Dutch to attack like Spain: Del Bosque
Vicente del Bosque doesn't expect the Netherlands to shy away from its attack-minded philosophy just because it's coming up against Spain in the World Cup final.
The Spain coach expects the Netherlands to stick to the script Sunday at Soccer City and not revert to a more defensive-minded approach as Champions League winner Inter Milan did against Barcelona this season. The core of Spain's lineup play for the Spanish league champion.
"I don't think the Netherlands will change its way of playing just because it is up against Spain," Del Bosque said Saturday. "I don't believe in any way there will be a change in their script, in what they are thinking of doing. I don't think so.
"We both have our scripts written and we shouldn't veer from them."
The European champion will stay true to its own style, which relies on probing passes and quick touches to maintain possession. But Del Bosque has a "plan B" to achieve its first World Cup triumph if necessary.
"We've got a team filled with many possibilities. Plan A, plan B and other distinct solutions," said the former Real Madrid coach, who added that he didn't have any specific solution for stopping Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder.
"An anti-Sneijder plan? No. Teams nearly always have a player like this that drifts between the lines and that is difficult to mark. We have midfield players who are used to marking these types of players."
Unlike captain Iker Casillas, the 59-year-old Del Bosque was relaxed ahead of the biggest match in Spanish history as the country looks to leave South Africa with its first World Cup title. While Casillas said the butterflies had set into his stomach already, Del Bosque called the final one of his easiest games to coach.
"A coach doesn't need many words to motivate his players because of all of the information they're receiving from the outside," said the stoic Del Bosque. "Right now I'm calm, I don't think it's hit me yet."
Del Bosque did not say whether striker Fernando Torres would return to the starting lineup after being replaced by Pedro Rodriguez in the 1-0 semifinal win over Germany. Pedro excelled in place of the struggling striker.
With Spain's historic run being achieved by a diverse set of players, Del Bosque believed the team was setting a good example for relations back home, with Spain often divided by cultural differences.
"It's a fact that we have players from all of the provinces, it's a union that would of course be desirable for all of the country," Del Bosque said. "If things calmed in Spain and people weren't so radical, we'd have better relations between the states."
Politics aside, Spain doesn't see itself as favorite despite its run of 30 wins in 32 games under Del Bosque.
"Those are just opinions," Del Bosque said. "Results are produced on the field tomorrow. Let's see who's superior there."
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