The stage is set. A new champion will be crowned on the final day of this year's FIFA World Cup. It has been an emotional and thrilling rollercoaster ride for the fans of the most popular team sport in the world.
80 years since the inception of the first ever world football tournament, two of the most talented yet underachieving national teams are set to meet to decide who will get the bragging rights as the best in the world for the next four years.
Spain, the reigning European champion will be up against fellow pre-tournament favorites the Netherlands in a high-anticipated and largely unexpected cup final.
Just recently, pundits and analysts all over the world had confidently predicted a South American cup final between the Samba kings of football Brazil and the flamboyant wizards of Argentina. Truth be told, it was quite hard to imagine and accept the manner in which both these teams were sent packing. The flair and promise displayed by the South American teams from the beginning till the semi-finals of the tournament made them a joy to watch.
Alas, the Europeans turned out to be the ones confounding critics with an incredible twist to the story in South Africa 2010. Over four quarter-finals, the remaining three European teams outwitted, outplayed and outlasted four of their South American rivals.
Spain will be challenging for their first ever world title for the very first time, with their all-time series against the Dutch dead even. It is interesting to note that these nations have never crossed paths in the World Cup and the final at Soccer City in Johannesburg will ensure a first-time champion with history in the making.
With also the prestigious Golden Boot award up for grabs as the top goal scorer in the tournament, Dutch maestro Wesley Sneijder and Spanish hotshot David Villa will be gunning for more than just the World Cup title in the final. Both players are currently in the joint top spot with five goals apiece as they look towards adding to their tally in the final.
Not forgetting the evergreen German Miroslav Klose, with also one last game to rewrite history as the all-time World Cup finals leading goal scorer. The powerful German striker has bagged four goals thus far in this tournament, officially tying an all-time fourteen goals scored in the World Cup Finals set by the legendary Gerd Muller, a striker with the former West Germany.
With the third-place game between Uruguay and Germany also coming up, Klose will get what may be his final shot at glory with a goal equaling the all-time record of fifteen goals scored in the World Cup finals set by Brazilian striker Ronaldo and another sealing his place in history as the player to score the most goals with a total tally of sixteen.
The build-up to finals of the FIFA World Cup Finals 2010 in South Africa has been tremendous and compelling. As we look forward to a newly-crowned champion of football, let's sit back and enjoy what may arguably be the most spectacular, intriguing and closely contested final game in its illustrious history.
No other superlatives can describe the ecstasy of the World Cup winning nation and its supporters. For the dazzling Dutch and the sizzling Spanish, it's game on. This is match not to be missed. So, what are you waiting for? Visit http://www.amazing-etools.com/cablebills to witness history in the making!
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