History Repeats?

Spain defeated Germany in World Cup semifinal action, meaning the Spanish team will now face the Netherlands for the championship on Sunday.

The historically minded may note that this will be a rematch of the Eighty Years War between Spain and what was originally referred to as the Spanish Netherlands, running from 1568 to 1648. The fact that this war had a number of ebbs and spikes in conflict during that time might also resemble the overtime periods sometimes added to a soccer match by a referee to make up for time lost due to a player's injury.*

The war ended with the Treaty of Westphalia, signed between Spain and the Republics of the Seven Netherlands after two years of negotiations. Although Spain had lost actual control over these areas several decades earlier, it formally recognized their independence in the treaty. The Republics apparently still had a bone to pick with the Iberian Peninsula, though, and didn't settle their fight with Portugal (started in 1602) until 1661 with the Treaty of the Hague. Apparently, when your country's name can be translated "Bottom Lands" you have quite the chip on your shoulder.

It's possible, I suppose, that the Spanish are looking for a little payback some 360 years after losing their territory, but that would presume the average Spanish soccer player is as much of a history nerd as I am and I cast no aspersions on their schooling or intellects when I say that takes some mighty big s'posin'...

*"Injury" is a loosely-defined term in a soccer match. It can refer to anything from amputation to being knocked over by the airflow generated when an opposing player turns his head in your direction.