Those who tune in to watch football once every four years for the World Cup Final were shocked and disappointed by the display between the Netherlands and Spain yesterday.
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Andres Iniesta runs to celebrate his extra time goal in the World Cup Final, while Joris Mathijsen can't believe the Dutch misfortune. (Getty)</p> |
The brutal tactics employed by the Dutch was antithetical to the sport and muted any chance of Spain playing the free flowing football that those who watch them closely have come to expect.
This is what happens in a cup final. The less talented team will look to muck up the affair. Be it with malicious tackles, finishing their challenges by stepping on toes or kicking at heels, virtually anything they can get away with will be used to stifle the better team’s creativity.
The final is usually the least pleasing to the eyes, unless both teams are equal in talent.
Negative tactics such as what the Dutch used to destroy any chance of inventiveness is a part of the game and can be effective in a one-off situation. Coach Bert van Marwijk makes no apologies for it, but the Dutch media wants some answers.
Best way to avoid this kind of a surprise if you are a neutral is by watching football regularly. Getting the measure of it from a singular match of desperate importance is virtually impossible because one team will often play to win, the other goes out not to lose.
Fly-by-night entertainment happens at casinos. Football lives within those who absorb it.
Thankfully, the better team won and it was redemption for Andres Iniesta. The Barcelona midfielder was kicked every which way on the pitch throughout the 116 minutes before scoring his game winner for Spain with four minutes remaining in extra time.
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