Potchefstroom: After neutralizing Germany, Spain is now focusing on stopping the Netherlands' attack in the World Cup final and is narrowing in on key playmaker Wesley Sneijder.
That job will likely fall to midfielder Sergio Busquets on Sunday at Soccer City, a difficult task with Sneijder looking to add the World Cup to the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup titles he won with Inter Milan.
"Sneijder is such a great player and he showed it this season with the treble at Inter Milan," Busquets said 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 rampant Germany attack look dormant in a dominating 1-0 semifinal victory.
But Busquets doesn't expect the Netherlands to sit back and defend against the European champions.
"Holland is going to play its football," Busquets said. "That's important, that everyone plays their own game and shows their cards."
It is Spain's first World Cup final, and Busquets said the team is peaking at the right time.
"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 starting lineup, which contains seven players from Spanish champion Barcelona.
That means backup defender Carlos Marchena is unlikely to start. However, Marchena has come on in the last three matches and holds the overall record of consecutive international appearances without being on the losing side at 55 games.
"It's guaranteed (that we will play well), since Barcelona is the best team in the world," Marchena said. "They know each other to perfection and it's a pleasure to be at their side."
Marchena believes Spain's unity is one of its strongest points as it looks to join France (1998 and 2000) and West Germany (1972 and 1974) in holding the European Championship and World Cup titles 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. "We've already had great disappointments without merit, and 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 in the team, showing fine form since taking over from Marcos Senna as a defensive midfield shield.
However, Busquets sounded Friday like some World Cup butterflies were circling in 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 as strong as Holland and emerge with the win."
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