No wonder Johan Cruyff chose to support Spain.docVIP

No wonder Johan Cruyff chose to support Spain. No wonder, after seeing how his country betrayed the proud football heritage to which he was central, the greatest Dutchman ever to play the game said it would give him ‘intense joy’ to see the Spanish win. This wonderful team are now champions of the world as well as Europe but they had to overcome a Holland side who kicked their way into extra time and went desperately close to settling this hugely disappointing final with the lottery of spot-kicks. They were within four minutes of doing so when Andres Iniesta produced the one crucial moment of pure brilliance to seal victory for the team of the tournament and the first Spanish team to lift football’s ultimate prize. El fire: Andres Iniesta fires a stunning shot past Holland goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg for the extra-time winner It was a super goal. Having seen a chipped cross from Fernando Torres only half-cleared, Iniesta excelled in first controlling the bouncing ball back into the box from Cesc Fabregas before driving a beautifully struck half-volley past Maarten Stekelenburg. It was exactly what both teams deserved, Spain for remaining so determined to win the right way and Holland for resorting so cynically to football’s dark arts. With respect to the current Germany team, Bert van Marwijk’s side adopted an approach that was more Teutonic than the ‘Total Football’ that is supposed to be Holland’s trademark. They just set about to stifle their classy opponents with spoiling tactics. Dani Jarque is always with us: Iniesta paid tribute to the deceased Espanyol and Spain player after scoring In the end Howard Webb smashed the record for a World Cup final with 13 yellow cards, dismissing John Heitinga in extra time for a second such offence, but the red card should have come out far earlier than it did. Key to Holland’s plan was the way Van Marwijk instructed Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel to hound Iniesta, Xavi and Xabi Alonso out of the game and both sho