Cloverdale Cricket and Sports

Posts Tagged ‘Spain’

After a World Cup final of so toxic a nature the stadium is in need of decontamination more than the regular clean-up. To Spain comes rightful glory as they took this prize for the first time. The side prevailed over a Holland team that was reduced to 10 men when the English referee, Howard Webb, eventually dismissed the defender John Heitinga, with a second caution in the 109th minute. Cesc Fábregas, on as a substitute, fed Andrés Iniesta to score the winner seven minutes later.

Holland were already being rebuked prior to the final but these events were on a wholly different scale and FIFA should take additional action considering the harm done to the culmination of a tournament that means so much around the globe. The losers were overwhelmingly the guiltier party, with seven bookings, not including Heitinga’s pair. Spain’s count climbed to five with late cautions for Xavi and Iniesta near the end. Read the rest of this entry »

It is perhaps fair to say that there are not many lasting memories from this World Cup. The biggest stars in the football world have failed to really shine with Lionel Messi, Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney and the entire Brazil team failing to light up the tournament like the football world anticipated. There has also been a dearth of really outstanding games to be revered.

However two teams have performed consistently well while perhaps more fancied teams around them like Brazil, Argentina, England, France and Italy have flattered so deceive. Or in the case of the last three, not flattered at all. These teams are Holland and Spain. And the irony is they have never played each other in a major tournament before.

So now it comes down to one game. But just who will win the World Cup?

Can Holland Win the World Cup?

Only one team remain undefeated during the entire tournament, the Netherlands. They eased their way through the group phases and then disposed of Slovakia, the mighty Brazil and Uruguay. They have played at a consistently high standard and tempo throughout and have peaked at exactly the right time. Read the rest of this entry »