Very few teams can claim that they played beautifully and won the World Cup. Yes the 2010 edition winners "La Roja" can say so! They started their campaign in South Africa with a loss but they refused to change their style of game with which they won the Euro 2008. Spain had they share of failures and falls but this time was for them.
The whole world watched in shock when they were defeated in the first game against Switzerland and had them nearly written off but that was a wake up call they needed and they became the first team in history to win the World Cup after loosing their first game and the eighth team to win the coveted trophy. They played the beautiful game seen many at times at Barca not a co-incidence as their core group was made up of Barcelona team of Xavi, Ineista, Pedro, Puyol, Pique and Sergio Busqets and all combining so well to play a wonderful game of football. They were so talented and skilled that even the continuous pressing from the Dutch team did not let them loose the ball and the kept a possession of 57% of the playing time. The final was not that beautiful as the Dutch did all they could to stop the beautiful game and in the process earn some 9 yellow cards and a red! The Dutch Legend did complain " Dutch tactics upset Johan Cruyff " ! But both team had their half chances and it was Robben for Dutch who missed the best chance only to be denied by the skipper Iker Casllias!
Finally a game which went into extra time - in the 116th minute Ineista won it for Spain. The result was inevitable with the Dutch players coming into the final game with no self belief and no confidence. They had lost it before the game kicked-off.Their Coach Bert Van Marwijk praising the Spanish talent and their beautiful game and asking his Dutch team to play like FC Barcelona and Dutch Johan Cruyff claiming Spain to win the World Cup with their flair - It was seen coming! So the game "Total Football" pioneered by Dutch in 1970s was perfected at FC Barcleona's La Masia and that shined in the World Cup with "La Roja" victory-witnessed by the World-Yes! Winning by playing beautiful-It was a fitting finale to a wonderful and memorable World Cup - Hosted for the first time in Africa!
The whole world watched in shock when they were defeated in the first game against Switzerland and had them nearly written off but that was a wake up call they needed and they became the first team in history to win the World Cup after loosing their first game and the eighth team to win the coveted trophy. They played the beautiful game seen many at times at Barca not a co-incidence as their core group was made up of Barcelona team of Xavi, Ineista, Pedro, Puyol, Pique and Sergio Busqets and all combining so well to play a wonderful game of football. They were so talented and skilled that even the continuous pressing from the Dutch team did not let them loose the ball and the kept a possession of 57% of the playing time. The final was not that beautiful as the Dutch did all they could to stop the beautiful game and in the process earn some 9 yellow cards and a red! The Dutch Legend did complain " Dutch tactics upset Johan Cruyff " ! But both team had their half chances and it was Robben for Dutch who missed the best chance only to be denied by the skipper Iker Casllias!
Finally a game which went into extra time - in the 116th minute Ineista won it for Spain. The result was inevitable with the Dutch players coming into the final game with no self belief and no confidence. They had lost it before the game kicked-off.Their Coach Bert Van Marwijk praising the Spanish talent and their beautiful game and asking his Dutch team to play like FC Barcelona and Dutch Johan Cruyff claiming Spain to win the World Cup with their flair - It was seen coming! So the game "Total Football" pioneered by Dutch in 1970s was perfected at FC Barcleona's La Masia and that shined in the World Cup with "La Roja" victory-witnessed by the World-Yes! Winning by playing beautiful-It was a fitting finale to a wonderful and memorable World Cup - Hosted for the first time in Africa!
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