2010 World Cup - Spain Get First Win
South Africa hosted the first World Cup in Africa which was intended as another coming of age event for the former apartheid nation.
The host nation tumbled out after the group stages however. And of six African nations present only Ghana made it past the first round before bowing out in the quarter-finals.
Only six out of 13 European qualifiers reached the second round, a record low. England were thrashed 4-1 by old rivals Germany in the last 16. But European powerhouses Netherlands and Spain swept aside allcomers to reach the final.
European champions Spain beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the second round and Paraguay in the quarter-finals, both 1-0. They saw off Germany by the same score to reach the final.
The Dutch dug deep to beat Slovakia 2-1, Brazil by the same score and Uruguay 3-2 to book their final place.
The final was a crunching, negative affair with 14 yellow cards, more than doubling the previous record for the showpiece match. Dutch centre back John Heitinga was sent off for two yellow card fouls.
Dutch strongarm tactics kept the match goalless for 90 minutes, but Andres Iniesta scored in extra-time to give Spain their first World Cup win.
Final
July 11, 2010 - Spain 1 Netherlands 0
2010 World Cup Legend
Andres INIESTA
Spain: Born 1984
A Barcelona lifer, after making his club debut in 2002, Andres Iniesta has quietly come through club and national ranks to become a rock of both sides.
His vision, ball control and passing have marked him out as one of the best footballers of his generation. Team-mate Xavi calls him "Spain's most complete player" and Iniesta will remain a dominant figure at Brazil 2014.
Iniesta was a key player in the Barcelona team that won six titles in one season in 2009. He was also a centrepiece of the fantastically talented Spanish side that won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.
He scored the winner in the 2010 final against the Netherlands but it was one of only 10 goals Iniesta has scored in nearly 100 appearances for Spain.
2010 World Cup Scorers
Thomas Muller (GER) 5 goals
Wesley Sneijder (NED) 5
David Villa (ESP) 5
Diego Forlan (ARG) 5
Gonzalo Higuain (ARG) 4
Miroslav Klose (GER) 4
Robert Vittek (SVK) 4
2010 World Cup Trivia
- Spain's victory was the first time a European nation has won the World Cup outside the continent.
- French striker Nicolas Anelka sparked a strike by his team-mates after he rowed with coach Raymond Domenech during training at the finals. Anelka was sent home and France crashed out in the first round.
- Portugal's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first interntional goal in two years as his side thrashed North Korea 7-0. At the 1966 finals, North Korea took a 3-0 lead over a Portuguese team featuring Eusebio, but lost 4-3.
2010 World Cup Winning Squad
Spain
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas, Victor Valdes, Pepe Reina
Defenders: Raul Albiol, Gerard Pique, Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa
Midfielders: Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, Juan Mata, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Javi Martinez, David Silva, Jesus Navas
Strikers: David Villa, Fernando Torres, Pedro, Fernando Llorente
Source: Agence France Presse
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