Andres Iniesta broke Dutch hearts 115 minutes into the World Cup final with a close range finish to put Spain into the history books and become the 8th different winner of the World Cup. Played in by substitute Cesc Fabregas, Iniesta flicked the ball up before crashing it across Maarten Stekelenburg to seal Spain’s fate.
It was a game that will be remembered for it’s cards as much as its action. Englishman Howard Webb was constantly in the action in the first half hour. Amazingly, we had to wait until 13 minutes into extra time before Johnny Heitinga departed for a second yellow.
Spain started well. After just 4 minutes Sergio Ramos forced a great save out of Holland keeper Stekelenburg. Ramos nodded a Xavi free kick goal bound, before the Ajax goalkeeper dove to his right and pushed the ball away.
The dominance continued, Ramos fired a ball across the six yard box, and with Stekelenberg stranded, Everton defender Johnny Heitinga managed to deflect the ball over his own bar, when the ball could’ve easily ended up in the back of the net. From the resulting corner, Xabi Alonso teased a ball across the box, David Villa could only return the ball into the side netting.
Any thoughts Webb had of a event free final were quickly dashed when, in the first 25 minutes, Webb was forced into giving 4 yellow cards as both sides committed nervy challenges. One particular tackle by Mark Van Bommel on Andres Iniesta was very nasty.
A booking for Sergio Ramos made it 4 yellow cards in the first 25 minutes, before Nigel de Jong can count himself as lucky as van Bommel for staying on the pitch. A karate kick on Xabi Alonso only resulted in a yellow. A card of another colour would not have resulted in complaints from anyone.
It was these tackles that reflected on the half – very nervy, very tentative, very little to shout about. Iker Casillas nearly fumbled a return ball from Holland into his own net. Holland created a couple of half chances before the close, including a Arjen Robben drive from the edge of the box, which Casillas pushed around the post.
It was deservedly 0-0 at half time, although quite how it is 11-11 on the pitch is another story – although Howard Webb should be given a little bit of credit for trying to keep the status quo on the pitch.
Robben had undoubtedly the chance of the game just after the hour mark. Dispatched in behind the Spanish back line by Wesley Sneijder, onside, Robben had only Casillas to beat. He attempted to steer the ball into the corner, the Spaniard’s sprawling right leg deflecting the ball around the post. Chance’s like that in games like this are gold dust.
He was nearly made to pay 10 minutes later. A great piece of running from substitute Jesus Navas who drilled the ball across the box, the ball fell to David Villa unmarked, but the shot was blocked by a diving Dutch body. Not quite the same level as the Robben chance, but very close.
With 20 minutes to go this half had only registered one yellow card, Joan Capedevila clipping Robin Van Persie’s heels as he made haste down the right wing. Perhaps the greatest crime of them all came from Sergio Ramos just 15 minutes from time. A free header from a corner presented itself six yards from goal. The connection was perfect, the ball flew straight over the bar.
Arjen Robben was through again 8 minutes from the close. This time, he wasn’t unmarked, being jostled by Puyol before running into Casillas.
Both sides seemed condemned to another 30 minutes of toil, chances stopped, and the game became more scrappy. A wild 45 yard Wesley Sneijder effort flew well wide as the ref blew for normal time.
Five minutes into extra time Iniesta fed through Cesc Fabregas, with the goal at his mercy, Fabregas could only scuff the ball with his wrong foot straight at Stekelenberg. Chances were coming, and fast, Joris Mathijsen could only nod a corner over the bar when it seemed easier to score. If normal time was frenetic, this opening was free flowing. The looming penalty shoot-out, it seems, was not on the menu.
Jesus Nevas had a great chance 10 minutes in, his shot from the edge of the box deflected of Van Bronckhorst into the side netting when Stekelenberg was stranded. Just when it was beginning to look like both teams would somehow end up with 11 men, Johnny Heitinga pulled back Iniesta twenty yards from goal. The second yellow was inevitable, now, it was Spain’s to lose.
Arjen Robben can count himself very lucky not to have joined Heitinga, after being adjudged rightly offside, Robben flippantly kicked the ball away. Howard Webb showing leniency where it easily could’ve been Holland down to nine men. But it was to be Spain’s day. 4 minutes from from the end, a decisive ball from Fabregas was teed up by Iniesta before being drilled home.
By Bob Bamber