Spain Wins World Cup, 1-0

In the world’s biggest sporting event, the team favored took it all. Spain defeated the Netherlands by a score of 1-0 in extra time to win the World Cup and lay claim to the title of best soccer nation in the world.

The final goal of the World Cup, and the lone goal of the championship game didn’t come until the 116th minute of the match. Andres Inlesta scored off a broken play, in which his teammate found him 15 yards away from the goal, where Inlesta took the volley and belted it right under the outstretched hands of the Netherlands goalkeeper.

All and all, it was a very close match throughout the game, despite the fact that Spain dominated the ball for 57% of the time. However, even that number is slightly skewed, as Spain seemed to hold on to the ball and was less aggressive during the final half hour of the match.

The Netherlands had 5 shots on goal while Spain had 6, with the 6th one being the difference in the game. Both goalkeepers were outstanding all day long, as each keeper had 5 saves, many of them of the 1-on-1 variety on breakaway opportunities for the opposing team.

In fact, it was the Netherlands that had the most 1-on-1 opportunities, including a late one in extra time when the Netherlands Arjen Robben failed to get the ball past the goalkeeper after some physical contact in the box. Spain had earlier opportunities, including one in which the Netherlands goalie came 18 yards out only to barely get a foot on the ball and save what would have been a go-ahead goal for Spain.

This World Cup victory marks the first of its kind for the nation of Spain. David Villa’s five goals during the tournament will make him a part of Spanish lure for a long time to come if not forever.

While Spain enjoys its World Cup victory, Germany’s Thomas Mueller was awarded the World Cup’s Golden Boot, which goes to the high scorer of the tournament. Mueller had six goals in South Africa during the tournament, while Spain’s Villa and the Netherlands Wesley Sneijder each had 5 as the runners up.

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