SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Dutch prepare for World Cup final

Record ID: 452185

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Dutch prepare for World Cup final
  • Date: 11th July 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 10, 2010) (REUTERS) PLAYERS ON PITCH IN STADIUM COACH BERT VAN MARWIJK TALKING TO PLAYERS GOALKEEPERS TRAINING MORE OF VAN MARWIJK PLAYERS TRAINING WIDE SHOT OF PLAYERS TRAINING PLAYERS INCLUDING DIRK KUYT AND WESLEY SNEIJDER TRAINING WIDE SHOT OF TRAINING SESSION
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAE3PSRTP92DB90H49DIJIMM32
  • Story Text: The Netherlands held their last training session at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday (July 10) before they face Spain in the World Cup final there on Sunday (July 11).
    Both teams are looking for their first World Cup title in the tournament's 80-year history, although the Dutch were beaten finalists in 1974 and 1978.
    It will also be a first World Cup win for a European side playing on another continent.
    Bert van Marwijk's team, who have exuded an air of harmony and commitment in contrast to previous Dutch sides that have possessed at least as much talent but also a reputation for internal squabbling, have persuasive arguments that it will be third time lucky for the Oranje.
    In Wesley Sneijder, currently joint top scorer in the tournament with five goals, they possess one of the few creative midfielders who can match Spain's Xavi and Andres Iniesta for skill and the ability to influence a match and they have a front four with the gifts to give the Spanish defence their first real test.
    Captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be hoping for a fairytale ending to his playing career when he leads the team out for his 106th international. He opened the scoring in the semi-final against Uruguay with a superb 35-metre drive, arguably the goal of the tournament.
    Van Marwijk's biggest gamble was trusting on the fitness of winger Arjen Robben, who suffered a hamstring injury six days before the start of the tournament.
    He stayed home to receive treatment and was deemed fit enough to make his first appearance of the tournament in their final group match against Cameroon on June 24.
    Robben's introduction in the second half against Cameroon proved decisive when he curled a left-foot shot against the post and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted the rebound to secure a 2-1 win.
    He then scored against Slovakia in their 2-1 second round win, was involved in both goals in their 2-1 quarter-final win over Brazil and headed in their third in their 3-2 semi-final victory over Uruguay.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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