Everybody Was...

The 2010 World Cup final pitted two of the world's most skilled and dynamic teams...in a match that was among the most desultory in the history of the championship.

The Netherlands' thuggery was personified by Nigel de Jong's brutal foul on Spain's brilliant Xabi Alonso. The only thing worse than the cleat-first heart massage was the fact that it only drew a yellow card.



I'm a sucker for the Oranje, so I'm planning to forget all about that unfortunate series of events this afternoon when the same teams meet at 3:00 EST in their Group B opener in Salvador. The match marks the first time in history that finals opponents meet in the group stage in the subsequent Cup.

Hup, Holland, Hup!