Salute SPAIN...World Cup 2010 CHAMPION !

Spain is the new 2010 WORLD CUP Champion after beating Holland 1 -0 in extra time.
The full time game ended in a 0 - 0 scoreless draw...that went into 30 minutes of extra time.

In the 2nd half of E T, Heitinga the Dutch defender was given the red card and not long after that Andre Iniesta showed sublime control on receiving a pass before half-volleying into goal.
Holland deserved to lose totally as they adopted the "thugs" approach to good football. There was very little that was positive in their play and within a short while, mainly Dutch players were accumulating yellow card one after another.

This team, in my opinion, is a total disgrace to the beautiful football that exuded from the Dutch master class of 1974 and 1978. I was mesmerised by the exquisite quality of Johann Cruff and company. They were better than all the teams that were playing back then...sheer class!
Not this group of thuggish players this morning...Van Bommel, Heitinga, Van Persie, Bronkhurst etc.. . They were simply awful.

It was probably the worst game of the entire W Cup as a model for young people watching.
That Iniesta scored and ended the night of misery for the Dutch was totally deserving.
Howard Webb showed too much patience. I think he was reluctant to produce the Red card in normal regulation time even though at least 2 or 3 players deserved to be sent off.
Heitinga's sending off was inevitable...something had to give.
It was the nail in the final coffin.
The Dutch had shot themselves in the foot and even with about 10 minutes left, I knew it was more than sufficient time for Octopus Paul to work some magic in the minds of the Spanish players.

Was it psychic fate at work?

Paul the Octopus will now enter the book of living legends. I won't be surprised if he and his team of caretakers at Sealife Aquarium, Oberhausen would be invited ( all expenses paid) to the Spanish capital and publicly recognised and celebrated.
He needs to be extra protected by Dutch football assasins. The Germans will exonerate him as he helped them to 3rd place.

As for Mani the bird and his owner...I'm certain that many of those who have paid Mr M for his " fortune telling" services will have much to say in coming days ( if they are not too embarassed to say it ).

Here are some superb pictures from the Final.
[ Credit source: Huffington Post ]

The World Cup Final hero...Andre Iniesta

Iniesta scoring the only winning goal for Spain

He got a yellow card for this but he will remember this day forever!

And millions of Spanish too!

The winning goal!

Joy everywhere in Spain

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Iniesta...you are our hero! The team too!

But unk Dicko say don't forget to thank Octopus Paul, huh.