Unless of course Howard Webb is fooled by his ‘cynically kick the opponent then collapse to the floor clutching some part of your body to confuse the referee’ technique. The Dutch are 4/6 to receive the first booking and the upper in the card index is set at 50 points or more at 6/5. Webb hasn’t handed out any red cards yet but he has given out 16 yellow cards in the three games he’s officiated so far, with 10 points for a yellow this looks worth a bet.
Spain’s players will be well used to receiving such close attention from opponents, having played against various styles of opponents in the Champions League, and if anything it could spur them on to play better than we’ve seen so far. Or maybe I’m just being a little too optimistic. It wouldn’t be the first time in this World Cup. Still, we’re allowed to dream and I’m hoping the closer attention serves only to highlight the brilliance of the Spanish midfield’s passing abilities. Which they will use to put on a football masterclass, brushing aside a team whose ‘win at all costs’ attitude could end up defining this less than inspiring tournament.
So what to bet on. David Villa is naturally the stand-out to score first at 7/2 but if you fancy Torres coming out of nowhere to repeat his Euro 2008 final heroics then the Liverpool (for now) frontman is 11/2 to nab the last goal in 90 minutes. On the Dutch side Sneijder is in the running for the Golden Boot with Villa and the 7/2 on him to score anytime in 90 minutes is worth a look. Arjen Robben is the same price and sure why not throw Dirk Kuyt in to the mix, just so I cover as many bases as possible. He’s 9/2 to score anytime.
As much as we’d all like to witness a free-flowing, end to end game with more chances to score than your average Monday night in Coppers (insert your own local meat-market nightclub here) but from what we’ve seen from both sides to date it doesn’t look too likely. Spain have won their last four games by a single goal, in fact the last three have been 1-0 wins. Holland have won their last five games by a single goal, though they have provided more goals in their games. So our money-back special which refunds losing correct score bets (amongst others) if things end 0-0, may end up clicking. For the sake of entertainment, let’s hope not but at least there’s something of a safety net. The 1-1 draw is 5/1, Spain 1-0 is 5/1 and Holland 2-1 is 12/1. All very likely scores in this game.
The big question you have to ask is whether the physicality and hard-work of the Dutch will be enough to overwhelm the intricate play of the Spanish. If so, then Holland are a great price at 11/4 to wrap things up in 90 minutes. If not, then will Spain have the cutting edge to punish a backline which is there to be punished?
Whatever happens we’re going to have a new World Cup winner, let’s just hope both sides play like one tonight.
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