Greats of yesteryear can’t see past Spain

IT will be like a South African airlift today in Madrid as more than 2,200 Spanish fans fly out to join the 17,000 that are already in Johannesburg.

Another 17 million at least will be watching on television tomorrow night – that was the estimated peak audience for the semi-final against Germany – and from Barcelona to Badajoz they’re preparing for the biggest fiesta of all time.

Never short of confidence – some might say overconfidence – Spain has been further boosted by forecasts of victory from a trustworthy source.

Along with Paul the Octopus, three of the Netherlands’ finest have all predicted a Spanish win.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ronald Koeman and the greatest guru of them all, Johan Cruyff, all played for Spanish clubs, and Cruyff has moved to Barcelona permanently.

They all believe that Spain are too strong, and Cruyff, perhaps predictably, maintains that this will be a triumph for his favourite club as much as for the country.

“Looking at the two sides I believe Spain are a better bet,” said Koeman in Johannesburg yesterday.

“But it will be a great game, and I think it might go beyond the 90 minutes. Perhaps 1-1 at the end of normal time with Spain winning in the added period.”

Van Nistelrooy has been watching the tournament from his home in Hamburg, where he moved after leaving Real Madrid. He’s looking forward to the contrast in styles between the two teams: Spain’s midfield passing and movement against the Netherlands’ speed on the break.

“Spain will have possession,” he says, “but Robben and Sneijder can kill you on the counter.

“Nobody moves the ball as well as the Spanish team – and that makes them big favourites to win, along with the experience of the past three years.”

Spain were the favourites before the tournament began, and even more so now, but he adds that they should beware of relying on that because the Netherlands have peaked at just the right time and are in good shape.

“I am Dutch, but I uphold the Spanish style of football,” says Cruyff. “You couldn’t ask for a more attractive final.”

Fernando Hierro, captain and Champions League winner with Real Madrid, has claimed that Spain have developed a distinctive style under Vicente del Bosque – also once of Madrid.

But Cruyff will have none of it. “Spain are a copy of Barcelona and the best advertisement for football. I don’t want to quarrel with Hierro, but I nevertheless feel the style of Spain is the style of Barcelona.

“The side that beat Germany had a midfield of Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and eventually Pedro. Del Bosque’s decision to bring on Pedro shows that he understands perfectly what every Barca player has to offer him.”

Spain sailed through the qualifiers unbeaten but having lost their opening game of these finals they know how to win when the pressure is on, says Cruyff, citing the semi-final win over Germany.

“It’s not easy when you lose the first match,’’ he said. And even less so when you’re the favourites and European champions. But it was one of Spain’s two best games, along with the match against Germany. They played as they liked, because they knew if they lost they could recover.”

“I am absolutely sure that all the Dutch would have preferred to face Germany, for two reasons.

“The first is that they wanted to beat Germany in a final, remembering the final back in 1974.

“The second is that they know that Spain will keep the ball, and Holland, with less physical strength and endurance than Germany, know that they can’t chase the ball for the entire 90 minutes.

“Holland will be relying on two factors. One is that a final is a one-off game and anything can happen. The second is that Spain have created dozens and dozens of chances, and it costs them the earth to score a goal. But for the rest, it all depends on Spain.”