Spain 1 Holland 0

Spain were the more proactive side in the first-half of this World Cup final, but Holland were well organized in response. Both sides set up under 4-2-3-1, but Spain had a narrower approach with Pedro and Andres Iniesta taking up quite central positions either side of Xavi. Holland’s principal aim was to press Spain, thus preventing them from converting their possession into incisive attacking moves. With Spain lacking a little attacking width, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst was able to assist in more advanced areas to occupy the space of the Spanish attacking midfielders.

An early chance was created by Spain from a free-kick, but Sergio Ramos’s header from 12-yards was repelled by Maarten Stekelenberg’s diving save. Ramos was also involved in another dangerous move when he evaded Dirk Kuyt in the box, and his powerful cross was deflected over the bar by John Heitinga. But Spain were unable to sustain their momentum as a result of Holland’s assertive-defensive approach. Holland’s best chance fell to Arjen Robben as half-time approached, but his shot was saved at the near post by Iker Casillas. Overall it was a scrappy and niggly first period, with several yellow cards issued by referee Howard Webb.

Spain had an opportunity to take the lead early in the second-half, but Joan Capdevila failed to connect with the ball at the far post following a corner. Otherwise, the game continued in much the same manner. Spain had most of the possession but Holland were able to contain them. On the hour Holland also had a good chance to take the lead: an excellent ball was played through by Wesley Sneijder which allowed Robben a clear run at goal. But Casillas was able to save Robben’s effort with his legs.

Jesus Navas was introduced by Spain in place of Pedro and offered more width on the right. This forced Van Bronckhorst into more defined left-back duties. Although the game opened up a little, it felt as though extra-time was on the cards some way before 90 minutes were up. David Villa had Spain’s best chance to win the game in regular time, but his shot from close range was well saved by Stekelenberg. On another occasion, Iniesta made a strong run into the box but was thwarted by Sneijder.

Spain started to look stronger in the attacking third in extra-time, and this was exemplified by a forward pass by Iniesta which bisected the Dutch central defence – substitute Cesc Fabregas had just the keeper to beat but his shot was somewhat tame. Spain may also have been denied a penalty after Heitinga caught Xavi as the Spanish playmaker set himself to shoot. However, Holland also had a chance to win the game from a corner in extra-time, but Mathijsen should have done better with his header.

With 10 minutes to go Heitinga received a second yellow card after he illegitimately impeded Iniesta’s run into the Dutch penalty area. And with 120 minutes approaching, and penalties looming, Spain won the game. A counter-attack led by Navas eventually made its way to Fabregas just outside the box. Fabregas threaded the ball to Iniesta who took one touch before firing home from eight yards.

It’s satisfying that the game was settled without recourse to penalties. It wasn’t the best of finals, but it was a competitive fixture won by the more attacking team. Spain play the strongest brand of international football and are worthy winners of World Cup 2010.

Holland 3 Uruguay 2

An early chance fell to Holland in this semi-final: an Arjen Robben cross was punched by Muslera only as far as Dirk Kuyt who was 12 yards from goal. But Kuyt failed to keep his powerful shot down. However, this was no indication of how the first-half was to progress: it was a cagey first period with Uruguay preventing the Dutch attacking players from attaining any momentum.

It took an amazing strike from Giovanni van Bronckhorst to break the deadlock. He struck a fierce left-foot shot from well outside the area which found the net via the post. It then continued to be a tense and uneasy encounter with neither side creating clear chances. Holland had most of the possession but seldom looked like they would convert this into anything productive. The score was levelled before half-time by another long-range strike: Diego Forlan struck a curling shot past Maarten Stekelenberg, but a stronger hand from the keeper could have prevented the goal.

For the second-half, Holland replaced Demy de Zeeuw with Rafael van der Vaart and switched to more of a 4-1-4-1 formation in the endeavour to prompt some attacking thrust. The second period promised little though until Diego Forlan demonstrated his mastery of the Jabulani once more, with a decent free-kick which required a diving save from Stekelenberg. This seemed to ignite the Dutch somewhat and almost immediately they contrived a good attack: Robin van Persie held the ball up well and played a neat ball to van der Vaart whose shot was saved – the rebound fell to Robben but his attempt at goal was wild. The lead was regained just minutes later when Wesley Sneijder made space for himself in the box and his deflected shot found the net (with van Persie arguably in an offside position.) The lead was then increased, and the game won, when Kuyt’s cross from the left was headed home adroitly by Robben.

Uruguay pulled a goal back with full-time approaching when Pareira scored following an intelligent short free-kick. This made for a nervy final couple of minutes, but the Dutch held on and will feature in their first World Cup final since 1978 on Sunday.

Holland laboured for periods in this game and struggled to break the shackles of the pressure imposed by Uruguay. The Dutch set up as a secure unit but also field influential individuals in attacking areas. However, their approach contrasts with the more fluid approach of Germany for whom Memut Ozil oscillates between support striker and attacking midfielder, whilst Sami Khedira is slightly more advanced than Bastian Schweinsteiger in central-midfield. The German approach therefore morphs from 4-1-3-2 to 4-2-3-1. Although there is some positional exchange between van Persie, Kuyt and Robben, the Dutch play a fairly rigid 4-2-3-1. It required a substitution (the introduction of van der Vaart) to adopt a different approach in the second period. Could Sunday’s final pit the functional and workmanlike Dutch against the total football of Germany!

Germany 4 Argentina 0

Before this quarter-final fixture had time to settle, Germany took the lead. On three minutes, Bastian Schweinsteiger swept in a free-kick which was flicked into the net by Thomas Muller. Germany looked strong during the initial exchanges:  whilst Argentina put together some neat moves they failed to work a clear opportunity. Angel Di Maria found himself in dangerous positions on a couple of occasions but could not deliver a meaningful end product. Germany made life difficult for Argentina’s key attacking players with Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira anchoring the midfield. The lead could have been doubled around the half-hour mark when Muller burst into the box – he squared for Miroslav Klose, but he blazed over when he should probably have scored. Argentina’s best chance fell to Gonzalo Higuain after he turned inside Arne Friedrich, but his left foot shot was tame and it was saved at the near post by Manuel Neuer. Lionel Messi demonstrated his threat in sporadic bursts and almost played in Carlos Tevez, but Neuer was able to intervene. Argentina played a very attacking formation in the first-half, with Di Maria and Maxi Rodriguez advanced on the flanks either side of the Higuain/ Tevez/ Messi triumvirate. Germany also showed fluidity in advanced areas although Mesut Ozil saw little of the ball.

Argentina started the second-half well as they sought an equalizer. Di Maria put in a good cross from the right which was chested down by Rodriguez, but Tevez’s shot was blocked by Per Mertesacker. Gerrmany’s defending was resolute, and this was encapsulated by a Jerome Boateng challenge on Higuain as the Argentine forward broke into the German defensive third. The overall balance of play was consistent with the first-half as, whilst the Argentina players combined well, they didn’t carve out any clear goalscoring opportunities. Long-range efforts from Tevez and Di Maria were comfortably saved by Neuer. Slightly against the run of play, Germany doubled their lead on 67 minutes. Khedira managed to scoop the ball forwards and Podolski ran into the box to cross for Klose who had a simple finish. The Argentinean players seemed to lose a little heart after this second goal, and Germany accordingly increased their lead.  Following a short corner, Schweinsteiger made an impressive (but unchallenged) run to the near post; his short pass to Friedrich gifted the German defender a simple goal. As full-time approach the score-line was further inflated by a smooth counterattack: Ozil crossed for Klose who scored his second with a controlled volley.

The final score may have flattered Germany slightly, as Argentina had the best of the game when they were a goal down. However, Germany certainly deserved to win, as they limited Argentina’s attacking game and were ruthless when contriving attacks of their own. I predict that Germany will win World Cup 2010: they have the organization to shut down opposition sides, and also sufficient flexibility and talent in advanced areas to win games. Argentina have performed well over World Cup 2010, but were outdone in this fixture. Perhaps the distinction between defence and attack was too substantial, with Maradona essentially fielding five attacking players, and five defensive players (with Mascherano sitting in front of the back four.) A creative midfielder, such as Juan Veron, may have provided an effective link between defence and attack.

And following another convincing display by Germany, does England’s second-round departure at their hands now look a little less disastrous?

New Zealand 0 Paraguay 0

Tournament outsiders New Zealand went into the final group game undefeated and with a chance of making it into the second round. However, Paraguay (who topped the group going into the game) would provide the All Whites with stiff opposition.

New Zealand were arranged under a defensive 3-4-3 formation and this stifled Paraguay throughout the first period. New Zealand showed little in attack with the three forwards, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen and Rory Fallon provided the brief to form a robust barrier between the Paraguayan defence and midfield. In fact, New Zealand’s brightest attacking player in the first-half was right wing-back Leo Bertos. The nearest thing to a meaningful New Zealand attack was a Bertos cross which was easily collected by Villar with Fallon in close attendance. The three-man New Zealand defence, led by Ryan Nelsen, was solid and able to deal with the Paraguay forwards – Winston Reid and Tommy Smith could assist in wide areas, when the wing-backs had advanced, without the back-line being weakened. Ivan Vicelich and Simon Elliot were also accomplished in central-midfield and, apart from a couple of occasions, were comfortable in possession. Presented with such rigorous organization, Paraguay failed to contrive any penetrative manoeuvres and were limited to long-range efforts from Caniza, Cardoza and Valdez.

Early in the second period a chance fell to Elliot 18-yards from goal after a Tony Lochhead cross was half-cleared, but his shot was unconvincing and sailed wide. Otherwise the format continued in much the same manner as the first-half. After about an hour of the game, Paraguay did start to threaten the New Zealand goal a little more. Goalkeeper Mark Paston was called into action to save from substitute Benitez, and he also repelled a well-struck 30-yard free-kick from Santa Cruz. But a draw always seemed the likeliest result and attacking pressure from Paraguay was fleeting rather than sustained.

A draw was not enough to take New Zealand to the next round, but they have far exceeded expectations. They leave South Africa undefeated and finished ahead of World Cup 2006 champions Italy in Group F. Coach Ricki Herbert had the team well set up for this tournament and, as a result of their collective endeavour, they proved very hard to break down. If they had managed to nick a goal in this final game, then they would have made the knock-out phase.

Chile 1 Switzerland 0

Chile set up under an assertive 3-4-3 for this fixture against a more conservative Switzerland. The South Americans played with plenty of attacking intent early in the game, but it was frenetic and hasty rather than measured and incisive. Early chances were limited to long-range efforts from Beausejour and Carmona.

The nature of the game changed on the half-hour when Swiss midfielder Behrami was sent off for pushing his arm into Vidal’s face. Despite their numerical advantage, Chile didn’t look like breaking down a highly organized Switzerland in the remainder of the half. Beausejour did put in a couple of good crosses from the left – one was met by an unconvincing Suazo header, and the other resulted in a tame shot from Sanchez which was easily saved by Benaglio.

Coach Marcelo Biesla attempted to invigorate this same formational approach in the second-half with a change in personnel. Gonzalez replaced Vidal and was positioned at left-forward with Beausejour withdrawing to the left wing-back slot. Paredes was introduced as centre-forward on the hour, with Valdivia (who had replaced Suarez at half-time) taking over playmaking duties from Fernandez. Chile continued to find it hard to navigate a way through a packed Swiss defence in the second period. There was a glimpse of a breakthrough early in the half after Sanchez charged down Grichting, but the Chilean forward could not set himself for the one-to-one against Benaglio.

Just as it seemed as though a resolute Swiss side would force a stalemate, on 75 minutes, Valdivia played Paredes into the box – Paredes crossed for Gonzalez whose downward header bounced off the turf and into the roof of the net.  Paredes had further opportunities to double the lead, but he blazed wide after he was played in by Gonzalez, and shot wide on another occasion after he had neatly stepped inside Von Bergen. Gonzalez also shot tamely after meeting a Sanchez cross on the edge of the 18-yard box. With the game approaching full-time Switzerland almost punished Chile’s inability to finish the game, but Derdiyok shot wide from an excellent position after some tidy build-up play.

Despite Chile’s attacking line-up they perhaps lack key creative individuals to dismantle defences: without more influential players the attack-minded approach is workmanlike rather than dazzling. Switzerland are a well-organized team, boasting a miserly defence, but as they were down to 10 men for the majority of the game, Chile should have perhaps demonstrated more cutting edge in attack. Valdivia appeared more influential than Fernandez in behind the centre-forward, whilst wide players Sanchez, Gonzalez and Beausejour made reasonable inroads down the flanks. The defensive trio was sound, although fairly untested, whilst Carmona was solid at the base of midfield. It could perhaps be queried why Biesla retained three central-defenders when faced with a Switzerland team playing 4-4-1. Perhaps an assertive 4-3-3 would have been more fruitful with just two central-defenders marshalling the lone Swiss forward.

Chile’s attacking approach does not undermine their defensive security. But against sides that can defend and attack, they may become excessively stretched. Despite accruing six points from two games, Chile could still be edged out of a place in the Round of 16, but it would be good to see the South Americans in the knock-out stages.

Italy 1 Paraguay 1

For a team who created the catenaccio style of defending, it was Italy’s opponents Paraguay who turned in a dogged, disciplined performance in the opening game of Group F.

The Azzuri, playing an uncharacteristically attacking 4-3-3 formation, started off all guns blazing – Fiorentina’s Montolivio was pulling the strings in the middle of the park, and full backs Zambrotta and Criscito were finding plenty of room down the flanks. Udinese’s Simone Pepe was an industrious figure on the right side of the forward line, and Gilardino and Iaquinta were lively in the opening stages.

At the back, talismanic captain Fabio Cannavaro looked to be back to his best, and in the opening half an hour Paraguay found it difficult to keep possession and played almost exclusively in their own half. For an Italian team to press so high up the pitch and really attack their opponents so early in the competition is almost unheard of. In fact, after watching the disappointing Holland v Denmark, Japan v Cameroon matches, it was refreshing to see such an attacking formation actually attacking and striving for a victory (as opposed to a 4-3-3 formation quickly turning into a more defensive 4-5-1).

It was interesting to note that Paraguay’s two best known attacking players – Roque Santa Cruz and Oscar Cardozo – came on in the second half, which seemed to suggest that a more aggressive, stifling gameplan was at the forefront of coach Gerardo Martino’s mind. It worked. On 39 minutes, Giorgio Chiellini conceded a free kick and, from an excellent delivery by Aureliano Torres, Alcarez stole into the danger zone to send a header past the stranded Buffon. This took the wind out of the Azzuri’s sails – buoyed by their goal, Paraguay’s midfield started to gain the upper hand, and the previously bright and industrious trio of De Rossi, Marchisio and Montolivio faded dramatically. This pattern continued throughout the second half, with Paraguay stifling any semblance of Italian pressure and looking fairly comfortable. Italy, still playing at a high tempo, huffed and puffed but didn’t create any clear-cut chances, instead opting to shoot from distance.

Gilardino

By the time the equaliser came Camoranesi and Di Natale (a surprise exclusion) were on the field as substitutes. Gaining extra confidence from their equaliser, Italy were back on top. Pepe had switched wings and was seeing a lot of the ball (although his distribution didn’t match his industry), while Montolivio started to come back into the game.

So the opening match in Group F finished as a draw. Italy will feel they should have won it, but in truth they did not create, despite an attacking performance and some lively patches, any real chances. With Pirlo waiting in the wings, and Di Natale (who scored a bucketful for Udinese in Serie A this season) surely meriting a start, Italy will want to work on turning possession into chance before their next game against the Kiwis.