David Villa and Spain have so far proved soccer oddsmakers correct.
Despite a stunning opening loss to Switzerland, Spain has proven oddsmakers right by reaching the World Cup finals when it meets Netherlands in Sunday’s championship.
Spain is plus 110, according to current soccer odds at Bodog.com, with Netherlands at plus 240 and the draw at plus 230 during regulation. At TheGreek.com, odds currently have Spain -1.5 (plus 116) with Netherlands at plus 0.5 (minus 133). The ‘over/under’ for regulation is two. BetUS.com has Spain 1/2 to win the Cup.
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The Spaniards reaching the World Cup finals is no surprise to bookmakers. They had the Spanish as the top choice. Spain opened 7/2 to capture the Cup at Bodog.com with Brazil next at 9/2. Sportsbook.com opened Spain at 4/1 to take the championship with Brazil as the second-favorite at 5/1.
Spain may be the best soccer country never to have won the World Cup. This is Spain’s first World Cup final. Netherlands also has never won the World Cup.
The Spaniards are bidding to become the first country since West Germany in 1972 and 1974 to follow up a European Championship triumph by also winning the World Cup. Until losing to Switzerland in the group stage, Spain had dropped just one game since November of 2006. Coach Vicente del Bosque’s squad ended a 44-year drought when it beat Germany to win the European Championship in 2008.
The Spaniards also beat Germany, 1-0, this past Wednesday in a World Cup semifinals matchup. Carles Puyol, a defender, scored on a header at the 73-minute mark to give Spain the victory.
Spain’s last three victories have been by 1-0 scores. The Spaniards knocked off Portugal and Paraguay in the quarterfinals. Spain got past Paraguay on a late goal by forward David Villa after both teams had penalty kick saves.
Villa also scored the winner against Portugal. Spain defeated Honduras, 2-0, and Chile, 2-1, following its loss to Switzerland. Villa has scored five goals in Spain’s six games. Some of his goals have been fantastic, including one against Honduras where he beat three defenders. Villa and Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder are the tournament scoring leaders, each with five goals.
Spain’s strategy is to patiently control the ball, frustrate its opponent and then seize a right opportunity to score. The Spaniards have held the ball an average of 70 percent of the time with midfielder Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta two key passers.
Some consider Hernandez to be the best player in the world. He has been the most productive midfielder in Europe during the past few seasons.
Spain has completed 3,000 passes, only the third team to do that in World Cup competition since the statistic started being kept in 1966. Brazil in 1994 and Netherlands in 1998 were the only other two.
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German coach Joachim Low said that Spain’s style of play is “a celebration of football.”
Don’t look for the Spaniards to attempt many long shots. Spain’s strategy most likely will be to let Hernandez and Iniesta handle the ball as much as possible, trying to spring Villa or another forward down the middle or wings for an excellent shot on goal.
Spain is 4-4 lifetime versus Netherlands with one draw in nine matches. The nations, though, have never met in a World Cup game before. The Dutch lead the tournament with 13 goals. Spain has allowed only two goals.
“I am fairly convinced Spain will win the title,” Germany’s Low said. “I agree (they are the best team in the world). They are difficult to control.”