World Cup Final 2010: Holland 0-1 Spain - Iniesta Ends Years Of Underachievement

Spain becomes the eighth different team to win the World Cup, after a bruising and battering game in Soccer City on Sunday night.  Barcelona playmaker Andreas Iniesta was the difference, settling the outcome with Holland when we looked set for another final to be decided via the cruel fashion of penalties.

On paper, this match had the ingredients to be an absolute classic.  Holland, despite lacking the former ‘Total Football,’ guise, were playing well and in players like Arjen Robben and Wesley Snejider, the quality to turn a game on its head, just ask Brazil.  Spain turned up as slight favourites, and could also turn on the style when required, but also have the ability to grind out a result, should it be required.  Sadly, the billing didn’t live up to its occasion. 

Early on, it was the Spanish who produced the early pressing, with Maarten Stelkenberg forced into a smart save from a Sergio Ramos header.  Soon afterwards, the game transcended into a wrestling contest.  The Dutch took the ‘1990 Argentina’ approach, kick the living daylights out of your opponents and hope for the best.  English referee Howard Webb struggled to keep a complete control on events, slightly flustered it seemed, by having to dish out five yellow cards in fifteen mad minutes.  Mark Van Bommel was a disgrace all night, bickering with every single decision that Webb made, and as the game wore on, the Dutch started to drag their opponents into a wrestling contest.  Shortly before half-time, Nigel de Jong, Manchester City’s defensive shield, produced a shocking ‘kung-fu’ kick on ex-Liverpool man Xabi Alonso.  Webb tried desperately to not send anyone off, but how de Jong escaped with a challenge that frankly, is more associated with a cage fighting battle, is beyond me. 

In the second half, Snejider, involved in the general fracas, produced a moment of quality; with a measured pass which Gerard Pique made a meal of it.  Consequently, Robben was in the clear, with the whites of the goalposts beckoning.  Unfortunately, his shot was saved by Iker Casillas, with his legs.  Was that Holland’s golden chance?  During the brutal assaults on players, Ramos missed a golden chance with another header, and David Villa, desperate to score another goal that would win him the golden boot, narrowly missed making contact with a Jesus Navas low cross.  As extra-time beckoned, the yellow card count increased.  Howard Webb eventually showed 14, a new record for the World Cup final.

In extra-time, Robben missed another chance and was promptly booked for dissent, whilst substitute Cesc Fabregas missed a one-on-one.  Before the end of the first period, Johnny Heitinga took out Iniesta cynically and having being booked, Webb had no option, but to send the Everton defender off the field.  In the process, Heitinga joined the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Marcel Desailly in becoming the fifth player in World Cup final history to be dismissed.  With five minutes left, a Dutch free-kick took a double deflection off Fabregas and went behind.  Webb missed the deflection and left Holland incensed.  They then wanted a free-kick for a challenge by Joan Capdevilla on Eljero Elia, which wasn’t given. 

The Spanish went down the other end, and at the second attempt, Fabregas played a lovely ball through to Iniesta, who shook off Gregory Van der Wiel’s attention and stroked the winner past the despairing Stelkenberg.  Although Fernando Torres pulled up in the closing exchanges, with a suspected groin injury, Spain held on for a deserved success.

It was left to captain Iker Casillas to lift the trophy aloft, and ensure that the Spanish are really, the total dominant force in the international game.  They become the first team to win the World Cup, after losing their opening group game, as they did against Switzerland on June 16^th in Durban.  Despite only amassing eight goals in seven games, the Spanish deserve this success because they attempted to play football.  On Sunday, Holland turned the beautiful game into a disgraceful act of foul play, they got what they deserved which was nothing and scathing criticism worldwide.

CONGRATULATIONS SPAIN, ON BECOMING 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP WINNERS.     

World Cup Report - The Semi-Finals

Two more games done, two more left and now, the scene is set, after two mouth-watering and gripping semi-finals.  Whatever happens tomorrow night in Soccer City, we will have a new name on the FIFA World Cup trophy.  Here is a round-up of how Holland and Spain managed to make the final of the greatest show on earth, in midweek.

Tuesday 6^th July: Uruguay 2-3 Holland

Holland reached their first World Cup final in 32 years, after a hard-fought 3-2 win against the surprise package of the tournament, Uruguay in Cape Town.  With the Dutch looking short of ideas infront of goal, they turned to a spectacular long-range effort from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.  The Dutch skipper, who is retiring from international football after these finals, launched a rasping drive from 30 yards out on 19 minutes, which no goalkeeper in the world would stop.  A resolute Uruguay equalised before half-time, when Maarten Stelkenberg failed to deal with a swerving left-foot shot, by Diego Forlan.  With the game looking set for extra-time, the Dutch scored twice in three minutes, to take the game away from their opponents.  First, Wesley Snejider’s 5^th goal of this tournament, which was allowed to stand, despite Robin Van Persie looking like, he was in an offside position.  Moments afterwards, Arjen Robben’s deft header from a Dirk Kuyt cross looked to have settled the outcome.  Despite the absence of Luis Suarez through suspension, Uruguay continued to fight on, and in time added on, Maxi Pereira pulled one back, to ensure a dramatic and nail-biting finish.  However, the Dutch held on to set up an all-European final.  For five goals, this was a cagey semi-final, with moments of magic and some will argue that Holland hasn’t played their most attractive football ever.  However, you don’t reach a World Cup final, having won 6 matches out of 6 by accident.

Wednesday 7^th July: Germany 0-1 Spain

In an intriguing match in Durban, Spain reached their first ever World Cup final, after recording a narrow and probably, surprising win over the tournament favourites, Germany.  After exposing the frailties of the England and Argentina defences, the German counter-attack was tamed to perfection by the well-organised Spanish defence.  By keeping the likes of Meszut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger quiet, service to Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski was rather limited.  Spain had the better chances, and with fifteen minutes remaining, Xavi’s wonderful corner was met by the Barcelona skipper Carlos Puyol.  Puyol, a centre-back by trade and having only scored twice in his distinguished international career before, powered a bullet of a header past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer before he could even see it.  For Germany, this was a step too far for their youngsters, but they will be back and are bound to only get stronger in the years to come.  For Spain, the opportunity to become European and World champions, and become the first side to win the tournament, having lost their first match of the finals, ironically in Durban to Switzerland back on June 16^th.  The stage is set for a fantastic match-up with the Dutch tomorrow night. 

3^RD PLACE PLAYOFF: Uruguay v Germany               

(Port Elizabeth)                                ITV1       Tonight at 7.30pm

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL: Holland v Spain    

(Soccer City, Johannesburg)       ITV1/BBC1           Tomorrow night from 6.30pm (Kick-Off at 7.30pm) 

World Cup Report - Day 16-19

Forty-eight games gone, and so onto the knockout stages at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  Despite the shock elimination of World Champions Italy and 1998 winners, France, the group stages produced the expected final tables, despite some unlikely results.  The competition now begins to take proper shape and it was nice to see most matches, have a real attacking feel to them.  With twenty-two goals in eight matches, that brings encouragement for the latter stages of the competition.  Here is a round-up of the action in the Round of 16. (Germany v England Match Report in separate section: http://happydude88.blogspot.com/2010/06/germany-4-1-england-sorry-england.html)

Saturday 26^th June: Uruguay 2-1 South Korea

Two-time winners Uruguay reached the last eight, for the first time since 1970, after overcoming a resilent South Korea in filthy conditions in Port Elizabeth.  Ajax’s Luis Suarez was the hero for the South Americans, with two strikes.  His stock value has bound to have increased after this performance, with his winner, just ten minutes from time, a spectacular curling effort that is one of the goals of the tournament.  Despite a leveller from Lee Chung-Young, the Koreans dodgy defending cost the 2002 semi-finalists, though they don’t leave the competition in disgrace.

Saturday 26^th June: USA 1-2 Ghana (AET)

Asamoah Gyan smashed home an extra-time winner to seal Ghana’s place in the last eight, at the expense of the United States in Rustenberg.  Kevin Prince-Boateng gave the Black Stars the dream start, drilling a low shot past Tim Howard in the fifth minute.  The Americans converted a penalty, through their golden boy Landon Donovan in the second half.  Just as they looked the stronger, Gyan’s bursting run and stunning hit in the third minute of extra-time was enough to see Ghana become only the third ever African side to reach the last eight of a World Cup finals.

Sunday 27th June: Argentina 3-1 Mexico

On a day of controversy at the World Cup, Diego Maradona’s Argentina needed help from a terrible decision on the way to a comfortable triumph against Mexico.  The game was evenly balanced up to the half-hour mark, when Carlos Tevez headed Argentina infront, despite being yards offside.  The Mexicans were incensed by the decision, especially when the replay was shown on the big screen in Soccer City.  Despite protests, the Italian referee Roberto Rossetti stuck to his decision and from that moment on, Mexico never recovered.  Gonzalo Higuain pounced on a dreadful piece of defending by the recently released Ricardo Osario and Tevez made it three shortly after the interval, with a smashing strike of genuine class.  Despite Javier Hernandez’s deserved consolation, Argentina cantered through into a quarter-final tomorrow with Germany.

Monday 28^th June: Holland 2-1 Slovakia

Holland’s stars came to the fore in Durban, as they achieving an unconvincing, yet deserving victory over Slovakia.  Arjen Robben made his first start of the tournament and on seventeen minutes, collected a long pass from Wesley Snejider and drilled a low shot in from 25 yards out.  Snejider wrapped it up with five minutes to go, finishing off a slick move from Dirk Kuyt’s clever cutback.  Despite several opportunities, Slovakia looked destined not to score, until a foul by goalkeeper Maarten Stelkenberg allowed Robert Vittek the chance to score his 4^th goal of the finals, with the very last kick of the match. 

Monday 28^th June: Brazil 3-0 Chile

Brazil saw off a disappointing Chile at Ellis Park, to set-up a mouth-watering quarter-final with Holland today.  Dunga’s side were always in control, once they scored twice in four minutes, through a header by AS Roma centre-back Juan and then a neat combination of passing by Kaka and Robinho, led to Luis Fabiano doubling the advantage.  A precise finish from Robinho early in the second half, sealed the outcome, with the suspension of three key players costing Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking Chile outfit.  They leave the competition on a downer, but after winning many friends for their spectacular fluidity of play. 

Tuesday 29^th June: Paraguay 0-0 Japan (AET) PARAGUAY WIN 5-3 ON PENALTIES

Paraguay became the fourth South American side to book a place in the last eight, after a perfect penalty success rate against Japan.  Paraguay scored all five of their penalties in the first shootout of the 2010 finals, the final penalty being tucked away by Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo.  Yuichi Komano’s spot kick brushed the crossbar; he was the only failure of the shootout, after quite possibly the most boring match in World Cup history, unsurprisingly ending 0-0 after two stale hours of football.

Tuesday 29^th June: Spain 1-0 Portugal

European champions Spain scraped through into the last eight, getting the edge over a disappointing Portugal in a poor encounter in Cape Town.  With the Portuguese negative tactics not exciting anyone and leaving Cristiano Ronaldo frustrated, and completely out of the action, one goal was enough for the Spanish, coming through new-Barcelona striker David Villa with an hour gone.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Final Review - Jose's Greatest Triumph

The semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League have given the past fortnight plenty of drama and a final, that nobody probably could have predicted way back at the start of the season.  Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan will come face-to-face with Louis Van Gaal’s Bayern Munich in Madrid on May 22^nd.  Whatever happens, either manager will become only the third coach in European Cup history to win the title with two different clubs, (Van Gaal with Ajax in 1995 & Mourinho in 2004 with FC Porto.) 

Mourinho claimed Wednesday night’s aggregate victory over his former employers, Barcelona as his greatest triumph in football history.  It was another piece of tactical masterstroke genius from Mourinho, who outwitted Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea in Round Two, and now has Pepe Guardiola on his winning CV too.  Although Goran Pandev went down with a thigh injury moments before the game, the decision to bring Christian Chivu into the line-up, instead of another attacker was an inspired choice by the Special One.

Carrying a 3-1 lead from the first leg in the San Siro, any attacking hopes at the Nou Camp for the Italians were wiped away by a spectacular piece of playacting from Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets.  His 28^th minute ‘pole axed’ impression got the former Barca midfielder, Thiago Motta sent off, when TV replays suggested Motta only fended Busquets off, rather than elbowed him, as the reaction suggested.  Though Motta should know better for the experience he has of the big occasion, the Brazilian can count himself unlucky.  Following a bust-up involving both benches, plus some choice words between Mourinho and Guardiola, the match settled down into an attack versus defence game of chess. 

Eventually, Barcelona brokethrough with seven minutes to go, when the ex-Manchester United centre-back, Gerard Pique went forward and showed a genuine piece of quality skill that would make the insipid Zlatan Ibrahimovic eat your heart out.  His cool finish gave the Catalans the hope, which nearly turned into reality when Bojan scored in injury-time, only for the goal to be wiped out, courtesy of an earlier handball from Yaya Toure.  At the final whistle, Barcelona sank to their knees, whilst Mourinho ran onto the pitch, with one hand in the air, pointing at the Milan fans in sheer delight.  An ugly confrontation with the Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdes followed, but it was Jose’s night and no-one was going to spoil this moment for him.

Bayern Munich had a much easier time of it, overcoming a timid Lyon outfit 4-0 on aggregate, with an impressive 3-0 success in France on Tuesday night.  Despite overcoming the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid on their way to the last four, Lyon had failed to capture my imagination and their negativity in the first leg in the Allianz Arena was horrifying to see.  Despite Franck Ribery’s crude challenge on Lisandro Lopez, which earned a deserved red card and suspension from the final, Bayern always looked in command and another stunner from Arjen Robben gave them a narrow advantage to take to the Stade de Gerland.  Although Cris’s sending off for the hosts was ridiculous, Munich found this to be comfortable Tuesday night stroll.  Croatian Ivica Olic, who scored two critical goals against Manchester United, clinched a masterful hat-trick to see the Germans progress to their first final in nine years.

For the first time in its seventeen year history, the UEFA Champions League final will be held on a Saturday night, in an effort to win more of a primetime TV audience.  Despite their being no English presence for the first time since 2004, this game could turn into a classic.  Madrid is a wonderful occasion; let’s hope we have a game to remember in three weeks time, between two of the European superpowers, who have had lean spells of late, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.  

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final, 2st Leg Review - Majestic Messi & Bruising Bayern Shine Through

So, that’s it then.  For the first time since 2003, there will be no English representatives in the final four of the UEFA Champions League.  Back then, three Italian sides, plus Real Madrid made the semi-finals.  This time around, we have a diverse range of nations still being represented, by Spain, Italy, France and Germany. 

To be honest, English clubs have been spoilt rotten in Europe of recent times.  We had the 2008 final to ourselves, and in the past four years, have had three semi-finalists from England.  Therefore, that time did had to change, and their can be no excuses either, our sides simply weren’t good enough this season to deliver on Europe’s premier club stage.

Liverpool failed in the group stages, a brief summary of their shambolic season, both domestic and abroad.  Despite making the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League, Rafa Benitez and the players must shoulder the blame for a campaign full of tactical mistakes and defensive cock-ups.  The lack of depth in Chelsea was strongly highlighted by their early departure in the knockout stages.  Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge with a confident Inter side and the Serie A league leaders outmuscled, outfought and outclassed the Blues in two hard-fought contests.

The youngsters of Arsenal have been fairly impressive in Europe this season and if the draw had been a bit kinder to them, they might have had the chance of making it all the way to Madrid.  Unfortunately for Arsene Wenger, his side ran into the unstoppable Barcelona and the unplayable Lionel Messi.  Following a stirring fightback at the Emirates six days earlier, Arsenal supporters would have gone to the Nou Camp thinking of a famous night out, even though it seemed to be in more hope than expectation.  Niklas Bendtner made them believe more by giving the Gunners an early lead, but the majestic Messi quickly wiped out the advantage and soon enough, the Argentine took the game away from the Premiership title challengers.  Messi’s level was outstanding, on another planet from the rest.  He cut Arsenal single-handily to ribbons, reminders to how Maradona was at his age.  The 4-1 final scoreline did Barcelona full justice; they were three goals better and now must believe they are unbeatable on a sublime march to the final.  They will meet Mourinho and Inter in the semis, as they put in a professional performance to seal the job in Moscow against CSKA.  Wesley Snejider’s early free-kick settled the outcome in the freezing sub-zero temperatures.

The other semi-final will see Lyon play in the final four for the first time.  Despite a 1-0 defeat at Bordeaux in the second leg, they gritted it out and held on to a narrow 3-2 aggregate lead.  Sadly, for the Red Devils and the English neutral, Lyon will come up against Bayern Munich, not Manchester United after an breathtaking night of drama at Old Trafford.  The pre-game build-up was all about whether Wayne Rooney would make a surprising return from his ankle injury he picked up in the Allianz Arena the previous week.  He did play and his presence was felt, United charging into a 3-0 lead by 40 minutes, with goals from the young starlet Darren Gibson and a brace from the inconsistent Portuguese winger Nani.  Rooney though was struggling, having picked up an earlier knock and was withdrawn shortly after half-time.  By then, Munich had got back in the match, with Ivica Olic netting just before half-time to give the Bundesliga leaders hope.  With Rooney off, Rafael controversially dismissed for two bookable offences, United were on the ropes and couldn’t hold on.  With sixteen minutes remaining, Franck Ribery’s corner found Arjen Robben and the ex-Chelsea winger hit an unstoppable shot past a despairing Edwin van der Sar.  With it, went United and English hopes in the premier club competition this time around.

Honestly, United haven’t been good enough either to win it this season.  The limped to a home draw with CSKA in the group stages and limped to a shock home loss to Turkish minnows Besiktas.  Although AC Milan went down tamely at the Theatre of Dreams, their valiant effort at the San Siro showed many the cracks in Ferguson’s European campaign and Bayern Munich went on to expose them fully.

It’s a nice blend in the final four and anything is possible, but surely, it will take something special to stop Barcelona on their road to defending their trophy successfully in Madrid.