Grab Worlcup 2010 |
Spain CelebratinG |
Spain Player |
SPAIN |
Sapin Dominate |
Celebrating |
Spain Celebrating After A WorldCup 2010 Victory |
Spain Celebrating |
With Extra Time Goal Spain Celebrating A Victory |
12th Jul, 2010 JOHANNESBURG: Francesc Fabregas of Spain kisses the World Cup after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
Germany edge Uruguay to claim third place
Spain make maiden World Cup final
Viva Espana! Spain euphoric at semi-final win
Netherlands beat Uruguay in World Cup semi
Portugal out: Villa strike puts Spain into quarter-finals
Japan lose to Paraguay in shootout
Brazil defeat Chile 3-0, face Dutch in last eight
Dutch advance after victory over Slovakia
Tevez double puts Argentina into last eight
Germany thrash England 4-1, reach last eight
With the scoreless match inching toward a penalty shootout, and the Netherlands down to 10 men, Andres Iniesta collected a pass from Cesc Fabregas to fire home from close range and break Dutch hearts four minutes from the final whistle.
It was the first time the European champions had reached a World Cup final and a bitter disappointment for the Netherlands who finished runners-up for the third time after previously losing the 1974 and 1978 finals.
It was also the first triumph by a European side outside their continent.
The result caused agony in the Netherlands and ecstasy in Madrid where fans shed tears of joy and fireworks went off all over the city. More than 10O,000 people had gathered to watch on giant screens and many went hoarse with screams of joy.
In contrast, Dutch cities became deadly silent as their dream of finally winning the trophy evaporated. Some 180,000 fans trudged away quietly from Amsterdam`s museum square.
The game was far from the classic final to Africa`s first World Cup that many had hoped for from the two most impressive teams in the tournament.
Spain looked dominant for long passages but a ferociously physical Netherlands broke up their rhythm and their renowned precision passing in midfield, often reducing the game to a sterile stalemate.