FIFA World Cup Diary, Spain win 1-0 against Germany: iSporter Praneet Mhatre believes justice has finally been served as the new World Cup winner will be one among two of the best football nations on earth.
For years together, Spain and the Netherlands have produced some of the best footballers of their generations. Teams from both La Liga and Dutch Eredivisie have won numerous titles at the club level.
They have nurtured players who have shone for their respective countries and helped them win world titles. But not once has either of these two superpowers managed to get their name carved on the biggest prize of them all. It is all going to change this Sunday. In a way, justice has been done by footballing gods!
No matter who wins the final on Sunday, I am already in celebration mood seeing these two teams dueling for the title. But ironically enough, they have had to do it the hard way. Playing with enormous amounts of patience and waiting for the right opportunity to strike, suffering setbacks in the process but fighting their way up and eventually doing things that matter.
The semi final clash between Spain and Germany was no different. The first period was a purist's delight, with both teams trying to tactically outdo each other. Spain managed to keep the majority of the possession, but couldn't do a lot in terms of hitting the target. Germany, on the hand, were struggling to get their counter attacks going.
Spanish boss Vicente del Bosque finally made the brave decision to let Fernando Torres join fellow superstars Cesc Fabregas and David Silva on the bench. Now this trio can easily walk into the starting eleven of virtually any national side at the moment, but such is the depth of this Spanish squad that their services weren't even required to see off the most impressive team of the tournament.
Torres's replacement Pedro displayed nerves of steel (well, for the most part!) as he joined the irreplaceable Xavi and Iniesta in frustrating the German midfield. The architect of Germany's masterful win over Argentina, Bastian Schweinsteiger, was an irrelevance on the night.
Both teams had their share of chances - Spain's best moment came from a beautifully crafted move that saw David Villa come agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock.
The Germans went close with substitute Toni Kroos firing a volley towards the Spanish goal, but Iker Casillas was as focused as ever and managed to earn his 20th clean sheet in the 32 games his side has played under del Bosque so far.
In spite of dominating possession, Spain were finding it difficult to break down the German defense. The 6'5" Per Mertesacker kept coming in the way of nearly every aerial ball and forced the Spaniards to stick to exchanging short passes, even in dead ball situations.
However, after 72 fierce minutes of strategic game play, it was almost paradoxical that the game clincher should come from a Carles Puyol header. But let's not take any credit away from the Ultimate Warrior doppelganger! The Barcelona captain, fondly called 'The Superman' by many, actually took to the air like the superhero to head home the all important goal.
Pedro had a golden opportunity to kill the game off in the 82nd minute. But it looked like Greed - the worst of the seven deadly sins - came to haunt the young Spaniard at that precise moment. I don't see any other explanation for his ludicrous decision to try to score on his own, when Torres was standing all alone in front of an empty goal. However, none of that would matter in the end as Spain took that one giant step in their Football history.
It was a clinical performance from the most complete team in the tournament. Vicente del Bosque's calm demeanor and no-nonsense approach has worked wonders. The game also served as a warning for the Dutch against the potential damage that Xabi Alonso's long passes can cause.
His diagonal balls were spot on throughout the night and he was the standout performer of the game. David Villa did not get a lot of openings to exploit. But this Spanish side has never been about individuals, despite what the scoring statistics seem to be suggesting.
Sunday's game is going to be a treat, although it may not be a conventional entertainer (with loads of goals and drama). If the Netherlands are to win, it will take a moment of brilliance, a refereeing error or something out of the ordinary.
If it comes down to sticking to your own tactics and eventually finding a way to get on the score sheet, the Spaniards are likely to have the last laugh. As a football fan, I am already celebrating with these two teams in the final. As a Spanish fan though, I am still lusting for that one last victory and it would be the perfect way to end a very special World cup.
Viva Espana!
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