For the first time in 76 years, Spain won the World Cup in a final that will be remembered more for fouls than finesse, cards than chances on goal and tempers than trickery. A bitterly fought contest had eleven yellow cards (six to the Dutch and five to the Spanish), with John Heitinga receiving his second yellow in the second period of Extra Time. Minutes later, Jesus Navas jinked his way through a resolute Dutch defence and with the aid of fellow sub Fabregas, made the ball reach Fernando Torres. Spain's Goldenboy was clearly out of sorts, his terrible injury-marred season with Liverpool ensuring that his form deserted him on the biggest stage possible. Despite that, he somehow managed to return the ball to Fabregas who tried to squirt it to Iniesta the first time, but the superb Joris Mathijsen blocked his pass. Undeterred, Fabregas tried again and this time, Iniesta made room for himself and smacked a half-volley home to spark wild Spanish celebrations.
Much before this, both teams had gilt-edged opportunities to go one up, with Arjen Robben twice spurning one-on-one chances to beat Iker Casillas, who, it has to be said, gave a spectacular performance to silence all his doubters. Fabregas livened things up and almost won it for Spain, but Maarten Stekelenburg proved that if Casillas could do it, he could too. Ultimately, as the match headed towards the dreaded shootout and a star-studded audience braced itself for another nerve-wracking night, the man they call Don Andres stepped up and it was a fitting end that the best player of the night and eventual Man of the Match had the final say in the nineteenth FIFA World Cup in South Africa, 2010.
Brazil 2014, bring it on, baby! :)
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