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Originally Posted by pokkeherrie
Eh?
Don't think Holland are gonna park the bus vs Spain. That's only worked for Switzerland so far and it's not their style.
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Besides not being Holland's style, it'd be sure to work against them. That would be when Spain really could just take over possession almost entirely. And I'm still not convinced that Holland has strength enough at the back to soak up that kind of pressure. The Spanish have a stronger defence but I'd say Holland has the stronger forward line - if Villa gets marked out of the game, Puyol's head aside, Spain's strike threat is largely eliminated (while we know Holland are capable of scoring from all over). And Spain still has that problem regarding what to do about Torres.
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I think Germany, ... being a young and fairly inexperienced side, were showing way too much respect for Spain.
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I don't think the players necessarily were but I do think the way Loew had them playing maybe did. Although he was clearly also trying to deal with the absence of Muller.
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I think the main battle will be about who controls midfield. Sneijder or Xavi?
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I think that particular battle, between Sneijder and Xavi, could go either way (although right now I'd have to favour Sneijder). It becomes more difficult for Holland though, I think, when comparing the quality elsewhere in both team's midfields, and in that respect I think Holland may have real problems dominating it overall - especially as I fully expect Van Bommel to get booked pretty early on.
Spain do, as you say, have to be considered favourites, but I'd be surprised if there's more than a goal between them at the end. And penalties - which I wouldn't be at all surprised if it goes to - is obviously just a 50/50. During normal and possibly extra-time, though, i'd put Spain as no more than 55/45 favourites.