[SPAIN-NETHERLANDS] A few days before the 2010 World Cup final, with two nations bubbling in anticipation of a potentially classic meeting between theNetherlands and Spain, a legendary figure steeped in the culture of both countries encapsulated the quirky psyche of his homeland and its place in the world’s game. In the newpaper ElPeriodico de Catalunya, […]
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Octopus Paul picks Spain to win final
[PREDICTIONS] Having already successfully predicted the winner of six World Cup matches so far, Octopus Paul, the wiggly mollusk from Germany’s Oberhausen SeaLife aquarium, was the center of attention when it came time to make his final picks. With millions on television in Europe and Asia watching, the “Oracle of Oberhausen” picked Spain to defeat […]
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Xavi: So good you can hear it
[PORTRAIT] Xavi, Spain’s 30-year-old midfield maestro, has played with just one club, Barcelona, since age 11. His memory of one youthcoach helps explain the smooth passing style of Spain’s World Cup team, which is stocked with products of Barca’s youth program. Coach Carles Rexach stood with his back tothe field and applauded the young Barca […]
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Fate of Octopus Paul becomes international matter
German fans loved Octopus Paul when he correctly picked the results of Germany’s first five games at the World Cup, but they turned on him after he correctly picked — in an event televised live onGerman television — Germany to lose to Spain in the semifinals. There have been suggestions that Paul should be fried, […]
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Spanish and Dutch battle for slice of history
[SPAIN-NETHERLANDS] For the eighth time, the World Cup final is an all-Euro showdown, and the 2010 edition will not only crown a first-time champion, it willalso produce either the first team to win the title after losing its first group game (Spain), or a nation winning a final after losing twice (Netherlands). On the dubious […]
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Spain sheds saga of futility
[SPAIN-NETHERLANDS] The story had repeated itself so many times. Spain goes to a World Cup and disappoints, often after promising starts, never reaching thefinal. What went wrong in the past and why is it looking good for the Spaniards in South Africa? Despite Spain having one of the world’s top leagues for more than half […]
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Webb to officiate Netherlands-Spain final
[REFEREES] Englishman Howard Webb will referee Sunday’s World Cup 2010 final between Spain and the Netherlands inJohannesburg. Webb, 38, will work with assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey. He willbe the first Englishman since Jack Taylor in 1974 to work the final.
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Loew: 'Spain is a wonderful team'
[REACTION] Joachim Loew was certainly impressed by Spain. “I am fairly convinced Spain will win the title,”said the German coach after his team fell in the semifinals of the World Cup. Spain dominated Germany in Durban and deservedly won, according to Loew. “Spain is a wonderfulteam which has played together now for two or three […]
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Del Bosque: 'Germany wasn't as good as we'd expected'
[REACTION] Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque says the key to his team’s 1-0 win over Germany was that the Germans didn’tput his team under pressure. He went on to say the Germans weren’t as good as expected. “Today we weren’t pressured as much as we were against Paraguay and Chile,” saidDel Bosque of Spain’s two […]
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Spain-Germany Player Ratings
[REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the players after Spain’s 1-0 win over Germany in the World Cupsemifinals on Wednesday. The German juggernaut that had scored 13 goals in five matches ran aground against Spain, which dominated their semifinal for long periods and won its thirdstraight game by a 1-0 score with a goal […]