HOLLAND
Jeroen Haverkort/Metro Holland
Who will win?
These are two countries that could win the World Cup for the first time in history. Two countries that love to play attacking football. Two countries that are respected by the way how they run their youth academies. Football is the great winner with Spain and Holland in the World Cup Final. But Holland deserves the cup. Two times before (1974 and 1978) they stood in the final but lost. Spain has never reached the final before. So, to complete the comparison: Spain has to lose and they will. 1-0 by Wesley Sneijder, our Golden boy.
SWEDEN
Leif Granlind/Metro World News
Who will win?
Keeping the ball, passing the ball without creating a lot of chances. That’s the recipe for Spain in this World Cup and it’s working. And it will work in the final as well. Why? Because if you going to beat Spain you have to be a really good defensive team and then have the luck to score the only goal on a fluke. Exactly what Switzerland managed to do in the group stage. But if you are a good offensive team – like Germany or Holland – you don’t have the recipe to beat Spain. As an offensive team you aren’t used to look at the ball instead of having it. That’s why Spain will win the World Cup. The score in the final? I’d say 1-0.
MEXICO
Erick Tapia/Metro Mexico
Who will win?
One word would describe Del Bosque’s Spain: effectiveness. With a lot of very talented players, La Furia Roja have had the capacity to bring all their potential into order in the field. It might no be pretty, but the results are coming one by one and, besides a brief slip with the Swiss team, also their rivals are falling one by one. In my opinion, the only team capable of beating Spain is in fact Holland, but that is providing the Spaniards make any mistakes and if the Dutch are very focus. If not, the thing will naturally pass in favour of a historical Spanish team. Unfortunately for us all, in the end we might have a un-spectacular 1-0 for the red team.
HUNGARY
Tamas Erdei/Metro Hungary
Who will win?
New teams, new style of play is in the World Cup final. Attacking football has already won the tournament, though there are not too many goals. Both Spain and Holland deserved to reach the last and most important game, and it’s not easy to predict the outcome. If Holland let Spain play their style they will have no chance. You can’t win without the ball. Xavi and Co. is the best in keeping and hiding the ball so Dutch must find a way to stop the opponents passing. If Holland can find a goal in a counter-attack the match could be turned upside down and it’s not impossible to score while defence is the weakest part of the Spanish team. But honestly I think Spain will have its first World Cup trophy after a 2-0 victory.
PORTUGAL
Sérgio H. Coimbra/ Editor-in-chief, Metro Portugal
Who will win?
South Africa
And the winner is… No matter who scores the most goals in Sunday’s match, The Netherlands or Spain, the true winner of the World Cup 2010 is Africa. Let’s not forget how anxious the World was the days before the start of the tournament in South Africa. People from all over the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Europe secretly predicting terrorist attacks, constant harassment by thieves, and massive gang waves taking on the streets. And yet, except for one strike from the stewards and a few minor robberies, everything went well from the beginning, and one can only expect a grand finale in two days. Yes, let’s not forget that every continent has hosted a World Cup at least once in the last 50 years, every continent except Africa. Now, thanks again to South Africans, a people that is used to lead the good way since Mr. Mandela was freed, all Africans can be proud of themselves. Next? The Olympic Games, one would hope.
FRANCE
Frédéric Vézard, Edtor in Chief, Metro France
Who will win?
Casillas is the best goalkeeper in the world, Puyol the most aggressive defender in Europe,
Villa the best striker of the tournament and, last but not least, Xavi-Iniesta are a unique pair of genius in the midfield. In few words, Spain is the real galactic team, a mix between Barca and Real. In the opposite, Netherlands have just Sneijder the sniper And, when he’s in a good mood, Robben, the slalom racer. Moreover, Spain is in a increasing shape and Netherlands have a fragile defence. That’s why I believe that La Roja will outclass the Dutch squad and win 2-O. As a biased French man, I’m a bit sad to say Spain, with that success, will equal the 1998-2000 French team, the first who
won World and European Championship in only two years.
DENMARK
Jakob Melgaard, Metro Denmark
Who will win?
Spain or Holland? Holland or Spain? A difficult one to predict, and probably also a difficult one to win. Expect a low scoring game with both sides playing it safe, perhaps a little – or a lot – burdened by the importance of the game. The two teams are very similar in every aspect. Both have near watertight defences, that know how to shut down games when necessary, and both have phenomenal attacking players, that will bring crowds to their feet. Lets hope that for the game on Sunday the attackers will be the ones to shine – and then the names of Iniesta, Xavi and Villa seem to be just that bit more frightening than Robben, van Persie, Schneijder.
Here is the result from the Danish jury: Spain-Holland 1-0.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Simon Merta, Metro Czech Republic
Who will win?
The final should be, according to statistics, very tie match. Both teams are getting into final match after a row of one goal victories: Spain won with the closest result for four times, Dutch for five times in a row. Also both teams can depend on best shooters of this World Cup, David Villa and Wesley Sneijder both scored fifth times. My personal bet will be on Netherlands, orange heroes will not stop their unbeatable row and they will win also their final match. They are playing more attractive and impressive and I think they will handle Spanish playfulness. And if van Bommel will stay calm and receive no red card, Netherlands will win the cup. Worthily.
RUSSIA
Alexey Shunaev/Metro St.Petersburg
Who will win?
There are too many reasons for Spain to win. They have best-in-all-the-world-goalie Casillas at. was-waiting-for-vanderSaar-death Stekelenburg. They have lucky Villa and waiting-for-his chance Llorente at dull gang Kuyt-vanPersie-Huntellaar.
The only chance for Netherlands is Robben (Capdevilla is too unconfident this summer and won’t be capable to stop him). But Arjen should be in fit.
German octopus Paul said Holland would win. But the fact is he always mistakes when predicting finals. And this is another point into account of Spain.
2 years ago the Dutch were playing as champions but lost in 1/4 of Euro. This year they are dull. I’m sure that such a team does not deserve to be called best in the world. And Spain does.
ECUADOR
Who will win?
Hi from Quito, Ecuador. We are supporting Holland, the best team in this World Cup. Next Sunday, Robben, Snijder, Van Persie and company will win. The dream of great Dutch soccer players along the history, such as Cruyff, Neeskens, Gullit, Van Basten, Koeman and more willl become true. From the bottom of our hearts, we send you our best wishes and good luck. Spain is a strong rival, but you have the “orange power”.
Juan Ramón García, Editor, Metro Quito
Ecuador supports the team. At last, the Mechanical Orange will have its well deserved world recognition. History will honour to a team which is ready to be crowned. Their two finals, in Germany 74 and Argentina 78 so credit them. Metro Ecuador is with you. The breath is orange. Van Persie, Van der Vaart, Sneijder and Huntelaar… to obtaing the glory!!
Vicente Tagle León Director in Chief Ecuador
CHILE
Andrés Del Brutto. Sports Editor at Publimetro Chile.
Who will win?
Even when Robben has reached his best level, Holland gives the impression that playing at half speed, that’s enough to defeat their rivals. It seems that after numbing the opposing team, the tireless Kuyt makes a gesture to Sneijder as if to say: “Now, we will beat them.” What is the difference with the other versions of Holland? The talent is always there and the scoring ability too. This time, on South Africa 2010, added vigorously to close games. So Holland will be the new world champions.
Metro World News in South Africa
Aleksander Korab
Who will win?
Spain and Netherlands have gained the name beautiful losers and with that hearts of many real football fans. Each time either team was knocked out most of critics accused them of playing naïve football. Now when both teams play intelligent football and have changed to a winning mentality critics say that they are boring and cynical.
As a football nerd I have to say I really enjoy the Oranje clockwork game and their fantastic four in front but the slow and ageing defense is the weak point of this team. Spain has a perfect balance and simply have better players in each position. They have a great goalie in Saint Iker, still and mean defense, great holding midfielders duo that can also create chances, and so many options in attack. I really think that if Spain would play its second team it would still end up at least in the quarterfinals.
With all my warm feelings about Netherlands the winner will be clear: Spain!
ENGLAND
Jessica Carleson, Metro World News in London
Who will win?
It really is a dream final, of loveable losers and moral World Cup winners of the past. I favour Holland. I believe they put their first hand on the trophy when beating everyone’s favourite Brazil in the quarterfinals in an amazing pick-up against all expectations. If they can keep up their momentum and confidence I believe they can win a very tight final against Spain.
Final score? With Holland’s sometimes-wobbly defence but perky forwards, and a battling Spain where even Barça defenders strike with headers I look forward to a goal fest. 3-2.
CANADA
Ben Rycroft, Metro Canada
Who will win?
By 5 p.m. Sunday one country’s people will flood their streets in celebration. They’ll dance, they’ll sing, they’ll cry and they’ll kiss strangers. The next day, a moment frozen in time for a generation of football fans, will be declared a national holiday and the subsequent booze, oh god, will it flow.
For the other side, those who came up one step too short, it will be nothing but handshakes and heartache. The longest day, in a hard look down the four-year road to Brazil.
Considering the level of play we’ve been treated to this tournament, it’s exciting, heading into the final between Spain and the Netherlands that neither side has yet to find its best game.
Spain, for all its attacking glory, has looked rather impotent. David Villa has risen to the occasion when called upon, but the likes of Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Cesc Fabregas have all failed to find their form. But with a smothering backline, they’ve done just enough to win, railing off a string of 1-0 victories through the elimination rounds.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands, despite the play of Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder — who, for my money have been the best players at this tournament — has looked anything but certain in the final moments of games. They allowed Uruguay a glimmer of hope in extra time in the semi’s and who wasn’t expecting Brazil to tie it in the quarters as the Dutch conceded corner after corner down the stretch. To their credit though, they haven’t stumbled, finding a way to win every game.
Being the resident football fan, I’m often pressed for predictions. But with even the lowliest countries at this tournamebnt showing an ability to touch glory, I’ve mostly left the prognostications up to Paul the Psychic Octopus (he hasn’t been wrong yet.)
The final is different though. The immense pressure of a nation’s hopes brings out the best and worst in players. Think Ronaldo’s masterful performance for Brazil in 2002 and Zinedine Zidane disastrous exit for France in 2006. Results lie in calm minds and consistency.
This weekend, I’ll be betting on the steady hand of Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk to bring about a return to the total football of the 1970s. Come Sunday it will be all Dutch Dreams.
Jason Page,
US freelancer
Who will win?
I take Holland 1-0. Simply because that have been strong and snuck passed everyone; and Spain won’t let them beat them too badly. And because it would be an interesting political moment for Hollan to win the world cup in South Africa. I think the conversations around the world would be much more interesting
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