After taming Germany, Spain zeroes in on Netherlands playmaker Sneijder in World Cup final

Spain zeroes in on Dutch playmaker Sneijder

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa — After stifling Germany, Spain is now focused on stopping Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder and the Netherlands dangerous offense in the World Cup final.

Keeping Sneijder in check is a job that will likely fall to midfielder Sergio Busquets on Sunday at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

“Sneijder is such a great player and he showed it this season with … Inter Milan” which won the Italian league, cup and Champions League, Busquets said on Friday. “To stop him we have to try and be one unit so that he doesn’t even have a moment to think. We’ve already been able to do that with (Germany playmaker Mesut) Ozil and other good players.”

Spain’s defense hasn’t conceded a goal in the three knockout round games in South Africa and made a dominant Germany offense look dormant in its 1-0 semifinal victory.

But Busquets doesn’t expect the Netherlands to sit back and defend, as Germany mostly did, against the European champion.

“Holland is going to play it’s football,” Busquets said. “That’s important, that everyone plays their own game and shows their cards.”

Though Internet sensation Paul the Octopus picked Spain to beat the Dutch, Spanish players sounded like they didn’t need the vote of confidence.

“The team has reached a good level, we’ve played a very serious tournament,” Busquets said. “The other day we played our best game but I hope the best game is to come. We shouldn’t worry about Holland, but let’s also hope we get all the luck of the world and things work out.”

Coach Vicente del Bosque is not expected to make many changes to his lineup after starting seven players came from Spanish champion Barcelona.

“Barcelona is the best team in the world,” defender Carlos Marchena of Valencia said Friday. “They know each other to perfection and it’s a pleasure to be at their side.”

Marchena, who has appeared 55 straight times internationally without being on the losing side, believes team unity is one of Spain’s strongest points as it looks to join France and Germany as the other nations to hold both the European Championship and World Cup trophy at the same time.

“There have been great national teams before, but this team is the one that has been able to be the best ‘team,’ and that’s how it has managed to get where it is,” Marchena said. “In this moment, we’re making up for all those bitter moments we’ve suffered.”

The 21-year-old Busquets is one of the Barcelona players making an impact for Spain, showing fine form since taking over for Marcos Senna in midfield.

But Busquets sounded like the World Cup butterflies were still circling around his stomach.

“I’m young and every day I feel much better, like I’m learning more from sharing these experiences with such great players,” Busquets said. “I’m very happy with my play at this World Cup, but without the help of the team I wouldn’t have been able to reach this level. Let’s hope we can be as strong as Holland and emerge with the win.”