A smiling Nelson Mandela brings the World Cup 2010 to an emotional end last night as Spain won a bad-tempered final against Holland. Spain’s Andres Iniesta broke the deadlock to beat the Dutch with a dramatic winner with four minutes left of extra time.The tense game, watched by an audience of up to a billion people, failed to live up to the earlier success of the South African tournament. English referee Howard Webb showed 14 yellow cards and sent Holland’s John Heitinga off in extra time.
In Madrid, hundreds of thousands of Spaniards were jubilant in fan parks across the city for La Roja’s first World Cup win. Police closed a half-mile stretch of Madrid’s main avenue, the Paseo de Castellana, where massive screens were set up. Earlier, Mr Mandela provided the moment most South African fans had been waiting for when he took to the pitch to a thunderous roar of vuvuzelas and cheers from the 95,000 crowd. The icon of the anti-apartheid movement has kept a low profile during the tournament after his great-granddaughter died in a car crash before the opening ceremony.
But he smiled and waved as he was driven across the pitch with wife Graça Machel to an ovation in the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. The crowd chanted “Madiba”, the clan name by which he is affectionately known. His grandson Mandla Mandela said Fifa had put Mr Mandela under “pressure” to go to the game. Mandla said the engagement would be “strenuous” for the frail 91-year-old. Singer Shakira kicked off a spectacular closing ceremony with the tournament’s song Waka Waka! watched by heads of state from Africa, including South Africa’s Jacob Zuma and Dutch and Spanish royals.
But the match only came to life in the second half, with the first good chances falling to Holland winger Arjen Robben, only to be denied by Spain’s keeper Iker Casillas. Spain took control and missed chances with the game looking to be heading for penalties. But Barcelona midfielder Iniesta broke Dutch hearts and the tens of thousands watching in Amsterdam’s packed public squares.
Keys: World Cup 2010: Spain Won A Bad-Tempered Final Against Holland, Spain World Cup Winner.
