Dutch will ensure a cracking finale

Wednesday 7th July 2010, 12:25am
TREVOR STEVEN

WHETHER it’s Germany or Spain who meet Holland in Sunday’s World Cup final, you can be sure of one thing – it’s going to be a cracker.

While the Germans have lit the tournament up with their movement and flowing, counter-attacking style, the Spanish are warming up nicely with their abundance of talent just ready to show the world how good they are.

Personally, I’d like to see a Spain/Holland final, not only because of their similar style of play, but also because it means a new name on the trophy.

But Germany have winning in their blood and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if they pulled off another Argentina-style performance in Durban tonight.

Holland will be a match for either. They have great pace and creativity going forward with Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, and in playmaker Wesley Sneijder they have the man of the tournament for me.

What I like about the Dutch is the way they are balanced. Who would have thought that
Khalid Boulahrouz, after his nightmare at Chelsea, or Dirk Kuyt, after a poor season with
Liverpool, could be so influential in a World Cup final team. From left to right, back to
front, they look a complete team.

Uruguay, it has to be said also, had a great tournament themselves and with the terrific
Diego Forlan en tow, they can go back to south America proud in the fact they flew the
continent’s flag in the last four.

The bookies may slightly favour Spain, but I think Germany will start as favourites tonight, simply due to their World Cup pedigree and experience in getting over the finish line.

It will be interesting to see, however, just how much possession of the ball they will get from the Spanish midfield masters in Xavi and Iniesta, and I’ve just got this sneakiest feeling that it could be the night for Fernando Torres to come alive.

Trevor Steven is a former England footballer who played in both the 1986 and 1990 World Cups and the 1988 European Championships. A tricky winger who helped Everton capture the league, FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in the mid-80s, Steven went onto win top-flight titles in France, with Marseille, and Scotland, with Rangers. He now works as a...