This is Holland’s third World Cup final and every one has been on a different continent. Although they do not find themselves playing the hosts in the final as they did in 1974 and 1978, the odds are still against them. The biggest question mark is over the Dutch defence who have not keep a clean sheet since beating Japan 1-0. They have had four matches since then and David Villa might fancy his chances of breaking through a central defence of Joris Mathijsen and Johnny Heitinga. Nevertheless, Holland have not lost a game either in qualification or at this World Cup and they have boasted a togetherness that is rare in a Dutch national side even if they haven’t always played with their usual panache. “Of course, everyone wants to play beautiful football, score bags of goals and win by huge margins,” said Dirk Kuyt, whose tireless running has come to epitomise Dutch football in 2010. “And I am pleased with the results.” In South Africa the results have been seven straight wins.

If West Ham claim that the presence of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters meant that they rather than England won the World Cup in 1966, Vicente del Bosque could field seven Barcelona players in the starting line-up of a World Cup final. This would make it Holland v Catalonia. Spain are a team coming into their best form precisely when it matters. They were good against Portugal and Paraguay; they were exceptional against Germany. The holding midfield of Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso stifled the Germans, while the attacking midfield of Xavi and Andres Iniesta set up the repeated thrusts at Manuel Neuer’s goal. The one disappointment about Spain is that they have only scored once in each of their three knockout games. It is something of a concern for an attack that appears wholly dependent on David Villa. Against Germany, Del Bosque bit the bullet and omitted Fernando Torres in favour of Pedro. Will he have the courage to do the same when it absolutely matters?

Not since 1986 when West Germany and Argentina went toe-to-toe in an epic that finished 3-2 has there been a really great World Cup final. This one may not match the drama of the Azteca Stadium in terms of the scoreline but pitching Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder up against Xavi and Iniesta should prove to be one of the great contests of this tournament. Ultimately, Spain should win. They have the best players and a defence that has not conceded since the group stages. It will be tight but it will probably be tough on the Dutch in a city their ancestors founded.