Here it is. The final game of World Cup 2010. Spain-Holland. Whoo, boy. A new country will put their name on the trophy. Will it be the country of my soccer roots, Netherlands? Will it be the offspring of Dutch Total Football, Spain?

As everyone is saying, on paper, it's Spain. But as everyone also says, the game isn't played on paper. Spain has lost twice since November 2006. Holland has lost once since Bert van Marwijk took over after Euro 2008 and unlike Spain has won every game of this tournament. Spain has taken out Germany and Portugal, but the Dutch have eliminated Brazil. Spain has scored only 3 goals in the knockout round and 7 total, the Netherlands, on the other hand, have 7 in the knockout round and 12 overall, having scored in every game and being held to 1 only once. But, Spain has the defensive advantage with 4 clean sheets conceding only 2 goals, while Holland only has 2 clean sheets and conceding 5. So the numbers actually run counter to the relative impressions of the teams, Holland is a goal scoring machine with a leaky defense while Spain shuts teams down and has a hard time finding the back of the net.

This game is going to be a midfield battle. Will the Dutch be able to disrupt the possession play of Spain and establish their wing play? Or will Spain be able to wear down and frustrate the Dutch as they did to the Germans (hee hee hee, suck it, Germany)?

I will say this: this is exactly, EXACTLY, the final I wanted to see (after a miracle USA-anyone final). And I will be happy whichever team wins... as long as it's the Netherlands. HUP HOLLAND HUP!!!