Spain wins the World Cup!
This Sunday Spain has finally made the miracle, and ended this World Cup with a well deserved win over Holland, that proved a very tough opponent.
South Africa was a wonderful host, and this last game in Johannesburg was the perfect ending for a great event. Over 15 heads of state attended the match including Queen Sofia of Spain, and the prime minister of Holland Jan Peter Balkenende. Also in attending were Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, tennis star Rafael Nadal and from South Africa actress Charlize Theron. Last but not least, Morgan Freeman was probably delighted to be there, after portraying the great Nelson Mandela in the movie Invictus.
However this final game itself was a bit disappointing, mainly because instead of fair play the Dutch got desperate, and did not play their fantastic “total football” but frequently resorted to very aggressive fouls that frequently made the game look like a Martial Arts fight instead of a football final. Fortunately refereeing was solid, and eventually things did calm down a bit, but the game was slow, the Spanish dominated, but the Dutch had several good counter attacks that proved dangerous.
Three people proved fundamental for Spain’s victory: Vicente Del Bosque the coach whose strategy proved decisive, he stopped Holland from playing their game, and created a team that was almost unstoppable. Iker Casillas who as goalkeeper and captain motivated the team and saved several shots that could have been goals for Holland, and finally Andrés Iniesta who in spite of being fouled multiple times, never stopped trying, and on the 116th. minute scored a beautiful goal.
Spain’s win, is a win for football, not only because they were playing better, but because they chose to honor fair play, to remind us all that “el juego bonito” the beautiful game, is the right way forward. They never gave up, they did not became disillusioned in spite of an elusive goal, and a relentless opponent, instead they just pressed on, believing that the final goal would come any minute, they persevered and reaped the rewards: Spain won!
Bravo Spain! ¡Viva España!
Photo Credits: ABC España
News Sources: Miami Herald, Clarin, ABC España.
