Day 30, World Cup 2010: “I don’t enjoy watching Holland. It’s not exciting”

Running right alongside Brazil 2014, this is my day-by-day story of how Spain won the last World Cup. You can catch up on previous posts.

These stories are from Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble, by Graham Hunter

Unbeknownst to me, sparks are flying at Soccer City. Shakira arrives for a sound test and run-through of her key role tomorrow in the closing ceremony. Her song Waka-Waka has been anthemic – everywhere during these weeks. Recording a video for it in Barcelona before the World Cup, she met Gerard Piqué. He has a big day tomorrow, too.

It is being called Cruyff’s final. His emergence helped make the Holland team coached by Rinus Michels successful and seductive in the 1970s. His arrival and teachings at FC Barcelona changed the entire mentality of that club. The system he installed there produced Valdés, Xavi, Iniesta and Puyol then later Busquets, Pedro and Piqué.

Cruyff was one of the few predicting Spain would win the tournament immediately after the Switzerland defeat and before the final he says: “The last few World Cup winners have been sad to watch. I have had to watch games with Brazil, France, Italy and England recently where nothing happened. Against Germany, Spain just went out to enjoy themselves – in a World Cup semi-final.

“I’m going to watch this game with a few Spanish friends and take the view that no matter which team wins, I can’t lose.”

It is a bit startling to read Ronald de Boer, another Camp Nou alumnus and the brother of Holland’s assistant coach, admitting: “Before the competition I thought Holland were spectacular. Now I don’t enjoy watching them play at all. It’s not exciting.”

Read Next Day 29, World Cup 2010: "Well, it’s ... an octopus!" Read Next Day 31, World Cup 2010: Holland 0 Spain 1