Spain defeat the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time to win 2010 FIFA World Cup

July 12, 2010

Spain defeated the Netherlands in 1–0 to win this year's. The winning goal came in the last few minutes of the match, which saw thirteen yellow cards and one red card.

Yesterday's win marked Spain's first World Cup victory, in their first World Cup final appearance, making the Spanish team the eighth distinct team to have won the championship since it began in 1930. It was the second time that the European champion for that year won the World Cup as well, the first being 's victory in 1974. It was also the first time that a European team emerged as the World Cup victors on a continent other than Europe. For the Dutch, it was the third time they have lost in the World Cup finals, having done so in 1974 and 1978.

The final match, played in 's stadium, stayed tied at 0–0 for all of regulation time. Called "a very difficult match" by Spanish coach, the game started with a slow first half. The Dutch had an opportunity to take the lead in the second half, but 's shots were blocked by Spanish captain. The Netherlands were forced to play with only ten players near the end of extra time after was kicked out of the game.

The winning shot of the match came from Spanish midfielder in the 116th minute, just four minutes from the end of extra time. He managed to kick the ball past Dutch goalkeeper from just 8 metres (26.2 feet) away. If Iniesta had not made the goal, and game stayed scoreless until the end of extra time, the game would have been decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Spain's victory was correctly predicted by the Paul the Octopus. Paul's 2010 FIFA World Cup prediction record stayed at 100 per cent as a result.