Sunday July 11th

Final

Spain on top of the World

Spain 1 Netherlands 0 after extra time (Johannesburg)
Andres Iniesta scored late in extra time as European champions Spain lifted the World Cup for the first time and condemned the Netherlands to their third defeat in a World Cup final. Stekelenburg made a diving save to keep out a header from Ramos in the 5th minute and 6 minutes later Ramos got into the box and drove the ball across goal but Heitinga diverted it over the bar. Casillas got down to turn a shot from Robben round the post just before the break and got the better of Robben again in the 61st minute with a trailing foot as the Dutchman was through on goal. Heitinga allowed a low cross to reach Villa in front of goal in the 69th minute but made amends with a last ditch block, and in the 77th minute Spain came close again but Ramos saw his free header from a corner fly over the bar. Robben ran towards goal in the 83rd minute but the physical presence of Puyol and the reaction of Casillas averted the danger, as did the foot of Stekelenburg 5 minutes into extra time when Farbregas was through on goal for Spain. A minute later Mathijsen headed the ball over from a corner and in the 101st minute a shot from van Bronckhorst was deflected into the side netting. Heitinga who was one of the 13 players booked in this match received his 2nd yellow and took an early shower for a foul in the 109th minute and with 4 minutes of extra time left the ball broke to Iniesta in the box who hammered it past Stekelenburg into the far corner to win the World Cup for Spain.

Third place match

Germans home and drei

Saturday July 10th Germany 3 Uruguay 2 (Port Elizabeth)

Germany came from behind to claim third place in the World Cup with a win over Uruguay in an entertaining match in the rain. Friedrich stretched at the far post to head a corner onto the Uruguayan crossbar in the 10th minute and 8 minutes later Muslera got down to keep out a 35-yard shot from Schweinsteiger leaving Thomas Mueller to knock in the rebound, but Uruguay drew level in the 28th minute when Perez robbed Schweinsteiger on the halfway line allowing Suarez to send Cavani through to stick the ball past Butt in the German goal. Suarez was through on goal 3 minutes from the break and dragged the ball wide of the far post, but 6 minutes into the 2nd half Arevalo crossed the ball for Diego Forlan to score with a stunning downward volley. Germany were level within 5 minutes when Muslera failed to meet a delivery from Boateng and Jansen found the net with a header, and Butt parried a fierce shot from Suarez in the 62nd minute. Muslera palmed down a shot from Kiebling in the 76th minute, but 6 minutes later Uruguay failed to deal with a corner-kick and Khedira scored the winner with a looping header. Forlan almost scored with the last kick of the match to send the match into extra time and give him the lead as top goal-scorer but his free-kick came off the crossbar to send Germany home in third place.