So Spain Are World Champions...

[MidnightFlyer]

Any thoughts?

 

[Dai.]

Boring game, but well deserved goal.

 

[jimrbrobinson]

At least that's some successful Spaniards. Maybe that'll cheer Fernando Alonso up and stop him trudging 'round the paddock looking like he's lost the will to live, but wants to kill someone else before he goes!

 

[142094]

Seconded about the boring game. Didn't live up to expectations.

 

[CarterUSM]

Mince!

 

[Ivo]

At least that's some successful Spaniards. Maybe that'll cheer Fernando Alonso up and stop him trudging 'round the paddock looking like he's lost the will to live, but wants to kill someone else before he goes!

It's not often I say this but I actually support his case here. Not that I care! After 2007 he deserves it all... okay, most of it.

I had predicted 2-1 AET elsewhere, so I couldn't have been much closer. I also filled in a predictor on the BBC site (before the tournament obviously) which threw up a Spain-Holland Final...

I feel really bad for Holland. Three Finals and not one win. Spain scarcely deserve it at all; they lost to Switzerland!

 

[Oswyntail]

Spain played better; Holland were just unprincipled. I thought our ref was also quite good - inevitable mistakes but nothing too earth-shattering. Except, of course, the non sending off for the drop kick to the chest.At one stage, it could have justifiably been the first World Cup Final to be awarded to one side when the other had too many players sent off. Webb managed to hold it together.

 

[Turbostar]

Can't stand football, thank god it's over!

 

[gordonthemoron]

I have a spanish colleague and he's understandably rather pleased this morning.

There is also a cuban lady who works in the cafe at work, she's been singing Y Viva Espana all morning, that I could do without

 

[Geezertronic]

I don't see that the Dutch have any right to be critical of Howard Webb given the fact that he was overly lenient towards the Dutch on several occasions.

The Dutch had two (maybe more) clear cut chances to win the match and didn't take any of them due to Spanish luck more than judgement. It's usually easier to blame the ref than look at themselves.

I am glad Spain won it to be honest. Torres apart, I thought the Spanish team played well throughout the tournament (even against Switzerland)

 

[142094]

I actually think he got most of the decisions right, apart from the high foot which went studs into the chest of the Spanish player. Maybe if he'd given out a red card for that a lot of the yellows later on wouldn't have happened.

 

[Scotrail84]

Any thoughts?

Glad Spain won it. Dutch acted like thugs at times and were lucky to end the game with 10 men as it could have been less. Van Bommel was a total erse.

 

[Donny Dave]

Glad Spain won it. Dutch acted like thugs at times and were lucky to end the game with 10 men as it could have been less. Van Bommel was a total erse.

And he has been all tournament ....

 

[313103]

Well despite Liverpool's and Arsenal's poor showing last year at least both can say they had a player who has brought home a winners medal. Well thats the spin im gonna put on it.
I couldnt watch it as i spent the time of the match coming back on a First (well that is what the station nameboard on the front of Clacton station, and the livery internally is very First) sorry National Express class 360 after spending the day at Clacton.

BUt why oh why do people who dont like football continue to put anti football messages in a football thread?
It is quite simple stear away from them if you dont like it, your not required to comment on every topic in the thread!!!!!!!

 

[Ivo]

Glad Spain won it. Dutch acted like thugs at times and were lucky to end the game with 10 men as it could have been less. Van Bommel was a total erse.

The Dutch abandoned the principles of Dutch football... and paid for it.

 

[Geezertronic]

BUt why oh why do people who dont like football continue to put anti football messages in a football thread?
It is quite simple stear away from them if you dont like it, your not required to comment on every topic in the thread!!!!!!!

They are entitled to voice their opinions, but can't then complain if we do something similar on a topic that they like

 

[Old Timer]

I think the referee did well to contain the match. He was obviously trying hard not to send anyone off in order to try to keep the game balanced, and it is rather disappointing that the various armchair critics have already started to pass judgement. Most non-Dutch people I have spoken to feel he did a good job in difficult circumstances.

It was very sad to see the Dutch team adopt the tactics they did. There was no need to on many occasions they far out-ranked the Spanish during the match, especially when they counter-attacked. It is a mystery to me, and the various "thinking" Dutch people.

Unfortunately the issue in the Netherlands has now become one of national pride, driven by the Dutch equivalent of our Red-Top gutter press and the comments of some of the team. As a result any sense of balanced commentary in the Netherlands has gone, and unfortunately the English referee is being portrayed as the villian of the piece. This one is going to take a long time to die down and as far as the Dutch are concerned history has been written along those lines.

 

[Oswyntail]

There is a short piece in the Times today, by a Dutchman (former CE of BT) claiming that the reporting of the foul play by the Dutch, and the exoneration of the referee, is all due to sour grapes because England were beaten and did not play as well as the Dutch. It is amazing what supposedly intelligent people can come up with.

 

[Geezertronic]

Regardless of how people want to report it, the facts speak for themselves. Webb was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. I thought he was lenient but for the sake of a showpiece game broadcast worldwide, he didn't want to ruin the game by brandishing the red card too early in the game.

He was either too lenient or too harsh depending on what column you read. My opinion is that if it wasn't for Webb, then the Dutch would have been out of it by half time by being down to 9 men for the 2nd half.

My other opinion is that if Robben had scored those two chances, Holland would have won the World Cup and that is probably what hurts them the most. As it is in life in general, sometimes it is easier to blame someone else than take responsibility. It is childish of the Dutch to suggest that Webb cost them the game when the Dutch actually had the better clear cut chances over the 120 minutes

 

[Greenback]

Webb did OK in very difficult circumstances. I thought The Netherlands were disappointing on the night, and are probably feeling frustrated that they did not play to the best of their ability.

As usual for 'showpiece' games at this level, it was a poor game for a neutral spectator. If I hadn't had several pints of Tribute I think it may have been unwatchable!