July 11, 2010 Archives

Netherlands 0 Spain 1
An Andres Iniesta goal 4 minutes from the end won the game for Spain.

Five minutes into the first period of Extra-Time and Cesc Fabregas is denied when one on one with Maarten Stekelenburg in the Dutch goal. Just after 100 minutes and Jesus Navas surged into the area but his shot takes a deflection off van Bronckhorst and flies into the side-netting.

Five minutes into the second period Heitinga is sent off for pulling back Andres Iniesta. There was contact but was it enough for Iniesta to go down? Four minutes before the end and Cesc Fabregas finds Andres Iniesta in the area. He steadies himself and volleys past Maarten Stekelenburg. There was a hint of offside in the buildup but it wasn't given.

It wasn't a brilliant game of football, but most big games don't tend to be in the end.

Spain become the eighth team to lift the World Cup; the first time a European nation has won outside of Europe. It also marks the first time that the reigning European champions have gone on to lift the World Cup. The Netherlands are now three time losers in World Cup finals.

Netherlands 0 Spain 0
Just after the hour mark Arjen Robben is put through when Wesley Sneijder's pass eludes Gerard Pique and Robben is one on one with Iker Casillas, who makes a brilliant save with his right boot.

On 70 minutes David Villa, meets a Jesus Navas cross but his shot hits the leg of Heitinga and flies over the bar. Seven minutes later and an unmarked Sergio Ramos heads over from six yeards out.

With 7 minutes left Arjen Robben outpaces Carles Puyol but Iker Casillas races off his line to gather. Robben races after Howard Webb and demands a free-kick. Still protesting a minute later, he picks up a yellow card for dissent.

It ends 0-0 after 90 minutes and we're headed to extra-time for the sixth time in a World Cup final.

Netherlands 0 Spain 0
Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas are both highly rated in England but neither of them have made the starting lineup for Spain tonight.

Five minutes in and Xavi whips a free-kick in for Spain right and Sergio Ramos sends a header goalwards but Maaretn Stekelenburg does well to turn it away.

Just before 35 minutes the Dutch almost score when the ball takes a horrible bounce as they try and give it back to Spain after Iker Casillas had put the ball out for Carles Puyol to receive attention; which wasn't needed after all. Casillas at full stretch just gets fingertips on it. Netherlands sportingly give the corner straight back to the Spanish captain.

It hasn't been a brilliant first half and we can only hope the second half is more open.