The long wait is over for Spain as they collected their first ever World Cup trophy in Johannesburg last night in what was a feisty encounter. It wasn’t a classic by any means and it looked odds on to be heading to penalties before Iniesta’s timely intervention. In truth, the better side won out in the end.
The Netherlands tactics were clear from the start and De Jong and Van Bommel went about kicking the Spanish midfield from an early stage. Both players were booked in the first half and both could easily have been dismissed for their respective challenges. Iniesta seemed to spend half the game picking himself off the floor as Van Bommel tracked him ominously.
Spain were not at their cutting best but the truth is they probably haven’t been at their best all tournament and it was still good enough to win. They kept the ball superbly throughout the tournament and passed immaculately but rarely did they sweep teams aside.
They did, however, prove to be a massively difficult team to play against. They press hard when they don’t have the ball and once you lose it to them, it is hugely difficult to get it back. Spain made more successful passes in a World Cup than any team since 1966
This is a golden generation of Spanish players and the likes of Fabregas and Torres would walk into any other side in the world. The strength of the Spanish bench may have just pushed them over the line in the end. Torres clipped a ball across the box which eventually found Fabregas who, in turn, fed Iniesta to finish emphatically.
However, for all the Spanish craft in the middle of the pitch, it was their defence which was the foundation of this victory. The majority of their wins were 1-0 and they only conceded two goals in the whole tournament. They were also the lowest scoring team ever to win a World Cup.
The Dutch can be proud of their tournament but ultimately fell at the final hurdle as in ’74 and ’78. They are being widely lambasted for their tactics as they sought to get amongst the Spanish midfield and it was inevitable really that someone would be sent off at some point. They had their chances but the better team won.
Looking back
In reflection it was quite a peculiar World Cup. An octopus named Paul predicted correct scores, people spent much of the games blowing giant horns and New Zealand were the only unbeaten team. We have had strange World Cups in the past but this one takes the biscuit. It was a fluctuating tournament which contained the good, the bad and the ugly.
It too will probably go down as the tournament which finally spelt the beginning of goal line technology in football. Numerous blatant blunders were made by officials and Fifa now say goal line technology will be in effect within twelve months. It really should have been introduced long before the tournament but at least now it is high on Fifa’s agenda.
It looked for all the money in the early stages that this World Cup would be dominated by the South Americans as Brazil and Argentina cruised through the early rounds in style. However this proved hugely wide of the mark as we finished with a European 1-2-3. The Germans provided the two most exceptional performances in their hammerings of England and Argentina. This team will be a major force in upcoming major championships.
The greatest disappointment was England who had been fancied coming into the tournament. They simply never got going and looked lost for the majority of the championship. Their big players didn’t perform and the team didn’t get out of the blocks, culminating in a demolition by the Germans.
Ultimately, it was a world cup I enjoyed although it was definitely flawed in places. After a slow start, it came to life in the knockout stages but delivered a poor final. This Spanish were the best passing footballing team and in some ways their win was a victory for football itself.
Spain are now the European and World champions. You can’t argue with that and this golden generation is having a golden era. The wait begins now for Brazil 2014. No vuvezelas please.
Team of the Tournament: 3-5-2 Casillas, Maicon, Lucio, Puyol, Schweinsteiger, Iniesta, Xavi, Sneijder, Muller, Forlan, Villa.
Goal of the Tournament: Van Bronkhorst
Best Player: Diego Forlan
Biggest Disappointment: England
Biggest Surprise: Uruguay
Biggest Shambles: France
Unluckiest Team: Ghana