4 years in the waiting...it's here

• Zinedine Zidane dropping Materazzi with his Sonic Headbutt
• Emmanuel Petit striding through the Brazilian ranks, ponytail flying behind him, to seal it for Les Bleus
• Baggio's penalty, still rising
• Tardelli and THAT celebration
• Carlos Alberto's ludicrously perfect coup de grace to finish Italy
• Geoff Hurst and those who thought it was all over

The World Cup Final is, alongside the Olympic Men's 100m, the single most iconic, important and era-defining sporting event on the planet.

Images such as those above plus countless more are stamped indelibly on the minds of billions across the globe, and they offer the chance, once every four years, for someone to become an all-time legend.

How the players of Spain and Holland managed to sleep last night is difficult to fathom - the fact is that entire careers; entire lives, have built up to this moment. Consider Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, at 37 years of age about to wear the Oranje for the last time ever and able to look back on over 20 years of top level professional football - and yet nothing has ever been as big as this for Gio; or any of the 22 to take the field in a few short hours at Soccer City.

The unfortunate truth for Van Bronckhorst and his team-mates, and something that no doubt contributed largely to any insomnia that they suffered, is that they are going up against the best national team in the world.

Spain have not dazzled at this tournament. David Villa has provided some moments of true genius, notably against Honduras and Chile; and Xavi Hernandez has been his normal imperious metronomic self - but they have yet to click in the devastating manner that defined their Euro 2008 odyssey.

Despite this, they go into the match as favourites at odds of slightly better than evens, which suggests the bookies completely agree with Paul.

The fundamental reason why Holland should worry is that Spain know they have not dazzled. They know they have not looked as fluent as they can. They know that they have struggled to find a way through. They know they have been frustrating to watch.

But they know it doesn't matter.

The only people involved in Wednesday night's semi final that were not exasperated by the failure of Spain to break down a solid German defence for over an hour, were the ones wearing red shirts. The innate confidence in their ability to find a way through, and the absolute faith in their system of passing, moving, 'tiki-taka' football has so far proved completely valid, they have made it this far without having to really step it up.

The Dutch players have made the right noises about frustrating them, shutting them down, making it uncomfortable - this all seems like the right way to prevent la Furio Roja having it all their way...but fundamentally it just might not be enough.

Holland have enjoyed a fair slice of luck throughout this tournament, and it will take a big dollop more for them to be celebrating tonight. Despite the odds however, the stage is set, and any one of the 22 players could be about to take the step into immortality.

Let's hope for a classic game and some moments that will forever date stamp wherever you are tonight and whoever you're with in your memory for the rest of your life. Bring it on.