加时绝杀！西班牙胜荷兰首度夺冠

爱思英语编者按：北京时间今天凌晨2点30分，南非世界杯决赛在约翰内斯堡的足球城球场进行，对阵双方是无冕之王荷兰和欧洲冠军西班牙。上半场荷兰以踢人为主没想着好好比赛，下半场罗本、比利亚、拉莫斯都获得了绝对的得分机会但都未能把握住，两队0-0战平进入加时赛，加时赛里海廷加两黄变一红被罚下，第116分钟法布雷加斯助攻伊涅斯塔破门，西班牙1-0取胜成为新科世界冠军。

No wonder Johan Cruyff chose to support Spain. No wonder, after seeing how his country betrayed the proud football heritage to which he was central, the greatest Dutchman ever to play the game said it would give him ‘intense joy’ to see the Spanish win.

This wonderful team are now champions of the world as well as Europe but they had to overcome a Holland side who kicked their way into extra time and went desperately close to settling this hugely disappointing final with the lottery of spot-kicks.

They were within four minutes of doing so when Andres Iniesta produced the one crucial moment of pure brilliance to seal victory for the team of the tournament and the first Spanish team to lift football’s ultimate prize.

El fire: Andres Iniesta fires a stunning shot past Holland goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg for the extra-time winner

It was a super goal. Having seen a chipped cross from Fernando Torres only half-cleared, Iniesta excelled in first controlling the bouncing ball back into the box from Cesc Fabregas before driving a beautifully struck half-volley past Maarten Stekelenburg.

It was exactly what both teams deserved, Spain for remaining so determined to win the right way and Holland for resorting so cynically to football’s dark arts.

With respect to the current Germany team, Bert van Marwijk’s side adopted an approach that was more Teutonic than the ‘Total Football’ that is supposed to be Holland’s trademark. They just set about to stifle their classy opponents with spoiling tactics.

"Dani Jarque is always with us": Iniesta paid tribute to the deceased Espanyol and Spain player after scoring

In the end Howard Webb smashed the record for a World Cup final with 13 yellow cards, dismissing John Heitinga in extra time for a second such offence, but the red card should have come out far earlier than it did.

Key to Holland’s plan was the way Van Marwijk instructed Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel to hound Iniesta, Xavi and Xabi Alonso out of the game and both should have been off before half-time,De Jong for planting his studs on Alonso’s chest with a quite extraordinary karate kick and Van
Bommel for a succession of fouls.

 
Shame game: Nigel de Jong lands a boot in the chest of Spain"s Xabi Alonso... yet saw only yellow

The Dutch also had their grievances. Webb failed to punish Carles Puyol for denying Arjen Robben a clear opportunity in the 83rd minute.

They were also furious, first when Webb denied them a corner
from a Wesley Sneijder free-kick — awarding a goal-kick instead — and then when a foul on Eljero Elia went unpunished as Spain immediately broke away and scored at the opposite end.

Not much of an argument but one they nevertheless chose to have with the English official.

Flying Dutchman: Holland keeper Maarten Stekelenburg makes a smart save to deny an early header from Spain defender Sergio Ramos

That Spain became champions with their fourth consecutive 1-0 victory, leaving them as the lowest-scoring winners in World Cup history with just eight goals, should not be held against them.

This team has had no equal for three years, first under Luis Aragones and then Vicente Del Bosque, only the second coach after Marcello Lippi to win both the European Cup and the World Cup.

Total violence: Spain players surround referee Webb as he cautions Mark van Bommel, one of five first half bookings between the sides

They play not just the right way but the Barcelona way, with the brand of Total Football that was introduced to them first by Rinus Michels, then Cruyff and yet more visionary Dutchmen after that.

Because of Holland’s negative approach, the Spanish could not express themselves as they would have liked. But let us not forget just how brilliant they were against that excellent Germany side in a semifinal clash that would have been more worthy of this stage.

Let us not forget the sheer genius of players like Xavi, Iniesta and David Villa.

There is, of course, more to Spain than attacking flair. While Holland suffered their first competitive defeat since November 2007, Spain have now kept 21 clean sheets in 32 games.

At Euro 2008 Spain did not concede a goal in the knock-out stages and it was the same here.

Last night they owed much to Iker Casillas, who made a quite brilliant save to deny Robben.

That said, Sergio Ramos could have scored twice and Villa really should have struck midway through the second half, even if Robben will feel he squandered the best opportunity of the opening 90 minutes.

Up and over: Spain captain Iker Casillas collects the ball in an unorthodox manner to upend his own defender Carles Puyol as Van Persie looks on

One rather hoped the game would match the drama and excitement that came before it, not least the inspiring sight of Nelson Mandela appearing on the pitch shortly after a terrific closing ceremony.

Had it not been for a quite brilliant save from Stekelenburg, Spain would have been ahead after only four minutes.

 
Forward march: Spain"s Gerard Pique drives ahead from defence as Dirk Kuyt looks on

Sergio Ramos met a free-kick from Xavi with a thumping header and the Dutch goalkeeper excelled in palming the ball away to safety. It was not long before the Dutch, in their growing desperation, were testing Webb’s patience though.

How De Jong remained on the pitch when his challenge on Alonso could have been classed as an assault is something Webb will struggle to explain.  

Last ditch: Everton defender John Heitinga makes a superb recovery block to deny David Villa just yards away from breaking the deadlock for Spain in the second half

While Casillas did well to deny Robben with an earlier opportunity, he was outstanding when an otherwise disappointing Wesley Sneijder sent Robben clear.

It seemed certain he would score, only for Casillas divert his shot wide with his outstretched right foot.

The save of the tournament. Robben had further cause for complaint when Puyol denied him a second such opportunity, pulling him back but somehow going unpunished. In the end Robben
was booked for dissent.

One on one: A world class save from the foot of Casillas stuns Arjen Robben, after the former Chelsea star broke clear through on goal

Before then, however, Villa failed to seize on a mistake by Heitinga when he really should have scored and early in extra time Fabregas wasted a chance when one-on-one with Stekelenburg.更多信息请访问：http://www.24en.com/

With Heitinga"s dismissal in the 109th minute for a foul on Iniesta, however, came an opportunity for Spain to take advantage, and that they most certainly did.