Spain take 2010 World Cup title after 1-0 extra-time win over Netherlands

Spain are world champions of football after they beat the Netherlands 1-0 late into extra-time at Soccer City Stadium in South Africa on Monday.

In a game marred by some very ordinary tackles in the first half from the Dutch and some very lenient refereeing as well, it was Spain who had the ascendancy earlier but the Netherlands were very keen to make their presence felt.

Spain celebrate!

Referee Howard Webb had an ordinary night and gave out 4 yellow cards in the first-half and 9 for the remainder of the match with one red card to Johnny Heitinga late into the match.

Webb let the Dutch get away with some unsporting tactics designed to nullify the Spanish and a firmer hand earlier in the game would have brought players into line for the rest of the match.

The Dutch should have won the game in the second half when Arjen Robben had a gilt edged chance to score when he was too quick for Spain’s defence and found himself with only the keeper to beat, but his shot was parried away by the foot of Casillas for Spain.

With the game Nil-all at the end of 90 minutes the match went into extra-time where both sides had chances to win.

With Heitinga sent off at the 110th minute for a professional foul it meant the Netherlands had to defend with only 10 men for the rest of the match.

The Dutch went ape droppings inside the last 10 minutes when a certain corner was awarded as a goal kick by the referee and before the Netherlands knew it they would be a goal down.

Spain went on the offensive at the 116th minute and a Fabregas pass found its way to Andres Iniesta who cooly slotted the ball home past Dutch keeper Stekelenburg into the back of the net and victory was almost assured.

Dutch players were still protesting after the goal with more yellow cards the order of the day and Ref Howard Webb would have been pretty happy to blow the whistle in the end to restore some sanity.

Spain ran out worthy winners 1-0 and claimed their first ever World Cup Final trophy while the Netherlands were relegated to runners-up for the third time in as many attempts.

Far from a classic match but the final stanza made up for it and Spain ran out deserved winners.