Holland coach Bert van Marwijk goes into tomorrow's World Cup final already knowing what it is like to be a world champion.
The Dutch coach won the world klaverjassen championship, a card game not unlike bridge, with his father back in 1973, the year before Johan Cruyff and co. showed the planet what 'Total Football' was all about by reaching their first World Cup final.
Now Van Marwijk hopes to make history by collecting a rather more high-profile title when his side meet Spain at Soccer City with both nations bidding for their first World Cup triumph.
"It was good fun," said Van Marwijk when reminded of his card skills before going on to put tomorrow's match in perspective.
"It's unbelievable, the most important match in my football life. It is quite something and this applies to all my players. No Dutch player has ever become world champion and that is extraordinary but we approach it as a special match."
Van Marwijk has no injury problems with Wesley Sneijder and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg both shrugging off minor problems.
The team had a relaxing walk around a Johannesburg zoo this morning before training at Soccer City and Van Marwijk insists they are ready and confident to take on a Spain side who were impressive in beating Germany 1-0 in the semi-final.
Most importantly the Dutch, he said, must be brave in a match between teams with the desire to play attractive football.
"They have to be themselves and have to have the courage to play football against Spain," said Van Marwijk.
"They are two of the best teams and I emphasise the word 'team'.
"We beat Brazil and Spain beat Germany. Spain have played more attractive football than we have but the teams have the intention to play in the same way. Both teams have their own style but they resemble each other.
"I'm not going to tell you how I'm going to play. We just have to be ourselves."
Van Marwijk rejected the notion that Holland had an advantage because they had won all their six matches while Spain had lost to Switzerland in the group phase and scored more goals, 12 to Spain's seven.
"Spain is the best football country of the last few years," he said.
"Scoring goals is unimportant now. This is a new match, a special match. We have lots of players who can score a goal and so do Spain. We have got to believe in ourselves and not be afraid. We are convinced we can win."
Meanwhile, Dutch captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst admitted he had dreamed of lifting the trophy in what will be his last football match, having announced his retirement.
He said: "As a boy I remember Maradona and Cafu and Dunga holding up the trophy. It is a dream to hold up that trophy. It would be fantastic for me, the Dutch team and the Dutch people to take it home.
"The only thing that counts is winning the final and we will walk on the pitch tomorrow believing we can do it."
Van Bronckhorst also emphasised how vital it was at last to have a measure of harmony in the Dutch camp.
He said: "We have spent six or seven weeks with each other. It is important the atmosphere is good. If it is good off the pitch it will be good on the pitch.
"You might go the extra mile for your team-mate. We have seen teams here with problems outside the pitch causing problems on it, but we have a positive atmosphere which allows us to perform."