ESPN Analyst Predictions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final (>.<)

ESPN Analyst Predictions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final

ESPN’s 2010 FIFA World Cup analysts – many of whom are former national team players who have competed in the World Cup themselves – offer their predictions for Sunday’s Netherlands vs. Spain final match:

ESPN match analysts:
Efan Ekoku (Nigeria 1994 National Team player)
Spain 2–1. “The more adventurous style of the Spaniards and their greater belief in themselves, having won the European Championship in 2008, is likely to overcome the Dutch cautiousness in the final.” (On the eve of the tournament, Ekoku predicted Spain would beat Netherlands in the Final.)

John Harkes (USA 1990, 94)
Spain 2-1. “Spain will win because of the quality of the individual players and the way they come together as a team. They have gone from strength to strength and overall, player for player, Spain has too much quality for the Netherlands to cope with.”

Robbie Mustoe
Spain 3-1. “Spain always had the best squad, quality and experience with the most entertaining style of play. When Fabregas can’t get in the starting lineup you know this team is special.”

Tommy Smyth
Spain 2-1. “We haven’t seen the best of Spain yet. Spain needs their strikers to start scoring but if they continue to miss opportunities like they have in previous games, I can see this going as far as penalty kicks.”

ESPN studio analysts:
Shaun Bartlett (South Africa 1998)
Spain 2-1. “Spain are peaking at the right time. Holland, in my opinion, have already played to their full potential. Spain will have more quality players to draw on to come out on top.”

Ruud Gullit (Netherlands 1990)
Netherlands 1-1. “I think the Dutch will win in overtime.”

Alexi Lalas (USA 1994, 98)
Netherlands 3-2. “The Netherlands finds a way to capitalize on the weaknesses out wide and whether it’s Dirk Kuyt or higher up, finding ways to go by Capdevilla or Sergio Ramos, then putting balls in the box that they capitalize on.” (On the eve of the tournament Lalas predicted The Netherlands would beat Spain.)

Roberto Martinez
Spain 3-1. “Both teams are trying to play the same way but Spain are better at what they are trying to do and they are more mature”

Steve McManaman (England 1998)
Spain 3-0. “They were my favourites coming into the tournament, they are the bookmakers’ favourites and they’re playing the best football.”

Coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final kicks off Sunday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ABC HD with a one-hour pre-match show followed by the Netherlands vs. Spain from Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Martin Tyler and Ekoku will call the match on ABC, while JP Dellacamera and Smyth will be the ESPN Radio commentator team. Coverage of the FIFA World Cup Final will also be available on ESPN 3D, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Mobile TV and ESPN3.com.