FINAL GAME SOCCER WORLD CUP 2010

Spain won the gold trophy after a very dynamic game with Netherlands. This was the first time in World Cup history when the final did not involve Brazil, Argentina, Germany or Italy. However we had the chance to watch an even final between two teams that deserve to be there and Spain is the first European team to win the title outside the Old Continent.

Spain and the Netherlands have played nine times before, each winning four with one tie, but the finalists have never met in a World Cup match. Howard Webb, 38 years old, was the youngest referee to handle a FIFA World Cup Final. Here we have the most important moments of this game.

8 min: Netherlands make their first attack, but Spain are compact.
10 min: Spain started their nice passing game
11 min: Major chance for Spain! Lovely ball put across the area to Villa on the left and he volleys it to the side part of the net.
15 min: A yellow for Van Persie’s second terrible challenge.
16 min: The referee is busy again. Yellow for Puyol blatantly, which takes out Robben.
20 min: Spain have had 60 percent of the possession after 20 minutes, but now Holland obtain a corner.
22 min: Yellow card for Bommel, which loses his head for a second and slides straight through the back of Iniesta.
23 min: Yellow card for Sergio Ramos.
28 min: Holland is pressuring when they have the possession, but now they see an yellow card for Nigel de Jong.
30 min: Thirty minutes gone, and there hasn’t been a chance for at least the last ten.
37 min: Two corners for Netherlands in the last 2 minutes.
39 min: Pedro has a lash from distance, a low shot skimming well wide right. The Spain fans get excited.
43 min: Xabi Alonso takes a direct free kick, but the shot goes wide.
44 min: A spell of Netherlands pressure is desperately defended by the Spanish.
45+3 min: The referee blows for half time.

46 min: Spain is going against the grain with kick-offs and attacking immediately.
48 min: Xavi drifts a corner over from the right and Puyol glances towards the back post. A great chance!
52 min: Arjen Robben shoots from outside the box, but the keeper saves it.
54 min: Yellow card for van Bronckhorst.
57 min: Yellow card for Johnny Heitinga (Holland).
60 min: Pedro Rodriguez is leaving the field to be replaced by Jesus Navas.
62 min: This game is opening up very nicely. Arjen Robben has a great chance to score, but his effort is stopped by the keeper! Biggest moment of the match.
66 min: Andrés Iniesta from Spain sends a pass into the box.
67 min: Yellow card for Joan Capdevila (Spain).
70 min: Joan Capdevila shoots and hits the target, but the keeper saves it. What a chance!
80 min: Xavi Hernandez from Spain takes a corner kick.
82 min: Massive chance for Robben again.
84 min: Arjen Robben is booked for complaining.
88 min: Spain have all the possession at the moment.
89 min: Three minutes extra-time.
90+3 min: FULL-TIME: HOLLAND 0 – 0 SPAIN. EXTRA TIME COMING.

105 min: Spain dominated the first 15 minutes of extra time, having at least 3 great chances, but without to score.
109 min: Johnny Heitinga (Netherlands) receives a second yellow card for a shirt-pull. Spain continues to make a huge pressing.
117 min: G O O O O O A A L ! Spain 1-0 Netherlands. The ball comes to Fabregas and he puts it on a plate for Andrés Iniesta, who scores without a chance for the Dutch goalkeeper.
120+2 min: The end of the match and the end of the 19th edition of FIFA World Cup. Spain is the new World Champion.

It was a very difficult game, the Dutch team fought very hard, but the result reflects the reality: Spain deserves this victory and it became the first team to take the title after losing its first match; a surprising 0-1 with Switzerland. Spain will receive from the FIFA €24 million for this performance and Netherlands will leave at home with a reward of €19 million.

And a final statistic: after this match the Old Continent moves ahead of South America in overall World Cup victories: 10-9. The next edition is scheduled for 2014 in Brazil.

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