Viva España!

June 12, 2010
Viva España!
Spain beats the Netherlands 1-0 in the final match of the World Cup soccer championship
BY RACHAEL HOROWITZ

Spain was victorious against the Netherlands in the final game of the World Cup on Sunday. Playing before a crowd of 84,490, the teams fought into overtime in a close match that was decided by a single goal in the 116th minute. The match was one of many close games during the month-long soccer tournament hosted in South Africa.
"You felt that the team that would score first would win," said Bert van Marwijk, the coach for the Dutch team. His feeling was correct. Andrés Iniesta scored the only goal of the game, taking the win for Spain. "It just had to go in," Iniesta said.
A Tough Match
Neither team had ever won the World Cup. The loss was particularly hard for the Netherlands. This was the team's third unsuccessful trip to the World Cup finals.
The referee handed out a record 14 yellow cards during the game. Yellow cards are given as an official caution to players for offenses such as unsportsmanlike behavior.
If a player receives two cautions, he must leave the game. This happened to the Netherlands' John Heitinga, leaving the team one player short for the last 11 minutes of the game.
Victory for an Underdog
The Netherlands was the unofficial home team of the final game. The crowd was mostly dressed in orange, the Dutch team's color. The Spanish team, which had never before made it to a World Cup final, was viewed as the match's underdog.
Spain began the World Cup with a loss to Switzerland, but came back strong, winning every following match. This is the first time in the tournament's history that a team that lost its opening game went on to win the title.
After scoring the winning goal, Iniesta ripped off his jersey. His teammates immediately surrounded him, celebrating their hard-fought victory.
"We have all done an incredible job," Iniesta said.
990717 Viva España!-Michael
The World Cup has a new champion! It is Spain; Spain had won the World Cup’s champion! In the final game of the World Cup on last Sunday, Spain was going to play with the Netherlands. It was a very exiting match! There were about eighty thousands of crowds in the stadium. Everybody was cheering and shouting all around. The wanted their team to win the champion. When Spain and the Netherlands were playing their match they didn’t scored any points a long time. Until the game was almost over, just in the one hundred and sixteenth minute, Spain’s soccer player, Andrés Iniesta had given a shot, and finally the soccer ball went in the goal and all the Spanish fans were all shouting. They had known that their country had won the champion. After scoring the goal, Andrés Iniesta ripped of his clothes and all his teammates came to surround him! The Spanish were all happy, after the game in South Africa they went back to their home country. Everyone was celebrating for their victory. Although Spain lost their game at first but winning all the games after that! It was a tight game but still they have made it!