Spain Beats Netherlands To Win World Cup (HIGHLIGHTS, VIDEO, PHOTOS)

SCROLL DOWN FOR SPAIN-NETHERLANDS HIGHLIGHTS, VIDEO, PHOTOS & MORE. PLUS: Paul the Octopus finishes World Cup with two more perfect picks!

(AP) JOHANNESBURG -- Spain rules the soccer world, winning the World Cup at long, long last. It came after an exhausting 1-0 victory in extra time over the Netherlands on Sunday. Two years after winning the European title, the stylish Spaniards did even better.

This was a physical test of attrition that sometimes turned dirty – a finals-record 13 yellow cards were handed out and the Dutch finished with 10 men. In the end, it was Andres Iniesta breaking free in the penalty area, taking a pass from Cesc Fabregas and putting a right-footed shot from 8 yards just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. [Article continues below.]

WATCH: SPANISH ANNOUNCERS CALL GAME-WINNING GOAL (116th minute):	Netherlands Almost Scores Again (82nd minute):
Spain Nearly Scores (68th minute):	Netherlands Almost Scores (61st minute):

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Spain's Andres Iniesta, center, holds up the World Cup trophy following the World Cup final soccer match between the Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, July 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Spain's Andres Iniesta, center, holds up the World Cup trophy following the World Cup final soccer match between the Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, July 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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For the Dutch and their legions of orange-clad fans wearing everything from jerseys to jumpsuits to clown gear to pajamas, it was yet another crushing disappointment.

Their first World Cup title tantalizingly within reach, they failed in the final for the third time. This one might have been the most bitter because, unlike in 1974 and 1978, the Netherlands was unbeaten not only in this tournament, but in qualifying for the first World Cup staged in South Africa.

Soccer City was soaked in Oranje, from the seats painted in that hue throughout the stadium to pretty much everyone seated in them. Unlike when they lost to hosts West Germany and Argentina in previous finals, the Dutch were something of a home team this time.

The Spaniards, though, were the winners.

They had pockets of supporters, too, to be sure, dressed in red and scattered around the stadium. They might have been the minority, but when the final whistle blew, they were tooting their vuvuzelas loudest in tribute to their champions.

Iniesta tore off his jersey after the goal and raced to the corner where he was mobbed by his teammates. Several Dutch players wiped away tears as they received their medals as runners-up – yet again. They won every qualifying match and all six previous games in South Africa before the bitter ending.

The Netherlands now has more victories in World Cup games without a title than any nation: 19. Spain held that dubious record with 24.

The Spaniards saluted their fans with arms raised high, then lifted their coach, Vicente Del Bosque, in the air in celebration.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas, the captain, accepted the trophy from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, kissed it and raised it for all to see while cameras flashed and confetti flew throughout the still-full stadium.

Soon, the entire team and staff gathered at midfield for a group photo. The players bounced up and down to the World Cup theme song, then took a victory lap as the trophy was passed to each member of the squad.

Comments

[Hambali]

06:50 PM on 07/14/2010

Though Spain won the trophy, I believe the biggest winner of the tournament is South Africa - one of the so-called crime ridden countries on earth. Not so many people, especially in western countries gave SA a chance of success in hosting the biggest event on earth. SA successful hosting of the tournament has indeed silenced many naysayers, and deserves commendation.

I hope we all learn a lesson or two from this.

[jdrourke]

03:42 PM on 07/13/2010

Props to Spain on their much-earned World Cup victory! They overcame a lot, including thug-like tactics from a few Netherland footballers, an early loss, and those darned Vuvuzelas. A good tourney and a good finish to it!

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/adieu-vuvuzela/

[elan4444]

02:13 PM on 07/13/2010

Netherlands disappointed their entire country, and De Jong should be red-carded out of the country. How embarrassing - kicking someone in the chest with you cleats - where the instant replay will be available forever!! And not from some low-level game either, in the beeping World Cup!! Spain, on the other hand, outlasted the thugishness, and couldn't have had a more worthy player make the final goal - the poetic moment that had been anticipated for over 90 minutes. Andres Iniesta, who has trained for this moment since he was 11 years old, earned the right to hoist the Cup for his team and country. Now, there's a replay!!

[WillemPieter Bloed]

09:31 AM on 07/13/2010

Spain deserves to win, the netherlands has to much lowsy supporters, my german friend got threatened becouse she had a german flag hanging in front of the window, she had to take it away or they'd throw the windows in

[Iker Gernika]

11:52 AM on 07/13/2010

I expected more from Holland, it was so painfull to see the legate of the 74 and 78 Dutch selections trashed away from these ... ¿martial arts masters? What a pity for a great football country like The Netherlands, where dide they leave the fair play?
Germany vs Spain was beautifull to see! Kudos to both temas for that match

[masha2009]

01:10 AM on 07/13/2010

at 27m dutch shouldve been playing with 8 players

van persie (1m, 14m)
van bommel (21m, 24m)
de jong (27m)

should have all been red carded at this point.

game over.

[Viva Madrid]

12:50 AM on 07/13/2010

Excellent post
http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/07/11/spains-victory-should-be-greeted-with-relief-after-hollands-sh/

[Tony Owusu]

01:01 AM on 07/13/2010

Holland wanted to beat Spain in the same manner that Inter Milan got by Barcelona in the Champions League Semifinal. Only they went waaaaay overboard. Someone today mentioned the last time they saw anything like that was when Portugal thugged out Brasil in 1966 by kicking Pele all over the place. The Dutch sportsmanship was also poor. When a team kicks the ball out of play so a teammate can get treatment you don't return it back to them by shooting it at goal or directing it deep into their own corner like what Van Bommel did..that was pathetic.

[masha2009]

01:45 AM on 07/13/2010

van bommel's a na sty piece of work.

[Ayse]

03:19 PM on 07/13/2010

yeas indeed a great post.

[masha2009]

12:44 AM on 07/13/2010

van persie shouldve been out in the 14m. 2 flagrant fouls committed:

1st m vs busquets
14th m vs capdevila

just goes to show you that ned's game plan is not to score goals when their striker is bent on making flagrant tackles instead of concentrating on scoring goals.

[Tony Owusu]

12:41 AM on 07/13/2010

Can't believe the Dutch are now blaming there for their loss. They should be thankfull to him. They should have had two red cards in the first half easily from De Jongs..This is Sparta leaping kick and Mark the BUTCHER Van Bomell running aound hacking Spaniards likea maniac.

[elan4444]

02:18 PM on 07/13/2010

But seriously, the result was sweet - and now all that great Netherlands play is on file for anyone who wants to see how this game should NOT be played. They are boring and inept, we could get people from the WWE to do all that they did. Please, orange ones, get some skills and actually play futbol the next time.

[masha2009]

12:40 AM on 07/13/2010

watching the replay of final

1m van persie shouldve gotten 1st yc of the game when he hooked the knee of sergio busquets.

14m van persie gets his 1st yellow card when he fouled capdevila

no diving or flagrant fouls from the spaniards.

so at 14th minute, the dutch should have been playing with 10 men.

so you shoulda-woulda-coulda guys and you spain-is-also-dirty guys should just start from there when you make your so-called "fair" analysis.

[Fulhamforever]

11:29 PM on 07/12/2010

Karate Kid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAE3cbjbCNc

[Layman23]

07:29 PM on 07/12/2010

The dutch figured out, its hard to outwit spain by playing soccer. So they tried a combination of UFC and Kung-Fu.

Referee Webb had one heck of a time. Only reason the Kung-fu kick was not deemed a red card was because it was the finals and the whole world was watching it. Sending one man home early would have made the game one sided before second half.

That being said, Spain worked its way slowly. They also have lot of tactics. Notice how they tire the opponents for the major portion of the game and then score at the last minute so they wont have enough time to comeback?

Bommel and De Jong have great careers ahead of them in movies or mafia. While the rest of the world ponders if Spain has forever changed the game in favor or tactics than goals.

[apartoflife]

03:20 PM on 07/12/2010

Congrats Spain! Happy to see you win one! Hard Faught win that's for sure. The dutch unfortunately degrated to drity playing. Some of those yellow cards should have been red like that nasty kick to the chest. Reminded me of Zidane head butt a few years back.

[Christophe]

03:36 PM on 07/12/2010

The WC final is a mind game. The Dutch lost that mind game yesterday just like the French (or more specifically Zidane) lost in 2006.

[elan4444]

02:19 PM on 07/13/2010

I can't believe France still loves Zidane - the cup was theirs! And he lets the Italians' remark about his sister get to him? Not forgiving.

[Viva Madrid]

03:05 PM on 07/12/2010

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8812484.stm

[Ayse]

03:53 PM on 07/12/2010

Cruyff was one of soccer idols growing up. he had every qualities of how the best soccer player should be. he is still a fair person obviously. these dutch guys should learn some from him. obviously they did not watch his games much...

[Benblanken]

02:45 PM on 07/12/2010

I once sat through a White Sox-Wash Senators 22 inning game. This one was even duller.

[Ayse]

03:01 PM on 07/12/2010

i like this.

[YeahAnd]

03:11 PM on 07/12/2010

We don't care!!!

[masha2009]

02:38 PM on 07/12/2010

dutch crybabies. shoulda woulda coulda. i've seen corners not given before when a deflection was not seen by an official. nobody else complains. they complained and they didnt help their defenders, so this happened.

plus, they should have been playing with 9 men before the first half ended. the referee gave them a gift of life to extra time by not calling all their flagrant fouls.

they should count themselves lucky.

[Said One]

04:17 PM on 07/12/2010

The ref clearly was taken in by all the theatrics from Spain, not that the Dutch were innocent but Spain clearly knew how to make the most of minimal contact. I was convinced they were mortally injured everytime they went down, only to see miraculous recoveries one they got their way

[boxiana]

06:00 PM on 07/12/2010

Oh yeah... here is the Oscar winning performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAE3cbjbCNc
You are the crybaby.

[tercio]

07:39 PM on 07/12/2010

Dude, it's called Yoko Tobi Geri. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrWLiZjfMVg&NR=1 However, if you still think you can win a World Cup acting and diving, it shows a very poor comprehension of the game. Now, seriously, how long have you been watching soccer?