A MAGICAL month of football has come to an end with Spain lifting the World Cup for the first time. Our soccer nut wraps things up.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup broke new ground with South Africa the first African country to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

Spain wins World Cup, beating Holland

So, it was somewhat fitting that Spain, a nation that had never before won football’s ultimate prize, also broke new ground in claiming a win against the Netherlands.

With just the solitary goal, many people will proclaim the final failed to live up to expectations, I would disagree.

If someone were to say it was not the best game of the tournament or produced the brilliant football befitting the tournament’s showpiece event, then I would concur. You hope for goals, maybe a 4-3 scoreline with a drama-packed final few minutes, but that is the "dream" and not the reality.

World Cup finals are usually a tight struggle as the weight of expectation and the immense pressure, coupled with strict defensive strategies all too often cancel out attacking flair.

This is a World Cup that will be remembered for many reasons, including controversy. Even the final had its moment.

With the teams locked at 0-0 with just five minutes of extra time left and the dreaded penalty shootout beckoning, the Netherlands were awarded a free kick in an enticing position.

The free kick was deflected off target by the Spanish wall, but instead of the Netherlands being awarded a corner, Spain were given a goal kick.

From there, Spain broke forward and the move ended with Andres Iniesta driving the ball home for the game’s only goal.

Looking back, there was Frank Lampard’s effort against Germany that should have seen England come back from a
two-goal deficit to be level in their second round clash.

And few people will forget the drama of the quarter-final tie between Uruguay and Ghana.

The African side denied a goal in the dying seconds of extra time by a deliberate handball on the goalline by Uruguay’s Luis Suarez. Asamoah Gyan then missed the ensuing penalty kick which would have sent Ghana to the semi-final, and instead the sides headed into a shoot-out, which Uruguay went on to win.

This also was a World Cup of surprises, with big names toppling early, minnows making their mark, and the superstars of the game misfiring.

For Australia, the 2010 campaign started poorly (a 4-0 drubbing to the hands of Germany), before gaining momentum with a hard-fought draw against Ghana and a win against Serbia.

But the dreadful start put an end to any chance of progressing to the second round, and the Socceroos returned home knowing a chance to build on the 2006 tournament was lost.

Our trans-Tasman neighbours showed what self-belief, desire and good organisation could do.

But in the end this was a World Cup that belonged to Spain – the side the played the best football throughout the tournament, with free-flowing crisp passing interchanges and impeccable off-the-ball movement.

The final result was not only a win for Spain, but a victory for the lovers of the beautiful game.

Share this article