Spain emerge as worthy winners after combative final

Spain lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites by lifting the World Cup last night, but only after negotiating a game in which Howard Webb was forced to brandish fourteen yellow cards and one red. In the end, as with all their knock out games in this tournament, a single goal was all that was required to separate them from a Dutch side who were guilty of some brutal play as well as some missed opportunities. 

Arjen Robben may well have had a sleepless night last night having failed to score after twice being put through clean on goal. However, these were rare footballing highlights in a match heavily disrupted by a succession of mistimed and crude challenges, with Nigel De Jong particularly lucky to have remained on the field after having planted his studs into Xabi Alonso’s chest.

Howard Webb must have felt that the honour of refereeing the World Cup final was anything but, after having to reach for his pocket with such frequency. The boos he received from the Dutch fans at the end of the game were unjustified, and he could have made things much worse for them had he shown less leniency toward De Jong amongst others. As it was, only John Heitinga was given his marching orders with eleven minutes of extra time remaining.

Spain were not completely blameless either having picked up five yellow cards and, like the Netherlands, were guilty of missing some fairly inviting opportunities. Sergio Ramos failed to hit the target when presented with a free header on 77 minutes, David Villa couldn’t convert Jesus Navas’s cross seven minutes earlier, whilst Cesc Fabregas missed the opportunity to put the Spanish one up in the fifth minute of extra time when put through by Andres Iniesta.

Ultimately, and perhaps fittingly given the pivotal role he had played in Spain’s midfield alongside Xavi, it fell to Iniesta to deliver the match winning goal with just four minutes remaining and penalties beckoning. Despite Dutch protestations for a foul on Eljero Elia at the other hand, Fabregas made amends for his earlier miss by calmly rolling the ball wide right to Iniesta, whose assured finish highlighted what had been missing in a game which will hardly be remembered as a classic.

So in spite of their opening game blip against Switzerland, Spain have added the World Cup to the European Championship they won two years ago and now define an era like only an elite few sides in the history of football can claim to do. Whilst never quite entertaining in the manner that many had expected, they are deserving champions and are unlikely to be too concerned that their title was ultimately won by playing ugly against a combative Dutch side.

We’ll have some reflections on Spain’s victory and the tournament as a whole in the coming days, but for now tell us what you think about last night’s game and the crowning of Vicente del Bosque’s side as the world’s best team. What did you make of the final? Do you think they are deserving champions? Can they carry their dominance through to Euro 2012? As ever, let us know your thoughts.

July 12, 2010