Andres Iniesta scored deep into the extra time as Spain beat Holland 1-0 and won the World Cup for the first time in the history. The Barcelona midfielder pinned the ball home from close range after a deft through pass from substitute Cesc Fabregas in the 116th minute. Holland finished the game with ten players after John Heitinga was dismissed due to receiving a second yellow card. Spain added the World Cup to the EURO title they won two years ago in Austria and Switzerland. They became the third team to accomplish the feat after Germany and France. Holland, on the other hand, failed to seize the gold despite reaching the final for the third time in history. They lost to Germany in 1974 and to Argentina in 1978. Referee Howard Webb, the first Englishman to officiate the final since 1974, handed up 14 yellow cards, including Heitinga's double which resulted in a red card. Violent Start Sergio Ramos sparkled in the first few minutes of the game as he made darting runs down the right flank, forcing Dirk Kuyt to drag back. The Real Madrid full-back had the first chance in the fifth minute when he rose above the Dutch defenders to head a Xavi cross but Holland keeper Maarten Stekelenburg parried it away.
Iniesta after the winner Ramos then penetrated the box in the 11th minute before crossing on the floor only for his ball to be cleared. Spain looked comfortable defensively, as Robin van Persie's sluggish performance continued and Kuyt firing only one shot that went into the grateful hands of Iker Casillas. The European champions dominated possession in midfield thanks to Xavi's inch-perfect passing, although it didn't avoid David Villa falling into the offside trap three times. Webb produced players from both teams five yellow cards in the first period, with Holland collecting three. But the most controversial caution was received by Nigel De Jong in the 28th minute after a 'karate tackle' on Xabi Alonso. Spain players protested, demanding a red card that TV replays proved it could have been the right decision. Shocking Misses Joan Capdevila could have put Spain ahead just three minutes into the second-half, when Carles Puyol's header fell into his path but the left-back missed from close range. Though, Capdevila's try couldn't be compared to two shocking misses from Arjen Robben and Villa.
Villa's miss In the 62nd minute, Wesley Sneijder released Robben with a silky pass and the Dutch winger went one-on-one with Casillas. As he was advancing towards the box, it looked as if Robben was hesitant over where to send the ball till he placed it to Casillas right. And despite Casillas' dive to the left, he managed to block it with his foot. Villa's chance followed seven minutes later as he scuffed a loose ball only five meters from the goal-line. Still, Villa, who scored five times in the tournament, shot at Heitinga, who stretched to block the ball. By then the yellow cards tally went up to eight and Iniesta looked on his way to receive his marching orders in the 80th minute after a challenge off the ball on Mark van Bommel. Spanish Domination Rafael Van der Vaart was introduced for De Jong but it proved a disastrous decision as Spain became totally in charge in the extra time, missing at least three golden opportunities in the third quarter. It started with Fabregas in the fifth minute when he shot at the foot of Stekelenburg with the goal at his mercy. Iniesta followed as he re-acted too slow inside the box, allowing the Dutch defense to clear the ball then Jesus Navas fired wide. Holland were hoping to push the game to a shootout but Iniesta capitalized on a Fabregas pass and sent the ball into the far post despite a desperate attempt from Stekelenburg. The Dutch team protested the goal, demanding an offside but TV replays proved Iniesta's goal was legitimate.
