So the World Cup winners will be either the Netherlands or Spain.
Colin Randall considers tonight’s semi-final result a fair one, but needs to make swift contact with a warm, witty or wise supporter of each finalist …
My heart just wasn’t in this match. I sensed it would be tight, with none of the swashbuckling thrust of Germany’s earlier performances and Spanish flair struggling to break down Teutonic resilience.
But it wasn’t a bad game. With 20 minutes to go, as I started to write this posting, there were no goals, but there had been plenty of goalmouth action, lots of fascinating battles going on all over the pitch and much more than a hint of Spain being likelier to score.
And suddenly, with Pujol’s bullet header, they did. The Germans had looked dangerous at times, but almost always on the break, and Spain not only dominated possession but seemed to have one half-chance after another to book a place in Sunday’s showdown against the Netherlands.
Germany had a terrific World Cup up to last night, when Spain did more than enough to earn their passage to the final.
Bloody annoying thing is this: I thought we’d do a World Cup final Who Are They? provided I could find a fan from each country to answer the questions.
But I’ve yet to locate a Dutchman (or woman) who’d be up for it and, with two spare Germans (including the former Sunderland player Thomas Hauser) I no longer need, the search is on for a Spanish volunteer.
Maybe I’ll just wait until the far more important business of Birmingham City at home on Aug 14,
Thanks Luke. Holland signed up.
I couldn’t possibly agree more Bill. Everyone that I have been talking to were speaking in hushed tones about Spain as if they’d seen the Brazil side of 1970. They can pass the ball about very effectively to no great effect. The Dutch go into the final knowing that it doesn’t take more than a goal against them. I thought they were pedestrian and woefully uncreative. Proof of that lies in the goal. The German performance was for me inexplicable. They needed to start quick and get the Spaniards on the back foot. Start slow and remain slow. It’s almost impossible to pick up the pace of the game if you start at walking pace. No sense of urgency seemed to hit them even when they went a goal down. Iniesta must be the most talented player to drift through games catching the eye and to deliver nothing. Holland to win on Sunday. I’ve been expecting the German youth to become nervous at some time in the tournament and assumed that they had gone beyond that point. I think it happened today unfortunately for them and also for me. They’ve probably cost me $150 losing today.
What the heck were the Germans thinking of? They just sat back and let Spain play. No one marking Pujol when he headed in the corner and Podolski leaning up against the post instead of defending the goal. Pathetic. Spain played their classic game of passing and possession and were clearly dominant but I think they were made to look better than they really were. The Netherlands can beat this side. As of Germany, they’d better buck their ideas up or they’ll be finishing fourth in the World Cup, in spite of the injury that could put Forlan out of Saturday’s match.
I can possibly put you in touch with a Dutch fan Colin. I’ll send him an e-mail, I think he’s about to become a dad but I’ll give your e-mail and ask him to get message you. I don’t know him too well, I just know he’s Dutch and a football fan, but he knows his stuff.