Hello everybody, I am Alex Gendler Smith and I am here to take you through the 2010 World Cup Final at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa. After losing their first game at the tournament, Spain have had a tough journey to the final, winning all knockout games 1-0. The Netherlands have won every game at the tournament, most notably beating Brazil in the quarter finals.
Englishman Howard Webb will referee the final, with the attendance expected to be over 84,000.
Lineups
Netherlands: Maarten Steklenburg, Gregory van der Wiel, Johnyy Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni van Bronkhurst, Mark van Bommel, Nigel de Jong, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie.
Subs: Sander Boschker, Michel Vorm, Andre Ooijer, Edson Braafheid, Khalid Boulahrouz, Rafael van der Vaart, Ibrahim Afellay, Demy de Zeeuw, Stijn Schaars, Eljero Elia, Ryan Babel, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
Spain: Iker Casillas (C), Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquests, Pedro, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Villa.
Subs: Pepe Reina, Victor Valdes, Carlos Marchena, Jesus Navas, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa, Javi Martinez, Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Fernando Llorente.
KICKOFF
1′ Here. We. Go.
5′ First chance of the World Cup final falls to Sergio Ramos, whose header is saved by Maarten Steklenburg in goal.
12′ Side Netting! Spain have another chance and a ferocious volley from David Villa smashes into the side netting.
15′ 🟨 Robin Van Persie is booked for late tackle on Joan Capdevila.
17′ 🟨 Carles Puyol is now in the book aswell, this time he’s gone through the back of Arjen Robben
22′ 🟨 Make that a third booking of the night, as Mark van Bommel mistimes a challenge. All the players are playing up to the occasion.
23′ 🟨 With all these bookings Ramos felt left out…
28′ 🟨 Incredibly, this one is only yellow. Nigel de Jong has just karate kicked Alonso. Yes, karate kicked.
Embed from Getty Images38′ Pedro drags a shot wide, Steklenburg was left stranded in net.
45′ Two additional minutes
46′ Robben has just forces Iker Casillas into a save. He’s cut in from the right and smashed a left footed strike, which Casillas gets down to.
HALF TIME – Netherlands 0-0 Spain
A first half of little chances, but all the action. Five first half bookings. Spain have dominated the ball but failed to make any clear cut chances, with Netherlands looking dangerous on the break. 45 minutes left where somebody could become the hero, or villain.
46′ Second half kicks off.
54′ 🟨 Giovanni van Bronckhorst is booked for tripping up Ramos.
57′ 🟨 ANOTHER Netherlands card, Johnny Heitinga mistiming a challenge.
60′ Jesus Navas comes on for Pedro.
60′ Van Persie’s header goes over the bar.
63′ THAT WAS THE MOMENT. Robben was through on goal, but Casillas’s foot puts the ball wide, he might regret that one come the end of tonight.
67′ 🟨 Capdevila is booked for tripping up van Persie. He might see that one as a good booking to take.
69′ Heitinga has just made one of the best blocks I think I have ever seen. He’s made the mistake originally and mistimed his clearance from the cross, the ball falls to Villa who’s goal-bound shot it blocked by Heitinga whilst he is on the floor. WOW
71′ Eljero Elia is entering the pitch, bringing Dirk Kuyt’s night to an end.
77′ Ramos has a free header just six yards out but misses the target completely.
84′ 🟨 Robben has now been booked for arguing.
87′ Xabi Alonso’s night is over, Cesc Fabregas’s has begun.
FULL TIME – Netherlands 0-0 Spain
Here we go, the 2010 World Cup is coming down to extra time, another 30 minutes to decide the kings of the world, or maybe even the dreaded penalties to decide it all?
91′ Extra time begins.
95′ Steklenburg is keeping Netherlands in this final, now saving a Fabregas shot, which in all fairness should have been a goal.
96′ Casillas comes out for the corner and is nowhere near the ball and van Bommel’s header is goes over the bar.
99′ Rafael van der Vaart comes on for De Jong, who’s night should have ended after 28 minutes.
105′ Edson Braafheid comes on for van Bronckhorst.
Extra-Time Half Time – Netherland 0-0 Spain
106′ As the second half kicks off, Fernando Torres is brought on for Villa.
🟥 RED CARD – JOHNNY HEITINGA
109′ Heitinga is off for a second yellow card, after holding back Andres Iniesta on the edge of the box, who may have even been through on goal.
111′ 🟨 Gregory van der Weil has been shown a yellow card for a foul by the touchline.
GOAL – Netherlands 0-1 SPAIN
116′ INIESTA THE HERO. He may have just won Spain the World Cup. Fabregas has found Iniesta and with one touch to set himself up, and one to volley it into the corner, Iniesta has given Spain a priceless lead.
Embed from Getty Images117′ 🟨 Joris Mathijsen has been booked.
118′ 🟨 Iniesta booked for taking top off celebrating what could be the winner. He won’t care.
120′ 🟨 Xavi booked for time wasting.
FULL TIME – Netherlands 0-1 Spain
Spain are champions of the world thanks to a 116th minute winner from Iniesta. Netherlands fought hard, and it showed with their aggressiveness and the bookings which were picked up. Perhaps Dutch fans will be wondering if they could have taken the game to penalties if Heitinga was not sent off seven minutes before the winner, but this night belongs to Spain. The Spanish will celebrate long into the night, as the are World Cup winners.
Embed from Getty ImagesThanks for joining me for the 2010 World Cup Final.
