By FRANCO PANIZO
Spain's World Cup may have started off with a nightmare result, but it ended with a dream come true.
Spain captured its first World Cup title with a 1-0 extra time victory over the Netherlands on Sunday at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
Andres Iniesta scored the winner off a pass from substitute Cesc Fabregas in the 116th minute.
The game was a chippy affair, with English referee Howard Webb handing out 13 cards, including a second yellow on John Heitinga in the 109th minute.
While the Dutch had to settle as runners-up for the third time in their World Cup history, they did have opportunities to win the game despite their defensive and physical gameplan. The most notable chance came in the 62nd minute when Arjen Robben was played through on goal by Wesley Sneijder, but his shot was denied by the foot of Iker Casillas.
Here are the match highlights:
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What do you think of Spain winning the World Cup? What could the Netherlands have done differently? Who impressed you today? Think Spain is capable of a repeat in 2014?
Share your thoughts below.
totally disagree. thought it was the best cup i’ve seen. i don’t want a euro cup i want a world cup in africa with horns and everything. so much drama and captured america’s heart. That’s good for the game. But i’m sure the white euros like the english hated africa cause they had to travel and are just bitter.
I’m glad they didn’t europhy my African World Cup.
I was disappointed in the Netherlands football team this Sunday. But I believe that everything happens for a reason. I’m happy for spain…My Hearty CONGRATULATIONS!!! Played brilliantly!!
Not sure Robben still had the advantage, because Puyol’s mugging slowed him up enough to give Casillas a chance to get out there. I agree with K.J. if you want to cut down on flops you gotta call a foul even if a guy tries to fight through it (not sayiong calling that will be easy). It kills me to say Robben would have been better off to take his usual fall…but it would have been.
While I agree Iniesta’s dive was terrible, he and Xavi are absolutely ridiculous in possession. 3 on 1, and they cooly drag back, nutmeg and make an inch perfect pass time and time again. Amazing to watch. Thoroughly enjoyed the game.
and who cares if you do or don’t cheer for Spain or any other team?
Protip: A referee, when seeing a foul may acknowledge it in one of two ways. He may blow the whistle to stop play, or yell “Advantage, Play on!”
Consider that, and reconsider my previous post.
Already did A.J.
Just remember that we failed to get out of the group in 1998, made the Quarterfinals in 2002, failed to get out of the group in 2006 and made the second round this year. So going by that, we will fail to get out of our group in 2014.
You are right Americans not having any intensity about this sport. And that includes our players. That is why the US may never win a World Cup; because our players, none of whom play regularly at the highest levels, truly understand how tough and competitive things are and how much they will have to sacrifice to get to the top.
Donovan is only now, at 27, beginning to understand what those Dutch and Spanish players already knew when they were kids, that they would have to commit totally to their sport if they were ever to be champions.
Until recently, as he has admitted, Donovan, bless his spoiled little heart, was just coasting on his talent. And he is our leader. So what can you expect from the rest of our guys when the leader and best player has been a wussy for so long?
He’s been more like Lebron James than Diego Forlan, though better late than never I guess.
I consider it unlikely that replay would be used to determine possession on a ball that has gone into touch, but yeah, he missed that one.
I agree with you. Howard Webb did a fine job. It’s not his fault the players, particularly the Dutch, had no idea what constitutes a fair challenge. My only complaint is that he was too lenient on the kung fu kick and that he missed a CK when a DFK went off the wall in extra time.
Since the only two teams who beat Spain in the last millenium succesfully shut them down, isn’t it logical to assume that is what the Dutch would also try to do? Robben said before the game he had no problem with winning ugly.
In the interest of fairness you should point out that the US is one of those teams who beat Spain in the last million years and we did lose to Netherlands earlier this year.
I guess you don’t watch much competitive international football huh? The US in the final would have been more entertaining I grant you that.
Had it been a US-Spain final it would have been prettier and more wide open because Spain would have been out to slaughter us as payback.
Had it been a US-Netherlands final, the same thing would have happened. They would have come at us in waves because they think we suck. Mark Van Bommel would have been looking to break Holden’s leg just to show De Jong who’s more psycho. And if Holden were on the bench MVB would have gone over here and called the pretty boy out. The Dutch are very “pragmatic”.
Welcome to real international football, America. This is not the namby pamby exhibition crap you are all so used to.
” Ooh, we played (Spain, Brazil,Argentina, etc.) in Foxboro and tied them! Freddy Adu must be world class did you see how he led those guys a merry dance? Sign that boy up! Got to be a starter in the next World Cup!”.
One day US fans may actually realize how serious the competition in this sport really is, but I doubt it.
You all think you can hire some PR savvy, informercial salesman like Klinsmann ( great PR, great player, suspect coach) and he will wave his magic wand and turn our mediocre crew into world beaters. Think again.
I agree, DeJong should have been sent off and should be given a suspension. Doesn’t change the fact that the spanish team is full of diving wimps.
No he would not have. Roy always went after your knees, more likely to get you out of the game.
DeJong is a burnt weenie compared to Keane.
Awful game. Two garbage teams. Bunch of cheats on both sides. One of the worst finals. I am sorry that there had to be a winner from this game… United States would have kicked the sh*t out of both of these teams…
Iniesta was definitely obstructed. Deserved 2nd yellow.
Xavi is one of my favorite players in the world. His play is absolutely amazing, that being said, as long as Iniesta dons a Spanish jersey I’ll never cheer for spain (or Barca for that matter).
Robben embellishes like crazy, but everytime he goes down at least there is contact. It bugs me super bad, but nothing next to Iniesta. Simulating without contact is the absolute worst. It such a waste to see such talented players spend so much time face down. A newborn giraffe on a wobbly old card table ridden by Peter Crouch is more sure-footed.
The best team won today. Period. Not a memorable game by any stretch. No question Spain are worthy winners of the tournament. Bravo Espana!
Also if there was instant replay in soccer, Netherlands should have gotten a corner instead of a spain goal kick which resulted in a goal after the Sneijder free kick that clearly went off of the spanish wall
My thoughts exactly. I am tired of talking about it and am surprised how emotionally charged this whole discussion has become. To claim that either team was morally better than the other is an uphill battle.
Spain dives too much. This guy should have been sent off. Who cares about the if’s and shoulda woulda coulda’s? What happened, happened. Spain was the better team today. They scored and Holland didn’t. Robben was in on goal twice and he couldn’t convert. All the credit to Casillas. All the credit to La Furia Roja. All the credit to La Oranje. Having spent time in Spain, I know how much they are enjoying this and they deserve it.
somebody’s bitter. van bommel and De Jong should have been sent off instead of their yellow cards.
The facts are that Netherlands had 120 minutes to score. Robben SHOULD have scored twice.
This is exactly why players dive. Saying there shouldn’t be a foul unless he falls, that just encourages more flopping. Call it regardless.
Two words: Karate Kick.
Two words: spanish wusses.
I love how people are complaining about Spanish Diving when the Dutch were HAMMERING them all game long. Give me a break. Spain tried to play soccer and the Dutch tried to Stop Spain from playing soccer.
How about Iniesta? His dive got a guy sent off.
Propaganda for diving….Contact sport… Iniesta isn’t tough enough for WPS…oooooh I fell down time for a card. The greats didn’t play so shamefully.
Completely agree with “this thread needs some moderation in the worst way.”
I thought it was well officiated. You can’t give out cards for every single thing or we’d be 5 on 5 by the end of the match and everyone would be complaining the ref was too strict.
I am glad Spain won. Both are excellent sides and deserving champs but the dutch team rubs me the wrong way. Did you see how fast Robben ran to catch up and bitch at the ref. It’s scary to think how much better he would be if he didn’t flop at every touch and whine the whole game through. I have only seen this dutch team play in this world cup and against us in the recent friendly, but De Jong makes two or three dirty plays a game, each with the potential to end a career. I hope he gets his. Congrats Spain.
De Jong’s tackle was one of the worst I have ever seen. Roy Keene would have been proud.
Hehe… Dead on.
I cannot once in my life remember Xavi or Busquets dive.
It was beautiful soccer.
Unfortunate that so many teams parked the bus over the course of the tournament.
Brazil disappointed.
Completely wrong.
For the grammatically challenged: you’re, a contraction of you and are, is spelled as above. Your indicates possession.
That’s really third grade stuff.
Spain are diving specialist. Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets spend more time yelling at the ref and falling down from sniper fire than anyone in soccer. They might play pretty soccer, but they play as arrogant, whining todlers
Amen.
Agree.
Today a great generation of Spanish players earned the right to be among the greatest teams in soccer history. The style of game they had suit them very well. Iniesta Xavi, Xavi Alonso with their tiki tiki proved many that you can play good soccer and win at the same time. Casillas was key and Robben wasn’t. The Spanish coach called the way his team plays as “Propaganda for soccer” and I think many can agree that when a team that plays like that wins the word justice (which in soccer is usually non-existent) comes to mind.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPAIN. HOLLAND SHOULD HAVE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ehh we beat these losers
Spain to ref: Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!
The referee always gladly helps.
What a bunch of wusses.
Is it just me or does Ineista look what would happen if Flea (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and the lead singer from Smashing Pumkins had a baby. Think about it.
I agree. It didn’t affect the play much, and Robben shockingly fought through it.
He got past Puyol with the ball, and he couldn’t do anything with it then.
and then the morality police would have probably said that Webb should give a goal.
This thread needs some moderation in the worst way.
About that Puyol-Robben call? Advantage, play on. If he had gone down, it MAY have been a DOGSO by foul, but there was another player plus the GK all close to the ball/play. It wouldn’t have been nearly as clear cut a send off as some are making it out to be.
its a bummer. its all over its gonna be a long four years. well back to club football!
Wait, I thought Spain couldn’t win it because they had never won before?
The last World Cup felt much closer to home, and more connected.