FC Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty earned his first cap with the U.S. men's soccer team last November. He provides occasional insight to ESPNDallas.com. during the World Cup.

The matchup is set. The day is almost here. It has been almost one month since the first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the last two teams standing are Spain and the Netherlands. They are set to clash in what is surely considered a dream final by everyone and anyone who has been following this World Cup.

You would be hard pressed to find two hotter teams coming into this tournament, as both Spain and Holland tore through their respective qualifying groups with relative ease.

The Dutch are on an impressive 25-match unbeaten run, having won every game they have played in this World Cup (including a stunning comeback against tournament favorite Brazil).

The Spaniards, meanwhile, continue their extraordinary form dating back to their 2008 European Championship. After being stunned by Switzerland in their first game of the tournament, they have been working their passing magic to squeak out 1-0 results, a trait of a team that seems to have gained the necessary mental toughness needed to win the big one.

This World Cup has seen plenty of surprises. Tournament favorites have been upstaged by younger, lesser-known underdog teams at almost every round of the competition.

Luckily for the Dutch, they have combined a very stingy defense with numerous game-changing players in attack to stave off any upsets that might have come their way. Coach Bert van Marwijk has done an excellent job combining the Dutch '70s style of "Total Football" with a new mindset defensively to make this one of the most balanced sides in the world today.

Key to the Oranje's success is the steel and grit provided by defensive midfielders Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong. They are the anchors of the team, providing valuable cover to a midfield oozing with attacking talent, as well as being capable outlets for defenders to play to under pressure.

Robin van Persie has not had the best World Cup, but he has one of the most deadly left feet in the world, as he has proved time and again with his club team Arsenal. He will be receiving service from two of the most dangerous attacking players in the world at the moment, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben. If he can find the form he had with Arsenal before his injury, he should give the Spanish defense fits.

Sneijder has been in scintillating form for both club and country, and his involvement, or lack thereof, in the game will determine how effective the Dutch attack is in this game. To think that he could go from a treble-winning season with Inter Milan (including a Champions League medal) to winning the World Cup in the same year is a mouth-watering prospect for a player who has really matured in the past two years since being ostracized from club giants Real Madrid. As a side note, being able to play against him in the upcoming friendly between FC Dallas and Inter Milan on Aug. 5 would truly be an honor.

As for La Furia Roja, what more can you say about them? They play the most aesthetically pleasing soccer in the world's game today, and do it with remarkable efficiency.

With a midfield that consists of passing maestros Xavi and Andres Iniesta, it is hard to imagine any team in the world out-possessing them. The way all of their attacking players seemingly move and switch positions on the fly, it is nearly impossible to stop them from creating chances.

The chances will be there for them, there is no doubt about that. The only way to stop them is to force them to get the ball wide and hope they rely on crossing to their smaller players, where the Dutch defenders will have to be first to the ball each and every time.

Oh yeah, and just pray that top goal scorer David Villa has an off day. It seems that his impending move to Barcelona has really motivated Villa to find his best form going into the upcoming club season where the competition for places will be head and shoulders above what he experienced at Valencia.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas is as steady as they come and he will surely be called upon to make a few saves when the Dutch try to hit the Spaniards on the counter-attack. If there is any way to punish Spain for their incredible style of play, the Dutch know that is it.

As a soccer fan in general, I could not have dreamed up a better finish for such an amazing spectacle. To think that one of these soccer-loving nations will win the World Cup for the first time is something I have trouble wrapping my head around. It just goes to show you why this tournament is so special.

Only a select few, once-in-a-generation type players get to this moment in their careers, and whoever comes out on top will surely cherish the occasion forever.

After an opening few minutes of nerves for both teams, I see Spain settling down quicker and getting their flowing, one-touch passing game going to create numerous chances. Holland will defend and look to hit the Spaniards on the counter through Sneijder and Robben, but will have little to show for their industry.

In the end, I see Spain being too difficult to contain going forward and after defending valiantly for most of the game, the Dutch will finally crack. Spain wins the World Cup 2-1 and sets off wild celebrations back home for their first ever World Cup title.