One month to the day the World Cup Finals will be played on, 32 nations sent the best soccer players they had to South Africa with hopes that they would bring home the sport's most prestigious trophy. On Sunday, the final two teams remaining in the tournament will vie to raise their arms in triumph as representatives of a nation winning the World Cup for the first time, as the Netherlands and Spain both compete for their first title. Whether it is the juggernaut offense of the Dutch, or the methodical Spanish plan of attack, each side has found its own way to the championship match. Now all that remains to be proven is which nation has the perseverance, talent, and depth to join the illustrious group of countries that have already hoisted soccer's greatest honor, even before NCAA football betting gets underway.
Netherlands
The only squad that has won every soccer betting game they have played in South Africa, the Netherlands are led by arguably the most dangerous attack in the tournament. Striker Arjen Robben leads the way as perhaps the team's most lethal weapon, while in his absence Wesley Sneijder has taken over the role as being the team's leading scorer with five goals heading in to the finals. Neither would be as effective without Dirk Kuyt creating in the middle, helping the Dutch overcome Slovakia and Brazil by 2-1 score lines, before outscoring Uruguay 3-2 in their semi final match up.
Spain
Despite being the defending European champions, Spain still had its critics heading in to the 2010 online sports betting tournament. The voices that doubted their chances heading in to South Africa grew even louder after an opening 1-0 loss to Switzerland in which Spain looked confused at times, and struggled to generate many shots on target. The opening game would be as loud as those voices would get however, as they would fade more and more with every win the Spanish put forth, including sweeping Honduras and Chile to reach the Round of 16, before shutting out Portugal, Paraguay, and then Germany in the elimination rounds to reach the finals.
Matchup
These teams have never met one another at a World Cup before, and although both sides have experience glory on the European stage, neither has gone all the way in the World Cup. The Dutch have been excellent so far in this tournament, but have yet to face much adversity, and haven't had the hardest road to get there. Spain on the other hand have gotten better with every game, have experienced being down, and have responded with shut out wins over some of the most talented teams in South Africa this year. The manner in which they shut down a talented German side that had scored eight goals in elimination round games against England and Argentina was sending a message, one htat Spain will look to stamp by finally breaking through on the world stage.
World Cup Betting Pick: Spain
