In a game when a record number of yellow cards were given and John Heitinga was sent off in extra-time, both sides missed great chances from Arjen Robben and Cesc Fabregas, but Andres Iniesta netted in the 116th minute to give European champions Spain their first World Cup title.

Iniesta struck with four minutes remaining to settle a tetchy encounter and crown Spain world champions, while Netherlands were left to rue Robben’s missed opportunity to open the scoring in normal time.

The game will be noted for the flurry of cards – 14 in all – starting in the 14th minute when Howard Webb booked Robin van Persie.

Pretty soon combative midfield duo Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong joined him for challenges – a late lunge on Joan Capdevila and a kung fu kick on Xabi Alonso respectively – that could easily have ended their evening.

That Wesley Sneijder was not even cautioned for a similarly woeful attempt at stopping Pedro could only be put down to either Webb being unsighted or the Dutch playmaker diverting attention by claiming to be injured himself.

Spain were not complete innocents in all of this, but it was the European Champions who were feeling most aggrieved, which only intensified when Webb did not see a niggly second-half challenge from Van Bommel that sparked a reaction from Barcelona playmaker Iniesta.

It certainly made for unsightly viewing at times, but Vicente del Bosque’s side did play some exquisite passing football at times, with Xavi and Iniesta helping Spain dominate possession. The best first-half chance fell to Sergio Ramos but his header from Xavi’s cross was palmed away superbly by Maarten Stekelenburg.

Netherlands struggled to get into the game but in the second-half were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead; Spain skipper Iker Casillas making a quite brilliant save to deny Robben after the former Chelsea star had been set free by Sneijder.

Robben must have thought he had done everything right. Running at pace – past a stranded Carles Puyol – until he saw the whites of Casillas’ eyes, he shaped to go one way, then placed his shot to the other corner. Casillas was committed in the other direction but stuck out a leg and turned the effort wide.

It was by some distance the best opportunity of the regulation 90 minutes, although Ramos had another decent opening himself heading umarked over the bar.

Robben threatened to sprint through again, only to be denied by Casillas, but losing possession did not come before Puyol had made a desperate grab for the Bayern Munich winger, who was convinced the Barcelona defender should have been sent off.

On as a substitute, with a point to prove after mustering the grand total of 93 minutes prior to tonight, Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas twice came close to breaking the deadlock in extra-time, when Xavi also had a penalty claim turned down.

John Heitinga was sent off for his second yellow card when he pulled back Iniesta, giving Spain the man advantage, yet the Dutch held firm and looked like taking the tie to penalties.

However, Spain were not to be denied. Fabregas slotted it through to Iniesta and after one touch to control it, his second was a crisp volley past Stekelenburg.

Del Bosque’s side held on and the final whistle saw euphoric scenes as Spain’s ecstatic players celebrated an inaugural World Cup triumph.

Source: ESPN.com

(Photo credit by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)

The 2010 FIFA World Cup has come to an end but the World Cup fever never will. It will be the start for thr Road to Brazil 2014.

The Closing ceremony, which according to organizers will be “more youthful”, will commence at 6:30 p.m. local time at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa and will be televised live in 215 countries to more than 500 million viewers.

Colombian pop sensation Shakira will lead an all star line-up at the 2010 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony and the tournament organizers promised a high-tech two-hour ceremony which is ahead of the World Cup Final Match game between Spain and the Netherlands.

Don’t forget to Watch Spain vs Netherlands Live Stream Online video at 2:30PM ET after the closing gala.

What time is the world cup final 2010? The Start Time of the 2010 World Cup Live Stream is at 8:30 PM CET or 2:30 PM EDT or 18:30 GMT. It will be Netherlands vs Spain in the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tonight, Sunday, July 11, 2010.

Soccer fans around the world is excited to watch the Netherlands vs Spain live stream Online to be held at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

World Cup Fever is almost over and to all World Cup soccer fans out there, let’s all watch the 2010 World Cup final live stream.

The wait is over. Here comes the 2010 World Cup Final. Netherlands will take on Spain in the Final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup which will be this Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:30 PM ET/18:30 GMT at Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa.

So after 30 days, 30 sad goodbyes, 63 matches and a million storylines, Sunday will be the game that will bring four years of joy and an eternal place in history. The World Cup final.

More than one billion people will be tuning in around the globe to see soccer’s ultimate prize battled for on the field of Soccer City. And it will all be decided by a small group of men from the Netherlands and Spain who know that their greatest moment and a permanent spot in soccer’s folklore await them.

This World Cup Final game between Netherlands and Spain will see a number of firsts. (Source)

1. This year’s final will be the first time a team from Europe wins the tournament outside of Europe. Only Brazil and Argentina have won away from their home continent.
2. This is the first final that will not feature one of Argentina, Brazil, Germany or Italy.
3. It will be Spain’s first time in the final. Their best performance so far is fourth place in the 1950 edition, and this tournament is the first since then that they have even reached the semifinals.
4. This could be the Netherlands’ first World Cup victory, if they overcome David Villa and Team Spain. They’ve been losing finalists twice.
5. If you followed the two previous points closely enough, you will see that World Cup 2010 will definitely see a first-time winner.
6. Additionally, it’s also the first time the Netherlands will not face the host nation in the final. In 1974 they lost 2-1 to West Germany in Munich, and in 1978 they succumbed to Argentina 3-1 in Buenos Aires.
7. The game will also be the first time either manager has won anything on the international stage. Bert van Marwijk has won the UEFA Cup and the Dutch version of the FA Cup with Feyenoord, and Vicente del Bosque won the Champions League, La Liga, the Supercopa de Espana, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup with Real Madrid.
8. It’s the first time a psychic octopus has shaped the outcome of the final. If Germany had managed to prevail over the Spanish, this would also have been the first time a mollusk would have had the chance to reveal the outcome of a final before it took place.
9. The final will be the first game in this tournament that Fernando Torres maybe thinks about possibly scoring a goal. If he plays, that is.
10. And finally, the final will give you your first chance to talk about something other then LeBron James this week.

World Cup 2010 Final News and Infos

Also, 2010 French Open and Wimbledon Champion Rafael Nadal has announced that he will travel to South Africa to support Spain in the final of the 2010 World Cup.

The 24-year-old Nadal recently won his 2nd Wimbledon title. He picked up his first title at the All England Club two years ago in 2008, the same year that Spain won the European championship. Rafa is an avid football fan and is said to be a Real Madrid supporter, although he hails from Majorca. He has many friends in the Spanish national team and reportedly kept in touch with some of them during the World Cup.

FIFA announced that English referee Howard Webb will take charge of Sunday’s World Cup 2010 final.

Webb, 38, will form a team with assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey for the finals. After missing out on the quarter and semi-finals, the Rotherham-born official will become the first Englishman since Jack Taylor in 1974 to be handed the prestigious post.

Don’t forget to watch World Cup 2010 Final Live Streaming Online or Spain vs Netherlands Live Stream online at the links provided.

UPDATE:  Spain beats Netherlands 1-0 for World Cup 2010 Champion

Final – Match 64: Spain vs Netherlands
Date: Sunday, July 11, 2010
Time: 2:30 PM EDT / 18:30 GMT
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg

You can watch the World Cup 2010 Finals Live Streaming match between Spain and Netherlands at the link provided below at 15 minutes before game time.

UPDATE: Spain is the 2010 World Cup Champion. Spain beats Netherlands 1-0.

GAME RECAP

Exhaustion etched on their faces, fatigued bodies ready to betray them, the players knew just one goal would be enough to win the elusive World Cup for their nation.

As the clock ticked toward penalty kicks, the shivering crowd at Soccer City Stadium grew anxious.

Spain or the Netherlands would win its first championship if only someone could find the net.

Andres Iniesta did, and Spain rules the soccer world at long, long last.

“We have all done an incredible job,” he said Sunday night, shortly after the 1-0 extra-time victory. “I don’t think we even realize what we have done.”

They beat the Netherlands on Sunday to go one better than the European title Espana won in 2008.

Spain won its last four games by a score of 1-0—a tight margin that characterized the month-long tournament. The World Cup featured a record 31 one-goal decisions out of 64 matches—four more than the previous high set in 2002, according to STATS LLC.

This final was a physical test of attrition that sometimes turned dirty—a finals-record 14 yellow cards were handed out and the Dutch finished with 10 men. In the end, it was Iniesta breaking free in the penalty area, taking a pass from Cesc Fabregas and putting a right-footed shot from 8 yards just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg with about seven minutes left to play, including injury time.

“When I struck it, it just had to go in,” Iniesta said.

For the Dutch and their legions of orange-clad fans wearing everything from jerseys to jumpsuits to clown gear to pajamas, it was yet another disappointment.

Even with their first World Cup title tantalizingly within reach, they failed in the final for the third time. This one might have been the most bitter because, unlike 1974 and 1978, the Netherlands was unbeaten not only in this tournament, but in qualifying for the first World Cup staged in South Africa.

Soccer City was soaked in Oranje, from the seats painted in that hue throughout the stadium to pretty much everyone seated in them, including crown prince Willem-Alexander. It was different when they lost to hosts West Germany and Argentina in previous finals; this time, the Dutch were something of a home team. And the visitors won.

Spain had pockets of supporters, too, with fans dressed in red and scattered throughout the stadium. Among those cheering were Queen Sofia, Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol.

Spain’s fans might have been in the minority, but when the final whistle blew, they were tooting their vuvuzelas with a vengeance in tribute to their champions.

A second straight World Cup final headed into extra time, with the goalkeepers unbeatable. Stekelenburg, relatively inexperienced on the international level, made a spectacular left leg save when Fabregas broke free early in overtime.

The goal in the 116th minute came off a turnover by the Dutch defense that Fabregas controlled just outside the penalty area. Iniesta stayed on the right and sneaked in to grab the pass and put his shot to the far post. Stekelenburg barely brushed it with his fingertips as it soared into the net.

And with that, Iniesta tore off his jersey and raced to the corner where he was mobbed by his teammates.

Several Dutch players wiped away tears as they received their runners-up medals—yet again. They had won every qualifying match and all six previous games in South Africa before the bitter ending.

The Netherlands now has more victories in World Cup games without a title than any nation: 19. Spain held that dubious record with 24.

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk took off his silver medal as soon as he left the podium, a look of disgust on his face.

The winners struggled but managed to lift their coach, Vicente del Bosque, in the air in celebration.

“This is immeasurable for Spain,” he said.

Then they made a quick costume change from their sweat-soaked blue jerseys into their traditional red ones.

Iker Casillas, the captain, accepted the trophy from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who was bundled in a scarf since temperatures dipped into the 40s on this chilly winter’s night in the Southern Hemisphere.

Casillas, voted the World Cup’s top goalkeeper, kissed the distinctive gold award and raised it for all to see while cameras flashed and confetti flew throughout the still-full stadium.

“This really is quite a cup,” Casillas said. “The European Championship was the most important moment of our lives, but today is much bigger than anything else.”

Soon, the entire team and staff gathered at midfield for a group photo. The players bounced up and down to the World Cup theme song, then took a victory lap as the trophy was passed to each member of the squad.

“It’s the most beautiful that there is. It’s spectacular,” Iniesta said.

Aside from a European title in 1988, the Dutch have been classic underachievers on the pitch.

Yet the Spaniards haven’t been much better. Other than Euro championships in 1964 and 2008, they rarely have contended in major tournaments. At least the Netherlands made those two World Cup finals and advanced to the semifinals in 1998.

Spain joined West Germany and France as the only nations to simultaneously hold the world and European titles. West Germany followed the European title with the 1974 World Cup and France won the 1998 Cup before winning the Euros two years later.

The Spaniards also won the championship with the fewest goals, eight.

Second-ranked Spain started this World Cup in the worst way, losing to Switzerland. But Spain won every game after that, including a 1-0 victory over powerful Germany that was far more one-sided than the score indicated. No other nation has won the World Cup after losing its opener.

“They made it very difficult for us to play comfortably,” Del Bosque said. “It was a very intense match.”

Yet the most dangerous player Sunday was Netherlands forward Arjen Robben. He had a rare breakaway in the 62nd minute after a brilliant through pass from Wesley Sneijder. He had the ball on his preferred left foot, but a charging Casillas barely got his right leg on the shot to deflect it wide of the gaping net.

Then it was Stekelenburg’s turn, holding his ground after a misplay in front of the net gave the ever-potent Villa an open shot.

As play opened up, the crowd of 84,490 got quieter in nervous anticipation of the goal that would win the World Cup.

Robben again looked as though he might get it with a burst of speed past the defense, but Casillas sprinted from his net and smothered the ball before Robben could take a shot.

“You felt that the team that would score first would win,” Van Marwijk said. “We had two great chances through Arjen. We made a real game out of it.”

Before the game, former South African president Nelson Mandela received a huge ovation when he was driven onto the field on a golf cart. A smiling Mandela waved to the fans as the vuvuzelas buzzed throughout Soccer City.

And after the game, Iniesta took time to salute Paul the Octopus, who correctly picked the winner of eight matches.

“As for the octopus, what can I say?” Iniesta said, smiling. “We won and I’m sure the octopus will be more popular in Spain.” (Source)

3rd Place – Match 63: Germany vs Uruguay
Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010
Time: 2:30 PM EDT / 18:30 GMT
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

You can watch the World Cup 2010 Live Streaming match between Germany and Uruguay at the link provided below at game time.

Uruguay-Germany Preview

Germany and Uruguay will hope to salvage some pride in their third-place playoff match on Saturday after devastating semi-final defeats earlier this week.

The two teams were largely written-off in the run-up to the finals but can hold their heads high after some stunning performances against top-ranked sides before their respective exits to Spain and Netherlands in the last four.

Germany’s high-scoring young side are determined to cap their impressive World Cup with one last win in Port Elizabeth where coach Joachim Loew promised his bitterly disappointed players will be in the right frame of mind and ready to win.

“The disappointment is there but now we need to build up the team a bit,” he said after the Germans were dumped out 1-0 by a far superior Spanish outfit in Durban on Wednesday.

“I’m certain we will go into the match with the necessary focus. No one needs to hang their heads low and we want to have a good final match,” said Loew, whose team thrashed widely fancied England and Argentina in the knockout stages.

History will not favor twice World Cup winners Uruguay in this match after fourth place finishes the last two times they reached the semi-finals, losing out in the playoff to Austria in 1954 and the Germans in 1970.

Germany have finished third on three occasions and lost the playoff only once in 1958, to France.

UPDATE: Germany took bronze for the fourth time at the FIFA World Cup™ after beating Uruguay 3-2 in an entertaining play-off for third place. Sami Khedira got the winning goal with eight minutes remaining as Joachim Low’s side repeated their success in this same match four years ago.

Semifinals – Match 62: Germany vs Spain
Date: Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Time: 2:30 PM EDT / 18:30 GMT
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban

You can watch the World Cup 2010 Live Streaming match between Germany and Spain at the link provided below at game time.

Spain-Germany Preview

Leave it to the Germans to make things interesting.

Spain has gone out of its way to downplay the rematch of the 2008 European Championship title game in Wednesday night’s World Cup semifinal, refusing to even acknowledge the grudge match factor.

Spain ended a 44-year major title drought with its 1-0 victory over Germany two years ago—a win that wasn’t nearly as close as the score indicated. But Germany is a far different team now—in age and in attitude.

While no side has scored more goals in the tournament than Germany’s 13, the statistics show that Spain have done more attacking than anyone. If those two pieces of information are anything to go by, this should be quite a match. The Germans have been nothing short of spectacular in South Africa. After putting four past Australia in the group phase, they clicked into top gear in the Round of 16, overwhelming England 4-1 with their rapid counter-attacking style and then put another four past Argentina in the quarters.

Though Spain have reached a semi-final for the first time ever, they have been unable to match the exacting standards they have set for themselves in recent times, reproducing their eye-catching possession football only sporadically. Victors by a single goal in their last three games, the European champions can justifiably point to some massed defences as the reason for their reduced creativity, but there will be no excuses for a lack of spark come kick-off time on Wednesday.

All the indications are that Vicente del Bosque will keep faith with the XI that started against Paraguay, which means a reprieve for the misfiring Torres, who has yet to score. As for opposite number Low, his most pressing problem is to find a replacement for the suspended Thomas Muller, with Piotr Trochowski, Toni Kroos and Cacau all in the frame.

UPDATE: Spain are in the FIFA World Cup Final for the first time ever as they beat Germany 1-0. Carles Puyol’s header in the 73rd minute powered Spain past Germany for the 1-0 victory.

Germany vs Spain Replay

Semifinals – Match 61: Uruguay vs Netherlands
Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Time: 2:30 PM EDT / 18:30 GMT
Venue: Green Point Stadium, Cape Town

You can watch the World Cup 2010 Live Streaming match between Uruguay and Netherlands at the link provided below at game time.

World Cup 2010 Semifinal – Uruguay vs Netherlands Live Streaming Online

UPDATE: Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 to advance to the World Cup 2010 Finals

GAME RECAP

Netherlands pushed Uruguay aside with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday to reach their third World Cup final and set up an all-European clash with Spain or Germany.

Two goals in three minutes midway through the second half from Wesley Sneijder, his fifth of the tournament, and Arjen Robben gave Netherlands a 3-1 lead but Maximiliano Pereira gave them some nervous moments with a late goal in time added on.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst had given the Dutch an early lead with a long-range drive before Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan equalised just before halftime, also with a superb strike.

European champions Spain play Germany in Durban in the other semi-final on Wednesday with the winners playing Netherlands in Sunday’s World Cup final at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

It will be Europe’s 10th World Cup win in 19 finals but the first by a European side outside their own continent. The Dutch lost both their previous finals in 1974 and 1978 to West Germany and Argentina respectively.

Quarterfinals – Match 60: Paraguay vs Spain
Date: Saturday, July 3, 2010
Time: 2:30 PM EDT / 18:30 GMT
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

So, don’t forget to Watch Paraguay vs Spain live stream online on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 2:30 PM EDT / 18:30 GMT.

Spain-Paraguay Preview

Saturday’s showdown is the fourth meeting between the countries. Two of their previous encounters ended in goalless draws, one a 2002 friendly and the other a first-round match at France 1998. Spain scored the only win by either side when prevailing 3-1 in another first-round meeting at Korea/Japan 2002.

La Roja have not lost to South American opposition in the FIFA World Cup since Mexico 1986 (a 1-0 reverse to Brazil) but are in no mood to rely on the record books after their surprise group setback against Switzerland. Coach Vicente del Bosque has no injury or suspension problems and is set to keep faith with the system and the side that got Spain out of a tight spot in Group H before they edged out Portugal in the Round of 16. As they showed in the second half of that match, the silky Spanish are working their way back to top form.

Del Bosque’s opposite number, Gerardo Martino, has asked his players to pay special attention to Spain’s quality and the speed with which they move the ball around. The Argentinian supremo has also vowed that his men will not sit back and let their opponents dictate the play, urging his midfielders to press hard and deny the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez the space to thrive. With central midfielder Aureliano Torres an injury doubt, Martino’s other main concern is the fatigue his charges may be still feeling after their punishing last-16 tie against Japan.

The team that comes out on top will be making history. In the last eight for the fifth time, Spain have never reached the semi-finals, although they did finish fourth at Brazil 1950 when the Trophy was decided by a four-team final group phase. As for La Albirroja they ave already broken new ground and are intent on venturing further.

You can watch the World Cup 2010 Live Streaming match between Paraguay vs Spain at the link provided below.

UPDATE: David Villa gives Spain 1-0 win over Paraguay to book a semis spot against Germany.

Quarterfinals – Match 58: Uruguay vs Ghana
Date: Friday, July 2, 2010
Time: 2:30 PM EDT / 18:30 GMT
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg

So, don’t forget to Watch Uruguay vs Ghana live stream online on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 2:30 PM EDT / 18:30 GMT.

Ghana-Uruguay Preview

Uruguay’s first run to the World Cup quarterfinals since 1970 has captured hearts in the small South American nation.

The Black Stars of Ghana, however, will have the entire host continent behind them as they try to defeat Uruguay on Friday in Johannesburg and become the first African team ever to reach the semifinals.

Ghana was the only one of six African participants to advance past the group stage, finishing second to Germany in Group D, and its run continued Saturday in the round of 16 as Asamoah Gyan scored in extra time to eliminate the United States 2-1.

The Black Stars had never even qualified for a World Cup until 2006, when they were beaten by Brazil in the round of 16, but now they’re shouldering the hopes of their continent at the first African World Cup despite playing the entire tournament without injured captain Michael Essien.

Gyan has helped to compensate for Essien’s absence, scoring three of Ghana’s four goals. Both he and Kevin-Prince Boateng – the Black Stars’ other goal scorer against the U.S. – are dealing with injuries, but both expect to be in the lineup Friday.

Ghana won’t have the services of midfielder Andre Ayew and defender Jonathan Mensah, with each suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards, but Isaac Vorsah may be ready to return from a knee injury and replace Mensah.

Ghana’s defenders are well aware of talented Uruguayan strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, who’ve combined for five of La Celeste’s six goals.

Uruguay didn’t concede a goal while winning Group A, although South Korea scored to tie Saturday’s round of 16 match at 1-all. Suarez responded with his second strike of the game, scoring in the 80th minute on a brilliant individual effort from the edge of the penalty area in the 2-1 victory.

Uruguay won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950 and reached the semifinals in 1970, but it had faded as a global power and not qualified for three of the previous four World Cups.

La Celeste will not have defender Diego Godin available due to a left thigh injury. Forlan has been dealing with a toe problem, but he doesn’t expect to miss Uruguay’s first-ever meeting with Ghana.

Uruguay is one of four South American quarterfinalists, and the only one that won’t face a European opponent.

You can watch the World Cup 2010 Live Streaming match between Uruguay vs Ghana at the link provided below.

UPDATE: Uruguay beats Ghana in Penalty Kicks 1:1 a.e.t. (1:1, 0:1) 4:2 PSO to advance to the World Cup Semifinal round for the 1st time since 1970