World Cup Final 2010 : Iniesta Put Spain on Top of World

July 12, 2010 by: Sport News

Iniesta puts Spain on top of world

The Champions of Europe and now the world champions, Spain captured the Holy Grail football for the first time with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands thanks to the 116th minute strike Andres Iniesta in the Soccer City.

The lone goal came with penalties looming as a replacement for Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas combined when Iniesta and Barcelona midfielder small strongly promoted by Maarten Stekelenburg and into the far corner. With this victory – their fourth successive single-goal win in South Africa – Spain became the name of session on the FIFA World Cup ™ Trophy and also the first European team that triumphed in a different continent. For the Netherlands, who lost defender John Heitinga to a red card in extra time, the pain is not just another tale of what might have been after completing a hat-trick of final losses.

This was a game preceded by much talk of two like-minded football cultures, the influence of the Netherlands as Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff at Barcelona, ‘tiki taka’ and Total Football. In many ways, as the first 116 minutes was also was a case of irresistible force against an immovable object. The Dutch had won 14 consecutive matches to reach the final, qualifying and the tournament proper, and Spain 15, 16, his only slip of the defeat by Switzerland in its first game here in South Africa.

It was the Spanish found their way first, at the height of his pre-match billing as favorites. Vicente del Bosque side, playing in the navy blue possession, dominated and shaped the early opportunities. With the Dutch writing within their means, Maarten Stekelenburg had to stop after five minutes, diving low to stop a header from Sergio Ramos Xavi free-kick from the right. Gerard Pique seemed ready to follow only to be denied by a combination of Joris Mathijsen and Dirk Kuyt.

Ramos came back in a minute ten, playing Kuyt on the right and driving in a low cross that Heitinga deflected behind. From the corner came another scare for the Netherlands. Xavi played the ball to Xabi Alonso whose ball went beyond the far post to David Villa, but the number 7 in the form sliced his volley into the side netting.

After things up close, however, both defenses got on top with none of the players a hint on each side able to take control of proceedings. In contrast, the yellow card count began to rise with Nigel de Jong became the fifth player in the ship’s Howard Webb by the time we reached the half hour, the Netherlands midfielder, recently returned from suspension, together with Gregory van der Wiel, which resonated in the chest of Xabi Alonso.

With the orange sections of the crowd 84,490 Soccer City to find his voice, his favorite almost gave them something to sing from a corner in the 37th minute. Robben rolled the ball to Mark van Bommel on the edge of the area and although he was unable to establish a clean connection inadvertently diverting the ball to the unmarked Mathijsen, but the defender missed his kick. As half time approached, Iker Casillas had barely had a save to make, but the time of entering unemployment, the custodian of Spain had to be alert to deny Robben at his post near a spell of pressure ended with Dutch clicking on the striker a low shot from the corner box.

Puyol, matchwinner semifinal of Spain, showed his aerial threat once again minutes after the restart when he rose above Heitinga and went to the back post, but Joan Capdevila could not make contact. The game was a gradual opening and Dutch rejected a golden opportunity on 62 minutes when Wesley Sneijder Robben sent running clear. Casillas came to the rescue of Spain, deflecting the shot behind his right leg after falling on the wrong track.

Spain coach Del Bosque has already sent Jesus Navas by Peter in the time and the end of the helped elect a hole in the Dutch defense in the 70th minute. Xavi sent him flying to the right and the box and when Heitinga had not been dealt with under Navas cross, the ball fell to Villa that looked likely to score, only to see his effort deflected behind. Ramos was equally profligate after 78 minutes when he headed in Xavi center when unmarked after Villa had forced another corner.

Spain looking more likely winners and took Sneijder of all people to thwart Iniesta with a smart tackle after jinking run into the box. However, the pace of Robben is a persistent threat and the Oranje No11 Puyol almost embarrassed in the 82nd minute, defender clear acceleration Spain, when the second favorite to reach a through ball. Piqué resist attempts to address too, which was thwarted only by Casillas, captain in saving the Dutchman Robben feet looking around.

The extension began with opportunities for Spain. Xavi could not connect when a good position and when the ball ran to Villa, his shot was deflected off an orange shirt. Substitute Cesc Fabregas then broke clear through Iniesta, ball, but was foiled by Stekelenburg. Mathijsen finished off a corner kick, but the waves, like the Spanish attacks kept rolling to the back line and Navas Netherlands came close with a shot deflected into the side netting.

Fernando Torres replaced midway through the extra period and Spain Villa scored a four-minute delay men with dismissal for pulling Heitinga Iniesta on the edge of the box, the offense will earn a second yellow. Iniesta can not be denied, however, as late strike brought Spain into the history books and ended with the men of Oranje.

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