Spain wins with a goal, Netherlands win foul count

''But I thought-” I would protest

''You're not paid to think,'' he'd interject. ''You're paid to know.''

World Cup 2010 dossier

Well before I come over all Donald Rumsfeld again on the known unknowns et al, we now know that Spain have collected their first world cup. Flowing football came a very soppy second.

Many an authority told us that these were the two best sides on the planet from a technical point of view. What they unfurled before us were elegant ways to chop down.

Eight Dutch players were cautioned; one, John Heitinga, was sent off for two bookable offences.

I quite liked Heitinga’s final contribution to the game. Bypassed, he caught up with Andres Iniesta, pulled his shirt and then threw his hands up in the air as the Spaniard went a-tumbling.

Howard Webb, the ref, wasn’t fooled. He whipped out his book and the Everton defender was on his way to the baths.

Six Spaniards also went into Webb’s notebook. Carlos Puyol – he of the 70s rock star perm – managed to escape a second booking in the 84th minute. He managed to stop the Dutch winger Arjen Robben with a melange of grace and gaucheness.

Chasing after the Bayern Munich star, Puyol stumbled, but as he did, he wrapped his arm around Robben’s waist and managed to fall in front of the flying Dutchman, forcing him to hurdle the rolling body.

Iniesta was given the man of the match trophy for scoring the goal and being generally creative with the ball rather than with other people's legs. The award of the bauble should serve as motivation for any budding footballer.

From a corner of the room, a Penelope Cruz lookalike emerged to clutch Iniesta’s arm and smile. With the dexterity he’s renowned for on the pitch, he managed to look at the cameras instead of the heaving cleavage in a ridiculously low cut dress for the freezing temperatures here in Johannesburg.

Clearly to the brave, the beautiful.

And Spain were certainly very courageous as they rode the Dutch tackles. They gave some hefty challenges back too. But in the end they couldn’t match the hard men.

And the Netherlands won the world cup foul count 28-19

Spain are a brilliant team and deserve the world cup for maintaining their short passing game in the face of barbarity.

The Spanish tactic invites challenges and they refused to be intimidated. Webb gave the Spanish a lot of protection too so he deserves some credit for not flinching in his duty to brandish the cards.

A record card count isn’t what was expected of this final. But that’s why we love the game. It can often surprise.