ON TOP OF THE WORLD
HOLLAND (0) vs SPAIN (1)
after extra time
ANDRES INIESTA capped a majestic performance with the winning goal deep into extra time to help Spain lift the World Cup for the first time.
The midfield maestro rifled home with four minutes of added time remaining to break Dutch hearts in a bad-tempered game in Johannesburg.
English referee Howard Webb broke the record for cards issued in a World Cup final, brandishing 13 yellow cards in total and a red to Holland’s John Heitinga.
Indeed, it was a night which brought shame on the Holland’s “Total Football” philosophy with Bert van Marwijk’s side content on disrupting the Spanish passing rhythm with heavy-handed tactics as they slumped to their third World Cup final defeat.
Nigel de Jong was the worst offender, lucky not to see red in the first half for a kung-fu-style kick on Xabi Alonso, while Mark van Bommel was also fortunate to see out the final whistle for a series of fouls.
Victory completes a momentous double for the Spanish following their Euro 2008 success, and coach Vicente del Bosque was quick to hail the efforts of his players.
“It was a very difficult game but our players are fantastic,” he said. “They have managed to win it first time. It is true that they had chances to score but we have had four clear chances. We owe everything to them, these great players. We have had 50 days without incident, I feel very proud of the players. This is invaluable for Spain. It’s a very happy day for all the Spanish people.”
Typically, del Bosque’s side dominated the possession, but it was the Dutch who engineered the first real chance of the game on 62 minutes when Wesley Sneijder put Arjen Robben clean through, but Iker Casillas saved well with his legs.
Spain, however, should have wrapped it up themselves within the 90 minutes when Sergio Ramos somehow sent a free header over the bar when unchallenged.
Del Bosque threw on Cesc Fabregas and then also wasted a glorious chance, shooting at Maarten Stekelenburg’s legs, but the Arsenal man then made amends, feeding Iniesta to fire home the winner.
Fernando Torres, on as a late substitute, pulled up with a recurrence of his groin injury in the dying seconds, but that wasn’t to take the gloss off a historic night for La Roja.
Dutch coach van Marwijk was philosophical in defeat afterwards, admitting: “The best team won. I am disappointed. It is a world championship and we have just lost a final.”