The Netherlands and Spain contest football's biggest prize.
Netherlands v Spain
FIFA World Cup 2010
The Final
7.30pm (BST), Sunday 11 July
Soccer City, Johannesburg
So, this is it. We've had vuvuzelas, stunning goals, surprising exits from the tournament, colour, expression and excitement. After nearly a month and 63 matches, it's time for the World Cup Final.
Sunday’s showdown at Soccer City, Johannesburg, features two countries who, despite rich footballing histories, have never lifted the World Cup.
The Dutch have lost two previous Finals while Spain have never reached this stage before.
Holland may not show quite the same flair displayed by their legendary 1970’s counterparts but have made great strides with a united attitude.
Dutch star Arjen Robben has said people focus too much on the team’s ‘ugly’ style of play, saying: “The point is, we are in a World Cup Final. From now on how you play no longer matters. Of course, the intent is there to play good football but the result is far more important. We have heard enough of talk about how our football is very nice. But it gets you nowhere. We want to achieve something."
Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong should both come back into the side after missing the semi-final with suspensions. Demy de Zeeuw’s head injury sustained in that Uruguay clash will probably see him miss out.
Cesc Fabregas could be set to make a return to the Spanish fold after sustaining an injury in training. Much could rely on the performance of fellow English-based forward Fernando Torres, who was dropped for the semi-final following a poor tournament.
The Spanish go into the Final as slight favourites but ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has warned against complacency.
After watching England underperform, Alonso said lessons were there to be learned: "England had a very tough game and the expectations were very high. One bad game and you are out. That is how it works in the World Cup and that should be a warning to us on Sunday."
The Spaniards enter this clash as European champions and off the back of winning 50 of their last 54 games. The Dutch, meanwhile, have fallen at the final hurdle twice before. Come Sunday evening there will be a new glorious chapter written in the history of one of Europe’s footballing greats.