The final looms!

The pinnacle of world football is almost upon us, with Spain and Holland all but ready to contest the 2010 World Cup final.

South Africa has thrown a fantastic football party, and one of world top nations is about to shed it's 'underachievers' tag.

Holland have not lost a game at this years tournament, and this coupled with the fact they also went unbeaten during qualifying makes them a daunting proposition.

Some said they breezed through a mediocre qualifying phase, but they have answered all their critics as they stand on the brink of greatness.

Largely hailed as the best side not to win the World Cup, this current crop of Dutch stars could etch their names on the record list for many years to come.

Key to success are of course the fearsome duo of Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, the latter of which is an unlikey joint top scorer.

Against Brazil he bagged both goals, as Holland showed great grit and determination to come from behind against the side who many tipped to go all the way this year.

Uruguay were pushed asisde, with a stern defence also showing they can get on the score sheet as Giovanni Van Bronkhorst smashed in a stunner.

Also if Gregory Van Der Wiel and Nigel De Jong are restored to the line up, they will field shirt numbers 1-11.

The group phase was a pushover as were the qualifying and last 16 stages, could they be about to lift their first World Cup.

Spain on the other hand are the pinnacle of beautiful passing football.

With a large crop of Barcelona players, seven of which started the semi-final against Germany, this hardly suprising.

David Villa is once again topping the scoring charts, along with Sneijder, with Andres Iniesta and either Pedro or the mis-firing Fernando Torres expected to sit just behind him in a three pronged attack.

Iker Casillas has put som early dodgy performances behind him, with his defence looking stronger with each passing game.

From the midfield Xavi is no doubt the key man.

He touched the ball every 46 seconds in the semi, and along with Xabi Alonso the pair form a fearsome duo with a wide array of passing ability.

After defeat to Switzerland in the first game Spain have come back stronger, and with them being widely fancied for the trophy before the tournament they could become the first side in history to win the Euro's and then the World Cup.

Beside all the debate one thing is for certain, this year will be the first time a European side has won the World Cup outside of Europe.

Before that happens though their is the little matter of the third/fourth placed play off.

Uruguay haven't beaten a European side in their last 14 attempts, since defeat to germany at the same stage in 1970.

It should be an excting conclusion, to the best sports event in world sport.

Let's get ready to rumble

So, at it's new Saturday evening slot, the battle of the Bernabeu will take place.

Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan V Louis Van Gaal's Bayern Munich, with both sides looking to claim an unprecedented treble.

Both have had troubled times in their respective leagues this season, but have crucially come through to take the ultimate prize.

Domestic cup competitions have also fell the way of this years two premier Champions League teams, meaning this evening could be one of the most exciting European finals for many a year.

You would expect a fully attacking match, although, you could be majorly disappointed.

In this years competition Mourinho has been criticised for sitting on leads, and doing just enough to get over the line.

But never going out to score as many goals as possible, however you couldn't bet against the Portuguese to come up trumps once again.

And if he does so he could soon be bidding a, not so fond, farewell to Italy.

It is not a secret that the Italians and Mourinho don't enjoy the best of relationships, and a treble win could be his legacy in Serie A.

Bayern on the other hand have always gone out to score this season, and as a result have been left short at the back on occasion.

This is exactly the type of thing that will not have gone unnoticed by the Milan side, and if this situation crops up tonight it will be fully exploited.

Wesley Sneijder's passing could unlock most defences, and with men short at the back it wouldn't be hard to pick out the pacey Samuel Eto'o.

Although the German's aren't short of attacking talent themselves, however they will be without main man Franck Ribery who is suspended.

That means Arjen Robben will have to step into the breach and be the creative force for his side, which we have already seen him do this season.

His wonder striker at both Fiorentina and Manchester United rescued his team, whereas Mourinho's side have often looked comfortable.

Even at Stamford Bridge and the Nou Camp where one goal would've knocked them out, they didn't look like conceding (although they come close in the latter, when a goal was disallowed for a dubious hand ball).

One thing is for certain though, someone will win a treble tonight and become a legend at their respective club, and I wouldn't bet against Mourinho adding another chapter to an already amazing story.