NETHERLANDS VS SPAIN IN WORLD CUP FINAL
The World Cup semi finals. England have never made it to this stage of the tournament in my memory and on this occasion the Three Lions came up short again. Still, this stage of the competition usually serves up at least one tasty match per tournament. Getting this far usually means that the teams concerned will stay in the memory banks of their respective nations whatever happens. For the winners, it's one step closer to global immortality, for the losers...well, they still have the third placed playoff.
The last time the Netherlands played in a World Cup semi final was back in '98 when they drew 1-1 with Brazil after extra time at the Stade Veledrome before losing on penalties. The last time they scheived the equivilent of winning a semi final was back in 1978 when they won a second round group completed by Italy, West Germany and Austria. The last time Uruguay were in the World Cup semis they were beaten 3-1 by Brazil at the Estadio Jalisco in 1970. They did better than that in 1950, when the topped a "final group" completed by Brazil, Sweden and Spain to win the entire tournament.
This time around, the Dutch came to this stage of the tournament as sort of a surprise package, no one had expected them to get past Brazil in the quarters. Yet if it hadn't been for a Twilight Zone-lite occurances in their part of the draw, Uruguay would have been gonners long ago but here they are, having become a consistant force. So, the two sides met at Green Point Stadium with a fair bit of history at stake for both of them while I watched at the Farmers Union pub due to my TV being out of action.
Well the early stages of the match were fairly even between the two side but then in the 18th minute Mark van Bommel found Geovanni van Bronckhurst and the Dutch captain came up with what has to be the best goal of the tournament so far. Uruguay pressed a bit after that and eventually came up with a reply in the 41st minute, Diego Forlan picking up a long ball and firing in a shot which the Dutch goalie couldn't handle. So far a match worthy of the occasion.
The Dutch were certainly looking like the nervier side early on in the second half but their South American opponents couldn't take advantage and he Orangje retook the lead in the 70th minute when Robin van Persie set up Wesley Sneijder who put the ball in the net via a couple of deflections. In the 73rd minute Dirk Kuyt crossed to Arjen Robben who headed deep into the net. It was pretty much game over at that point but Uruguay still had the last word when Walter Gargan slid an injury time free kick to Maxi Perriera who slotted it in but it wasn' enough to stop Cape Town from being painted orange that night.
Last time around, Germany lost 2-0 to Italy in the semis after extra time in the World Cup stadium in Dortmund. The last time they won a World Cup semi was when they beat South Korea 1-0 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. The last time Spain got this far into the competition, they finished 4th in the "final group" completed by Uruguay, Brazil and Sweden in 1950. Going into this tournament, they had yet to win a World Cup semi final, and so history awaited them whatever happened.
More recently, these two sides met in the Euro 2008 final which Spain won. In this tournament though, the two sides form was very interesting going into their World Cup semi final at the Durban World Cup stadium. Germany had proven to be a very smooth outfit that plenty had underestimated in the knockout stages so far. Spain however had somehow cruised their way to this stage of the tournament. They surely needed to find top gear if they wanted to lift the trophy though.
Well the Spaniards had the early attacking play but couldn't do much with it. What they could do though was smother the German attack, Piotr Trowcowski having their first chance but it was saved by the Spanish goalie. Joachim Low's team should have had a penalty before half time but the ref thought otherwise. Spain had one last chance before half time but it ended goalless. Both sides had soaked each other up succsessfully but it wasn't resulting in a classy football match.
Spain had the opening attack of the second half but it went nowhere. However they didn't let up and it was starting to look as though it may be their show. Finally in the 73rd minute they broke through, a Xavi corner headed in by Carlos Puyol. Germany broke late on in a last desperate attempt to stay on the road to the trophy. They failed. It was Spain's night to celebrate and despite still not having hit top gear in this tournament, a group of Spanish players that were already immortal made a little more history.