FIFA World Cup 2010: How Holland Can Expose One Dimensional Spain

Whatever happens in Johannesburg today the Word Cup is guaranteed to have a new winner for the first time since 1998. Spain were always expected be strong contenders to win a second successive major international tournament but few anticipated that their biggest threat would come from European rivals Holland.

The Dutch are extremely adept at not winning the Word Cup, eight times that have travelled to World Cup finals and eight times they have returned empty handed, often with sides better than the current one. This is a side which once reached two consecutive World Cup finals and lost them both and despite the sprinkling of world class players in the starting 11 there was little to suggest Holland would fare any better this time around.

In Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben they have two players who are genuinely outstanding but then so were Johan Cruyff, Johnny Rep, Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit. Historically simply having outstanding players has not been enough to win Holland the World Cup.

The current Holland team has more than its fair share of distinctly average players. None of the defenders or goalkeepers play for top European sides and one of them, Andre Ooijer doesn't even have a club. Yet this group of Dutch players have taken their team closer to World Cup glory then they have been since 1976.

Their opponents Spain are masters of retaining possession. They will move the ball around with incredible patience, waiting for the elusive defense splitting pass to present itself. Spain do not attack with any real pace but this methodical approach has served them well in all of their matches bar one.

It seems like a long time ago now that Spain lost their opening group game against Switzerland. This game started like any otehr with Spain dominating possession but they were unable to make their superiority count and in the 52nd minute Switzerland took the lead against the run of play.

All of a sudden urgency was required and Spain's patient passing approach was no longer appropriate. The European Champions were simply not capable of adapting their tactics and Switzerland were able to sit back and comfortably soak up Spanish pressure for the remaining 40 minutes. This game provided an intruiging glimpse as to what Barcelona might look like without Lionel Messi; great at keeping possession but with no real cutting edge.

Spain have not been behind in any match since so the lessons of that particular game are easily forgotten. Their methodical passing approach has been sufficiently effective to see them win 1-0 in all three of their knock out matches. Once Spain have the lead they are in their element, the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Xabi Alonso can simply pass the ball to their hearts content without no need to panic if the opportunity to actually breach the opposition's defence never arrives.

The suspicion which arises from the Switzerland defeat is that Spain might actually be incapable of upping the tempo. Their opponents have already overcome adversity once in the tournament when they lost an early goal against Brazil. Holland bounced back to win 2-1 with two second half goals from Wesley Sneijder which will give them confidence should they fall behind again against Spain.

If Holland do manage to score first, something which with Robben and Sneijder in their line up they are more than capable of doing, Spain might just struggle. The Spanish have only three goals to show for all their intricate passing in the previous three matches and Holland might be content to get men behind the ball and exploit their opponents on the counter attack.

Spain have the superior players, a mere glance at probable substitutes Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas will tell you that much. Holland though have more cutting edge offensively. With Dirk Kuyt and Robben on the wings and Sneijder pulling the strings in the centre when they do attack they do so much more  effectively than soporific Spain.

Spain are favourites for a reason and are more than capable of starving their opponents of possession for an entire 90 minutes. For Holland the blue print for success will be to follow in the footsteps of Switzerland by taking the lead and forcing Spain to step out of their comfort zone and pick up the pace.

Pundits are united in proclaiming Spain as the rightful champions. Holland, it seems, are no more than cocky contenders to the crown. World Cups are not awarded to the team which plays the best football though as the Dutch once discovered to their cost in 1974. Holland are unlikely to outclass Spain but they might just beat them.