Holland v Spain preview with Blue Square's Gabriele Marcotti
It’s the biggest football match on the planet and we’ve got the best views from journalist Gabriele Marcotti on the Blue Square markets for this game between Spain and Holland.
Get a free bet on the World Cup final from Blue Square - use the code MAXIMUMBONUS when you register!
There is a myth doing the rounds that Holland were somehow wonderful at Euro 2008 and unlucky to be eliminated. I don’t actually agree with that at all. Once Russia denied them space in the knock-out stages they didn’t have an answer. Yes they have slightly changed tactics here but they still look vulnerable to a classy Spanish team who play keep ball.
I’ve maybe underestimated Spain in the lead up to the final but I always think it’s worth pointing out weaknesses when tipping. Leave the superlatives to TV commentators. Now in a straight match between these two sides I can only see one outcome and that’s a win for Spain inside regular time.
Englishman Howard Webb takes charge of this game but it hasn’t mattered which nationality the ref is up until now – they’ve missed some shocking tackles from Mark van Bommel. It’s just possible that Webb will have marked his card prior to kick-off and if van Bommel is thinking he’s got away with it up until now he may be in for a shock. He is 7/1 to get the first card of the game and I think that if this game was played five times he’d be booked first at least once – making 7/1 good value.
It’s natural to assume that there will not be many goals – but in this all or nothing and winner takes everything situation strange things can happen. My advice would be to wait until half-time and providing there hasn’t been more than one goal – back ‘over 2.5 goals’. This could really spark to life in the final 45 minutes.
Gabriele's tips for the World Cup final:
Spain to win in 90 minutes
Mark van Bommel to be booked first
Over 2.5 Goals – (At half-time if there hasn’t been more than one goal)