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ANDRES INIESTA PUSHES SPAIN TO WORLD CUP GLORY
After seemingly an endless wait, Spain's unyielding
love for the "beautiful game" was quenched as the La Furia Roja
claimed the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands at Johannesburg's
Soccer City Stadium. The victory, the Spaniards first world championship,
comes on the heels of the 2008 Euro title, making them the first nation
to do so since West Germany in 1974 and further solidifies their superiority
in the game with their flowing, elegant and passion fuelled style.
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Spain's Andres Iniesta celebrates his goal
during the 2010 World Cup final soccer match against Netherlands
Photo REUTERS
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Vicente del Bosque's tactical plan, a perfect marriage of
honourable iron-clad defending with a delicate passing game that will
be hailed for decades to come, embraced its heritage and weaved its magic
through the tournament with unique mix of humility, confidence, whilst
always playing as unit. After their opening match stumble to the Swiss,
with many fearful they would not advance past the group stage, Spain hunkered
down and without panic, worked its way through the competition with aplomb.
Continuing where the Luis Aragones-era left off with the 2008 Euro championship,
Vicente del Bosque took the match with their customary styling. Though
the Netherlands, who boasted an unbeaten run of fourteen matches, tried
to unnerve the Spaniards with the hardest of challenges that resulted
in seven yellow-cards and twenty-eight fouls, they failed to break through
the goal of Iker Casillas or the spirit of La Furia Roja.
From the opening-whistle, Vicente del Bosque's men showed their panache
as five minutes into the affair Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg stretched
out fully to stop a Sergio Ramos header from Xavi's free-kick in from
the right. The Real Madrid man, Sergio Ramos, continued to flourish as
five minutes later his effort was pushed to safety by John Heitinga. Still
pressuring, moments later the 84,000 hushed as David Villa's volley of
Xabi Alonso's provision flew into the side netting as Spain showed today
was their day. The Dutch side's response was a curious over physical play
with a number of challenges forcing match day referee Howard Webb into
tough decisions. The adjudicator, no stranger to controversy in the past,
did well not to take the match in his own hand's as a number of challenges
in a lesser stage would have likely seen an immediate expulsion. For much
of the remaining time through the break, chances were sparse but just
as added-time commenced, Iker Casillas foiled Arjen Robben, a result that
would echo later in the match.
After the break, play began to open up with the Spaniard tactician summoning
Sevilla's Jesus Navas in for Pedro at the hour. Moments later the Oranje
squandered a gifted chance as from just his side of the circle Wesley
Sneijder sent a perfect long ball for Arjen Robben, who broke clear in
on Iker Casillas, only to see his left-footed effort blocked by the trailing
leg of the keeper. Eight minutes later the new arrival nearly had a hand
on breaking the deadlock as his cross fell to David Villa but the Barcelona
sniper saw his effort blocked at the last instant. At the seventy-first
minute, Dutch manager Bert van Marwijk injected fresh legs with Eljero
Elia coming in for Dirk Kuyt but the impact was modest. For Bayern Munchen's
Arjen Robben his frustration began to boil as after getting past Carles
Puyol, the Spanish keeper further solidified why he is considered by many
as the best in the game today with a high pressure stop. Three minutes
shy of regulation time, Vicente del Bosque called in Cesc Fabregas for
Xabi Alonso, with Spain finding a second wind in extra-time.
Spain started smartly in extra-time with a series of threatening efforts
that kept the football world on the edge of their seats. A close range
chance by striker extraordinaire David Villa deflected wide before Cesc
Fabregas saw his effort stopped by Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Sixteen minutes into extra-time, Fernando Torres came in for David Villa
and four minutes later, John Heitinga was sent off with his second yellow-card
for clawing back on Andres Iniesta, forcing the Netherlands to play with
ten men. Though the twenty-six year-old Barcelona man was frustrated with
the transgression, with four minutes remaining he forever linked his name
as a legend in Spain as Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres linked up to
provide him the ball before he triumphantly drove it through the mitts
of Maarten Stekelenburg and into the far corner for the winning margin.
In remaining time, the Dutch fought for the need leveller but with an
all-out display of demand Spanish hearts filled with the victory.
As Spain was crowned Campeones del mundo and the streets of Madrid, Barcelona
and all across the beautiful country erupted in celebration, so too did
fans who appreciate the purity of the beautiful game. Espana, that has
given the world so much with its rich culture and arts, succeeded on the
sports highest stage, not because of the work of individuals but a united
effort within a graceful, flowing style. This will forever be the Spain's
victory but it will equally stand guard for those who appreciate and understand
the beauty of the beautiful game.
Sport
Express Daily, 12 July 2010
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