Spain crowned World Cup champs
12 July 2010
A late goal by Andres Inestia ensured the first ever World Cup title for Spain as the La Roja battled it out with the Netherlands in the final of Africa's first ever Fifa World Cup in Johannesburg on Sunday night.
It took an extra 15 minutes for the more than 84 000 spectators at Soccer City stadium to see the only goal of the match, as both teams failed to find the back of the net in the normal 90 minutes of play.
After a goalless first half, the Netherlands looked set to get their opener but, despite being one-on-one with the goalkeeper, striker Arjen Robben failed to convert.
With coach Bert van Marwijk sticking to the same tactical line-up he had used to eliminate the Uruguayans in the semi-final, the encounter was dominated by yellow cards, with a total of 12 players having been cautioned by the end of the 90th minute.
Nigel De Jong was lucky to get away with just a booking despite a serious attack on Spain's Xabi Alonso shortly before halftime. Netherlands striker Robin Van Persie was the first to go on referee Howard Webb's books after he picked up an early yellow card following an attack on defender Joan Capdevilla.
A promising Spain won an early free-kick in the first half after Sergio Ramos was brought down outside the 18-yard area, but Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg pulled out a fine save from close range to deny the Spanish their opener.
The La Roja were a better side throughout the game, constantly exposing the soft Netherlands defence.
Spain intensified their attack as the Netherlands was reduce to 10 men in the 112th minute, after defender John Heitinga picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Andres Iniesta just outside the box.
The victory makes Spain the only European side to have won the World Cup outside Europe.
Spain has now moved to the top of the Fifa rankings after Italy and Brazil dominated the coveted spot for a very long time.
