Iniesta Sparks a Mini Fiesta!
11/07/10 00:14
Spanish Survive their Inquisition to do the World Cup and Euro Double!
So here we are, 30 days after South Africa and Mexico kicked off the FIFA World Cup 2010, it all distilled down to this one last game, The Final. This match was contested by Euro 2008 winners, Spain against The Netherlands, WC runners-up in 74 and 78. Never before had either nation had their name on the trophy but both teams had showed their tenacity, skill and luck to reach this final hurdle. Surely we were in for a treat, a goal fest, dramatic open end-to-end total football to give Nelson Mandela and the fans a right royal sporting spectacle? Er not quite... Spain started with great vigour and enthusiasm and the Dutch tried their best to counteract their European rivals and try and hit them on the break. Early on Ramos was denied a headed opportunity by the diving Mr Stekelenberg and it certainly looked as if the Spaniards were in command. Soon after the Dutch number 8, De Jong dived in Bruce Lee style on Alonso and put his boot right into his chest, how he stayed on the field nobody will ever know but suddenly the gloves were off! The yellow cards started to appear from referee Howard Webb's pocket (who said England wouldn't make it to the final?) Chances appeared at either end but the first half finished nil nil.
Come the second session and Robben latched on to a through ball and found himself onside one on one with keeper Casillas. As Arjen timed his run, his shot was saved by the faintest of touches off the Spanish keeper's foot. Soon after Sergio Ramos once again had a free header that he put over the bar, and once again Robben skinned Puyol to be heading goalward but that man Casillas thwarted him again. Another shed load of yellow cards were awarded and time was running out, in fact it did run out but it was still goalless. Extra time ensued and Fabregas the sub made a break for it but Stekelenberg stopped his shot much like his Spanish counterpart. Jesus Navas had a deflection that appeared to go in but it was just the side netting. As the clock ticked down towards what was looking like penalties, the second half of extra time was upon us and time for a hero. Well that man was Andres Iniesta, the Spanish number 6 who picked up on a Torres knock down (about the only good thing Torres has done all tournament) and he was patient enough to wait for the ball to drop before he powered it past the diving Mr Stekelenberg. The stadium erupted as Iniesta peeled off his shirt and ran to the corner flag where he was mobbed by his colleagues in jubilation. Surely there wasn't enough time for an equaliser and despite their efforts, Holland just came up short for the third time in the biggest football match on the planet. Webb blew the whistle, the Iberians dropped to their knees, captain Casillas shed tears of joy for they had beaten the Cloggies one nothing and were the World Champions. The Spaniards fifth 1-0 result in a row and are now the reigning Euro and World Cup holders! A quick change of kit into the traditional red jerseys for Spain, although this time with a little star sewn on to signify their achievement and the winners medals were worn with Spanish pride.
Not quite the festival of goals we had perhaps hoped for but enough drama and excitement to keep us all guessing right till the end. Maybe it should have gone to penalties, but then Paul the octopus hadn't predicted that so that was never going to happen. Well done Paul, you're like a mini 8-legged Buddha covered in suction cups!
And so to the final Footcall league...
Kevin Appleton and his team Tonbridge Street Elite managed to hold on to the very end. From claiming top spot after the Group Stages he made inspired choices for the Knockouts to keep him up there to eventually win by a clear 8 points; very impressive! Kev managed to predict both finalists and the winner but there was a faint chance of a Footcall upset if Holland had won and if Paul "Albion City Rovers" Firmston had selected them to win but a check on his prediction sheet revealed that he had chosen Argentina to lift the trophy, so there never any doubt that Kevin wouldn't be crowned champion.
Showing just how valuable it was to pick the winning team, was demonstrated by a number of formidable performances from Nick Stacey 3rd, Keith Firmston (4th), Martin Arscott (5th), Chris Amos (6th), James Vallender (7th on Accurate Scores), Rob Pearson (8th) and Lee Baker (10th), sadly Jon Hill who was in second after the Groups finished 9th but I will give him the award for most excited Footcaller 2010 as he really enjoyed taking part. Andy Brunt just missed out on the top by nature of Group Stages Accurate Scores, maybe 2012 will be his year?
Other players picking up 4 points today include Martin Acott, Jake Martin, Kate Blake (up onto the first page picking up a massive 14 points in the second stage and finally the only player on page two to guess Spain to win was Julia "Beautiful Bramble" Virco. Well done guys.
Finally we should pay tribute to the battle at the foot of the table. After the Groups, this appeared to be a three horse race between Mark Horner, Simon Jenner and Virginia Jenner. Well Super Syd Simon made inspired selections in choosing losers, not winners, for the Knockouts to force himself to the bottom of the Footcall pack. He only scored one solitary point (Paraguay let him down) and he claims the Footcall booby prize and gets himself a miniature England football boot full of cheap chocolate footballs which, I hasten to add, also doubles as a money box! To mark the lowest ranking place in the Footcall race this is now known as the Vuvuzela Award and we now have an official list of Vuvuzela Award Winners for last placed Footcallers with Simon Jenner adding his name to this illustrious list following on from Joanna Mackenzie 2008, Mark Horner 2006, Martin Lunn 2004, Sarah Roe 2002 and Christine Jenner in 2000.
So it's all over, 64 games played, 145 goals scored (plus one more from Frank Lampard), lots of disappointment from certain teams and individuals but lots of dramatic excitement to boot. What stood out for me though was the wonderful atmosphere generated by the host nation; a true credit to the beautiful game, let's hope in 2014 Brazil can lay on a spectacle to rival that of the South African event. It just leaves me to pack up the Footcall bandwagon for another two years before it rumbles into town again for Euro 2012 in Poland, maybe I'll see you all again for another lap round the Footcall block?
Until then... Adiós!
Dj