No Dutch cheese for Spaniards

Hyderabad: It is a tragic irony that can happen only in an explosive event of the magnitude of the football World Cup. Perhaps that is precisely what makes it such a fabulously popular sports spectacle. Even as the world settles down for catching up on the action that gets underway with the Brazil-Croatia showdown, a potentially bigger one awaits them a day later, which is akin to a final before the finals because it would be revising the championship clash of 2010. None would have comprehended even their wildest of fantasies that the finalists of 2010 would battle it out in the very first round that too even before the excitement actually has reached a crescendo.

Taken under any yardstick, the re-run of World Cup – 2010 final between Spain and Netherlands in Group B promises to be an exciting affair. Spain is hoping for a tantalizing encore and a repeat verdict of the earlier showdown while the Dutch will be seeking vengeance and erase that loss from public memory with win at Salvador on early hours of Saturday. In nine head-to-head there is poetic justice-each has four of them while one fizzled into a draw.

Spain's title defence preparations have been relatively low-key, with two friendlies and two routine wins. Spain is bidding for a fourth straight major success, so an opening win would be critical in what is one of the tougher groups. The La Furia Roja will play tiki-taka style of football. The team boasts of a plethora of creative players in the midfield and up front while the defence looks formidable.

Sergio Ramos will partner Gerard Pique in the heart of defence. They will be flanked by Juanfran and Jordi Alba. However, Del Bosque is spoilt for choice to pick his midfield with veterans Xavi and Iniesta being sure starters. The wily-old fox might zero in on Koke and Sergio Busquets to provde youthful exuberance to the aging midfielders. In all likely Spain will go out with a single striker. Diego Costa, having recovered from injury, is near-certain to pip David Villa to the starting spot.
The chinks in the Spanish armour remain the fact that the bulwark is vested in the hands of players who are not getting any younger. The Spaniards are vulnerable to quick counter attacks, which the Dutch would be hoping to captalise to winning levels.

The Oranje team had mixed fortunes in their run up. They are high on steadily improving performances in their build up to the World Cup. Though the Dutch swear by the 4-4-3 formation, they have to alter the game-plan given Kevin Strootman’s injury. Luis Van Gaal played the team with 5-3-2 with young Jordy Clasie and Nigel De Jong pulling strings from midfield. Wesley Sneijder will play in the hole behind the strikers. Robben and Van Persie could be paired up front. The Achilles heel for the Oranje is their defence. Apart from Ron Vlaar, the defence is young with only handful of international games behind them. They are up against the tough task of containing Spanish creativity.