Classic Cup final expected

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

New champions will be crowned at the World Cup on Sunday, when Spain meet the Netherlands in a final which has the potential to be a classic.

Well organised and experienced but blessed with finesse and flair, Spain have the players to outplay any team in the world.

The Dutch have forwards, wingers and midfielders capable of slicing through any defence.

The first World Cup final to be staged in Africa should be a memorable one if both teams bring their best game to Soccer City.

Although some of their stars looked short of fitness and form in the early stages, Spain produced their best performance in Wednesday's 1-0 semi-final victory over Germany. It looked more like the side that brushed teams aside to win the European Championship two years ago.

"We've shown that in the big moments we can grow even more," said striker David Villa, who is level with Dutchman Wesley Sneijder as leading scorer with five goals. "We should have scored more goals, but one from (Carles) Puyol has put us in the final.

"This is one of the greatest moments for Spain, for us to be in the final of the World Cup, it's history. And we want to make more history in the final."

Habit of falling short

The European champions face a Dutch side which at times oozes class but has a habit of falling short when it really matters.

Although the Netherlands, too, have won a European title, that was back in 1988 and this is their first World Cup final since '78 - when they lost to Argentina in Buenos Aires.

"It's quite something to have achieved this after 32 years," coach Bert van Marwijk said. "That only really sank in right at the end of the match when I was sitting there on the bench. But we can't stop here. We have one more match to go."

Van Marwijk is striving to brush aside the tendency to choke in the late stages. They lost finals in 1974 and '78 when they had probably their best ever team and have since wilted in semi-finals of both the World Cup and European Championship.

"We lost that (1974) final (against West Germany) when we should have won it," Van Marwijk said. "We had a unique generation at the time, and Johan Cruyff was the best footballer I ever saw. What we've done in the last two years, though, is to try and eradicate that complacency and overconfidence."

The Dutch have won six World Cup games in a row after eight in qualifying. Van Marwijk is confident he has a team who fight for each other, with attacking players chasing back to help out defenders whenever they lose the ball.

Arjen Robben is a match-winning winger with a fast dribble and powerful left-foot shot. Although Robin van Persie has failed to produce his best form so far, an appearance in a World Cup final may bring out the best in the striker.

Sneijder is there to unlock defences with accurate and well-timed passes. But the Inter Milan midfielder has also contributed goals and could add the World Cup title to club triumphs in this season's Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup.

"This is unforgettable," Sneijder said after scoring in the Netherlands' 3-2 semi-final victory over Uruguay. "I played in big finals last season for my club, but nothing is better than this tournament. We've got to savour this, enjoy it, and then give everything we have to claim the trophy on Sunday."

 SPORTS BRIEFS

Webb for final

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

Howard Webb of England will referee the World Cup final.

FIFA named the 38-year-old former police officer yesterday to take charge when the Netherlands and Spain meet at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium on Sunday.

Webb has refereed three World Cup matches and has neither shown a red card nor awarded a penalty.

He handled Spain's 1-0 loss to Switzerland, then won praise for controlling a dramatic end to Slovakia's 3-2 win that eliminated defending champions Italy. He also refereed Brazil's 3-0 second-round victory against Chile.

Webb and his assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey will complete a prestigious end-of-season double after officiating the Champions League final in May, when Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich in Madrid.

FIFA also named Benito Archundia of Mexico to take charge of the third-place match between Uruguay and Germany on Saturday at Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Cruyff's team

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (AP):

Netherlands great Johan Cruyff probably never expected the style of play he made synonymous with attacking football to pay off for Spain.

Spain will take on the Netherlands in Sunday's World Cup final, with two of the world's best attacking teams both looking to win the tournament for the first time.

While Cruyff led the Dutch to their previous two finals, it seems he's also played a big part in taking Spain to their first in South Africa.

Cruyff is credited with creating Barcelona's style of play, a possession-based game of quick touches and slick passing that has become Spain's manifesto.

Cruyff himself said "Spain's style is the style of Barcelona. Now, Spain will win the World Cup."

Klose doubtful

ERASMIA, South Africa (AP):

Germany striker Miroslav Klose could miss the third-place match against Uruguay because of injury, and with it a chance to overtake Brazil's Ronaldo as the top scorer in World Cup history.

Assistant coach Hansi Flick says Klose has a back injury and could miss Saturday's game in Port Elizabeth.

Klose needs one goal to match Ronaldo's record of 15.

After Germany's 1-0 loss to Spain in Wednesday's semi-final, Klose said he was eager to play and mentioned no injury.

Flick says midfielders Sami Khedira and Mesut Oezil also have some problems, but declined to give details.

AP

celebrates after scoring against Brazil during the World Cup quarter-final soccer match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, yesterday.

, July 2, 2010. The Netherlands won 2-1. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)