On the final day of the World Cup, we hit you with some great reads to get you ready for Spain vs Netherlands.
Jen Chang at Sports Illustrated lists his 10 Players who raised their stock in this Cup.
Martin Rogers at Yahoo write the 5 things to watch for in Spain vs. Netherlands.
Jeff Bradley at ESPN talks about how this World Cup final is a game of firsts.
The Original Winger has a great graphic up about MLS Salaries vs the salaries of other American pro sports.
This is it. The moment we have all been waiting for: the crowning of the 2010 World Cup Champions.
The final will feature the World’s two best teams, Spain and the Netherlands. Spain as the lowest goals against average at .34 goals/game, meanwhile Netherlands have the second highest goals scored average at 2 goals/game.
Two of the tournaments leading goal scorers will face off against each other – David Villa for Spain and Wesley Sneijder for the Netherlands.
How does one choose a winner in a match like this? Let’s start by analyzing both teams, starting with Spain.
Some quick hits for the final weekend of the World Cup
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated has a Q&A with Landon Donovan
ESPN with two stories, the first highlights Ten Takeaways from the World Cup. The second is Five Things to Watch for in the Final.
We’ve reached the end.
There are only two games remaining in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Final. And this, the third place game featuring Germany and Uruguay.
The third place game is an interesting beast all on its own. Two teams that are coming off a loss get one more opportunity to redeem themselves and go home from the Cup victorious.
Germany will surely be the team that feels they should be one of the two in the final, Uruguay on the other hand has to be proud to have made it this far and will be looking for one more strong showing before heading home.
Grant Wahl at Sports Illustrated with two stories: All the World sees red – about the overall perception of referees at this World Cup, and, The Day that lasts a lifetime – about what the World Cup Final means to the teams, players, and fans.
Martin Rogers at Yahoo says Move Over, Messi – Xavi is the best in the World.
Complex lists their 15 Standout Players in the World Cup
We are finally nearing the end of the World Cup, so I thought I take this moment to point out the top 5 players who made themselves look a whole lot better in the eyes of the World.
I’ll say it was a bit tough to narrow the field down, but here’s my top 5 who improved their reputation.
1. Landon Donovan.
It’s no surprise that Donovan makes this list. He scored 3 goals for Team USA in the World Cup, and perhaps the most famous World Cup goal ever for an American when he slammed home the winner in stoppage time against Algeria. However, the questions that can be asked are: How can you consider his status “improved?” Wasn’t he already the top American player? The answer to the latter question is yes, he was already the top and most visible American player – at least here in the States. He improved his status by being the best American player in the World Cup, by silencing critics after his awful performance in the 2006 World Cup and when looking at his level of play in the Cup in addition to his successful stint with Everton, he has shrugged off any criticism that he can’t hack it in the top leagues against top competition. Well, he can hack it, and now he has proven it.
David Hirshey at ESPN with his World Cup Best 11.
Steve Davis at Sports Illustrated thinks Bob Bradley won’t be a part of USMNT future.
Martin Rogers at Yahoo reports AC Milan interested in Clint Dempsey.
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