So, the finals were won by Spain.
Holland played a horrible game, hoping to win by fouling and injuring their opposition. Spain though kept their cool (which Brazil could not), and overcame the Kung-fu Dutchmen by continuing to play their own game, lots of passes, and creating opportunities in lyrics.
Although the score ended up being just 1-0 (not too many goals were expected anyway), and Spain have scored just 8 goals in their 7-game tournament play, they still will be remembered at how beautiful their overall game was through out the tournament.
The final game itself was, as mentioned, marred by a lot of trips and fouls. The game stopped as much as a Basketball game does. 12 yellow cards were shown, with one second yellow leading to a Red for Holland's John Heitinga. Even though Nigel de Jong landed a karate-kick straight to the chest of Xabi Alonso early in the first half, he got away with just a yellow card.
The game also saw Torres & Fabregas make appearences in the dying minutes, with especially Fabregas' coming-in charging up the Spain team further. It eventually took an extra-time goal by Iniesta (116
th minute) to secure Spain the win, and the World Cup.
It brought to end the month-long festivities of football, but the finale left a lot to be desired, especially after the 3rd-place game providing for one of the best matches of the tournament just an evening earlier (Germany won that).
