Well after 63 matches of football, we have our champions. Congratulations Spain on winning your first ever World Cup. Johnston Street, Fitzroy must be going off right now.

It was Spain’s Andres Iniesta who broke the deadlock in the 116th-minute, with a well taken volley that broke Dutch hearts. The Oranje had defended resolutely up until then and even had a few chances to seal the win themselves. Arjen Robben in particular had a great one-on-one chance with the keeper.

Commiserations to Holland, who just didn’t have the class on the night. As Craig Foster pointed out during the coverage, Spain were deserving champions for their current brilliance, the Dutch would have been deserving champions but only for their past glory.

Spain were clearly the most deserving of the two sides, and are the first team to do the World Cup/Euro double since West Germany achieved the feat in 1974.

Despite the intense build-up, the spectacle was not quite what it could have been. Instead of playing football, the Netherlands chose to give the Spaniards a good kicking and received seven yellow cards and a red for their trouble.

So there we have it. Spain take home the coveted trophy for the first time. Bring on Brazil in four years.

Ole!

PS. The most important story of the cup realises its only possible conclusion:

Paul the octopus keeps a clean sheet at the World Cup – The Australian