Sitting down to the World Cup Final, we can’t help but worry that it could be a bit of a stalemate. After some of the less than exciting games we’ve seen this year, some of which included both of these teams, and given what is at stake, caution might have been the tale of the night. Thankfully though, this wasn’t the case, though perhaps not in the way we’d have expected.

In one of the most aggressive World Cup Finals we’ll probably see, Holland had a clear game-plan which involved intimidating the Spanish with tackles which could, and most likely, should have seen them finish the game with 2 or maybe 3 players already in the changing room!

Despite the robust challenges facing the Spanish team, they stuck well to their task, and were on the front foot in the opening exchanges. , forcing the first save of the match after 5 minutes, when Sergio Ramos aimed a fine header to the far right corner of the goal.

The first card of the game came after 15 minutes, and went to Van Persie for a poor challenge on Capdevila, followed quickly with a yellow for Puyol. Over the next 20 minutes or so the game become more about the referee than the players, as Howard Webb was forced in to dishing out a further 3 yellow cards, to of which could easily have been red.

Mark van Bommel’s challenge on Iniesta was more than worthy of a red card, as he slid in and caught the Spaniard mid shin on his standing foot. And then De Jong turned Kick-boxer for a shocking chest high kick on Xavi Alonso, which the players has since revealed has broken a rib.

Spain seemed to be knocked off their stride for the first time and Holland, through Robben, began to look dangerous on the wing.

A bright start to the Second Half.

The second half started brightly for both teams; Puyol connected again from a corner but Capdevila couldn’t send it goal bound, while at the other end, Robben had the chance of the game. Send through by a fantastic ball from Sneijder, Robben waited for Casillas to move, but failed to chip over the Spain goalkeeper who stuck out a foot at the perfect moment to send the ball wide.

The game continued at a higher pace than in the first half, and the next talking point again came from Robben, as he raced through the middle of the defence, beating Puyol who almost brought the Dutch player down, he was once again thwarted by Casillas. Realising his chance was gone, he ran at Howard Webb to protest at not being awarded a free-kick, but in fairness, he rode the challenge, took another touch and then shot against Casillas, so advantage had been well played.

Fabregas was put in for Spain with just four minutes to go, as Del Bosque obviously had ideas on the period of Extra Time, and so it was to be as the 90 minutes came and went without a goal.

Into Extra-Time.

Extra-Time saw both teams try to grab the win and settle nerves, as chances came for both teams in the opening period. Xavi thought he won a penalty after being brought down, but Webb decided it was he who kicked Heitinga to trip himself. This was quickly followed by a chance for Fabregas who had the whole goal to aim at, but struck the ball at the German keeper’s feet.

Holland then had their own chances in extra-time as Mathijsen rose to head at an open goal, but the shot sailed over.

The winning goal came after Holland lost Heitinga for a second yellow card offence. Fabregas slipped a fantastic ball through to Iniesta on the right hand side of the box. One touch set the ball up for a fantastic cross-goal volley which defeated the palm of Stekelenburg to send the Spanish fans wild. Holland gave up at this point and the win was sealed for the European and now World Champions of football.