In a testy, often ill-tempered final that was further ruined by English referee Howard Webb whose trigger-happy fingers pulled out a total of 14 yellow cards and one red and awarded free kicks at the slightest provocation, the player that Wayne Rooney believes is the best in the world – Andres Iniesta – struck a dramatic winner with just four minutes to go in extra time to give Spain their first FIFA World Cup and burdened the Dutch with their third loss.
The Dutch were visibly upset and angry over Webb’s failure to call a foul on Carles Puyol when Arjen Robben was held back with only the Spanish goalkeeper to beat. Robben chased after Webb and screamed at him and was rewarded with a yellow card for his continuing protests many of them with clear basis.
But the clearest mistake of Webb even before Iniesta scored the winning goal was his failure to award the Netherlands a corner moments earlier when a free kick clearly bounced off Cesc Fabregas.
The Spanish could not be denied as overall they looked the better side and played the more attractive football although any rhythm to the game was often interrupted by Webb’s whistle with one football fan claiming his performance in the match was even worse than the England team in the World Cup itself.
Despite playing with ten men after a tacky second yellow card resulted in the sending off of John Heitinga the Dutch had their chances but failed to make them count.
BBC Sport reported that the Dutch, who lost in the 1974 and 1978 finals, were bidding to become the first side since Brazil in 1970 to go through qualifying and the World Cup unbeaten.
And they had a glorious chance to take the lead in the second half but Arjen Robben, comfortably his team’s most potent attacking weapon, could find no way past Spain captain Iker Casillas, who slumped to the floor and cried tears of joy after the final whistle.
Sergio Ramos was equally culpable of a glaring miss for Spain when he headed over and substitute Fabregas who came in for Xabi Alonso and quickly put his mark on the match , as with Robben before him, also failed to convert a one-on-one chance.
In fact it was from a deft through ball by the Arsenal midfielder Fabregas that Iniesta struck as Spain became the first team to win a World Cup after losing their opening game of the tournament.
Statistics showed that Spain also became the first team to win to World Cup having scored the least number of goals with only eight in seven matches.
If anything the finals was a comparative disappointment after Spain dominated possession in the opening minutes and seemed to have rattled a nervous Dutch backline. Ramos almost put them ahead after just four minutes but his thunderous header
While there was some obvious justification for referee Webb’s yellow card splurge with some nasty tackles it was hard to understand his failure to give Nigel de Jong a straight red card after he planted his boot in the chest of Xabi Alonso.
BBC Sport noted that the bookings continued after the break and the contest occasionally threatened to boil over as the tension appeared to affect the players.
But there were also a few moments of real quality, none more so than a sumptuous through ball from the largely anonymous Wesley Sneijder that played Robben clean through on goal.
Robben delayed his shot but, equally, Casillas stood his ground as long as possible and brilliantly saved with his legs. It was a head-in-hands moment for Robben, but one quickly followed for Spain when a completely unmarked Ramos headed a corner over the crossbar.
Robben’s pace often troubled the Spanish defense although at times he tried to do too much and was thwarted by a double-teaming defense.
Spain appeared to up the tempo of their game and take greater control as the match wore on, with Xavi increasingly influential and when Fabregas replaced Alonso he quickly made an impression by collecting a superb Iniesta pass, but the Arsenal man could find no way beyond Stekelenberg.
The complement was returned shortly afterwards but Iniesta opted not to strike from 18 yards and was eventually dispossessed by the excellent Gregory van der Wiel.
When Heitinger became the fifth man to be sent off in a World Cup final after he pulled back Iniesta on the edge of the area, Webb had little choice but to hand him a second caution – a move which spurred Spain on for a final effort.
Joris Mathijsen headed over for the Netherlands in what was their only good chance of extra-time before Iniesta struck his late and decisive blow.
