World Cup 2010: The Reign of Spain

Netherlands 0 - 1 Spain

Iniesta!!! Iniesta!!! Iniesta!!! Described by teammate Xavi as "Spain's most complete player," the unassuming 5'7" midfielder pulled the sword from the stone today with a clean strike into the net, in the 116th minute, winning the World Cup for Spain for the first time in the country's history, and, no doubt, putting the iniesta in fiesta for the next four years.





It was a laborious, protracted battle with yellow cards scattered on both sides, though it is the Dutch who will be remembered for its overall surliness and ugly transgressions on the field. The most sour moment for the not-so-bright orange was a flying chest kick committed by Nigel De Jong against Xabi Alonso that was beyond a red-card. Though De Jong should be expelled from professional soccer for a move like that, he skipped off with a shasta-daisy of a yellow card. Alonso, meanwhile, pressed on, despite the injury, a la Tim Howard.

Spain's patron saint of soccer, the mighty Iker Casillas, was in full-form, keeping the ugly orcs from storming the castle at all costs. He defended the goal with total focus and inhibition: blocking, punching, and oftentimes throwing his entire body onto the ball as if it were a grenade.

No one but Casillas better personifies the greatness of this Spanish team. It was not an easy start for the La Roja captain, having been crucified by the Spanish press for the team's loss against Switzerland in the early rounds of this tournament, but, Casillas stood up to the pressure and led his team to what would eventually play out like a destiny written in the stars.

Viva Espagna! WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS of 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



And the World Cup trophy wasn't the only recipient of a kiss from Spain's dashing squad captain. Given all they've suffered in this tournament, I'd say things ended pretty nicely for these two stunning, starry-eyed lovers.

World Cup 2010, Semifinals, Day 2: The Rise of Spain

Germany 0 - 1 Spain

Thank goodness I'm not a betting person, because for this match, I would have easily placed my money on Germany, even without midfielder Thomas Mueller, who was suspended from play due to a second yellow card in the Argentina match. I doubt if anyone has had much success trying to predict anything in this mercurial Cup, unless of course you're a Dutch fan, or, a psychic octopus.

There's no disputing Mueller's contribution to the success of the German team in this tournament. As detailed on Fifa's website, Mueller had scored 4 goals out of 10 shots taken, made 196 passes and 24 crosses--those incredible goal-inducing crosses that have been such a sight to see. Whatever the reason, Germany's performance in its last two games went from dangerous to declawed.

But let's talk about Spain--the energy, the speed, the precision. It wasn't a prolific performance of goals, but in terms of possession, Spain put on a beautiful show, working the pitch the way Iron Chefs work their kitchen stations. Looking like a third wheel on the pitch, Germany had hardly any quality time with the ball. And with every blocked shot that blasted into Neuer's arms and chest, the Spaniard's chipped away at Germany's confidence. Finally, came the heavenly moment for Spain, a golden header by Carles Puyol in the 72nd minute. ¡¡¡ ARRIBA ESPAÑA !!!

Spain has already changed history with this win, reaching the World Cup finals for the first time ever. Though the Netherlands made it to the finals in '74 and '78, it, too, has never won a World Cup championship. Which means, either way, we're bound for an earth-shaking match and the crowning of a first-time champion.

Who do I want to win? I think this commercial says it best.

World Cup 2010, Semifinals, Day 1: The Clockwork Orange Wind Up for Final Match

Uruguay 2 - 3 Netherlands

No want of drama here. No matter what your opinions were at the start of this first semifinals match, by halftime you were in awe of two tremendous teams and had to concede that it was either side's match to win. Netherlands came out with all the force and alacrity we've come to expect from the brilliant orange and La Celeste fought back with coolness, calmness and a goal-making maestro known as Forlan.

Netherlands attacked early on in the third minute, but the shot went wide. A little later, came a more concerted Dutch effort leading up to a meteoric kick by Van Bronckhorst who sent the ball soaring into the goal from far out left field. If you were wondering what World Cup soccer looks like, this was it.

The Dutch were flying high off that goal for a good twenty minutes. And just as halftime began to rear its ugly head, came a total thing of beauty from the great and powerful Forlan. At that point, any neutral feeling I had over the outcome was overtaken by awe. If Forlan was Uruguay then Uruguay was the team I wanted to win.

Forlan's equalizer held down the Dutch for a while, and in the 67th minute, a missed opportunity by forward Robben gave the impression of a rattled Netherlands. But that was not the case, and as if our cup of golden goals had not already runneth over onto the floor and down the hallway in this match, we were treated to yet another prize-winning shot, this one an impossible goal by Sneijder that somehow found its way to safety, like a baby through a construction site, (3:12).

Before Spanish announcers had time to complete their goal shout for Sneijder, Robben headed in a third, which at this point in the game seemed an exponential lead for the Dutch. Moments later, Uruguay substituted Forlan, as if to say the real show's over, time to place the team's Stradivarius back in its case.

The countdown from 3 minutes of stoppage time ticked away as Dutch fans went wild, celebrating a 3-1 score that headlines could easily hail as an orange crush. Not so, said Pereira, who injected fear back into the game with this last-minute act of defiance that left Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg looking baffled by the sheer, barefaced audacity of it all.

In the end, brilliant orange triumphed over celestial blue, but it was an incredible fight.

What else can be said about this magnificent team from the Netherlands. They have not lost a single match in this tournament. Their game is consistently strong, they adapt to their opponent, they're quick on the draw. With every bright-orange fiber of its fabric, the Netherlands is undeniably THE team to beat for the World Cup Championship 2010.

World Cup 2010: Quarterfinals, Day 2: Germany Leaps Over Argentina; Spain's Last-Minute Olé

Argentina 0 - 4 Germany
Paraguay 0 - 1 Spain

Argentina v Germany

Instead of taking off his pants, World Cup showman, Maradona, may have pooped them. In this much anticipated match between Argentina v Germany, what began with a whip-lashing goal by Muller in the third minute ended in the decimation of a struggling and defenseless Argentine team.

Not one goal was won by La Albiceleste, who seemed to gain some control in the second half but failed to capitalize on innumerable opportunities at the German goal post. Once Germany scored its second goal in the the 67th minute, its confidence level shot up, as did German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who stood beaming from the stands. Convinced of their superiority, Die Mannschaft doubled their fun, at Argentina's expense, striking two more hits in the next 20 minutes.

Icing on the cake for Germany: Both Klose and Muller are tied at 14 World Cup goals, one goal away from Brazil's Ronaldo. Because of a yellow card suspension, Muller will be sitting the next game out, leaving Klose all alone to break or tie Ronaldo's record. However, Klose claims he isn't thinking about that right now. Hmph, yeah right.

That leaves Uruguay the last remaining South American team in the semifinals, a complete turnaround from all the Sazón that was spicing up the second round. Europe has emerged the leader, with the Germans leading the pack. Cue the Darth Vadar music, here they come!






Btw, psychic octopus, Paul, predicted this one too.



Paraguay v Spain




It was another one of those tedious, scoreless matches. Some spikes of drama included a disallowed goal by Valdez for Paraguay, a nosebleed for Santana, and a perfect save by Spain goalie Iker Casillas. But for the longest time, not a single goal was scored by either team. Was I going to have to order another beverage? Then, in the 83rd minute, Spain's David Villa triumphed over a resilient ball that seemed determined to bounce out of play. It was a win that ignited Spain fans all over the world and caused Spanish announcers to lose their breath.

But can mild-mannered Spain beat the goal-pounding Germans? It doesn't look like it, but who knows, maybe we'll get to see a little of La Furia Roja come out in Wednesday's match. Being one of the few top-ranked teams that has never taken home the FIFA World Cup, Spain certainly has strong incentive to win. As for the psychic octopus, I don't know what Paul's prediction is for this match, but here's a not-so-shocking prediction by a German scientist. That alone should make you want to root for Spain.

World Cup 2010: Quarterfinals, Day 1: Damn You Netherlands, Damn You To Hell; Ghana Dies a Noble Death

Netherlands 2 - 0 Brazil

Not much to say here. It was a good match, real world-cup level excitement. Netherlands played a better game. As for Brazil's underwhelming performance, I blame Dunga. I realize there were some messy plays in the first half, but I don't understand Dunga's exaggerated display of anger and frustration. I think visions of fortune and glory went to his head. Even after Robinho scored the first goal of the match, Dunga didn't seem happy. The Brazilian players were feisty and unruly, which is very uncharacteristic of them. Lots of shouting from Robinho and Maicon, which would have earned them yellow cards from some of the more volatile refs we've seen in the tournament. Japanese ref Yuichi Nishimura played it calm and cool--and sharp. He didn't fall for theatrics or miss any fouls.

Halftime came and I wondered what words of wisdom Dunga would have for his team. Something told me it wouldn't be an uplifting halftime speech but a demanding, overly confident one. I think my suspicions may have been correct. Why else would Brazil come out from a half-time lead acting so rough and tough? Melo's red card was the end of it, even though the team didn't play much worse without him. But it summed up the whole performance, they were more focussed on getting into trouble than moving up to the semifinals.

In the end, it was Wesley Sneijder's match. The 5'7" player knows how to score. Also maybe I'm being too hard on Brazil, here's what Kaka had to say about it.



Uruguay v Ghana



When Uruguayan hands illegally blocked a goal from Ghana--a last-minute goal that would have catapulted the team into the semifinals against the Netherlands--the weight of the entire continent of Africa fell upon Asamoah Gyan's shoulders, as he braced himself to face the blessing and curse of a penalty kick.

Gyan nobly stepped up to the ball and gave it his best shot. The ball scudded past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who dropped into fetal position out in front of the goal area, then deflected hard off the top bar of the goal. With that, the Uruguayan team erupted with joy as a stunned Muslera shouted praises to the white bar that did his job for him. But the image that would sear itself into the memories of viewers is that heartbreaking moment when Gyan, seeing the ball ricochet off the bar, shielded his eyes, like a blinded Icarus, in inconsolable grief.

For Uruguay, the missed shot was a second chance at life. For Ghana, which would lose the ensuing shoot out, it was the first terrible pang of a drawn-out death. Nonetheless it was a spectacular run for Ghana. As the only African team to have risen to the quarterfinals in this roguish and unpredictable, champion-expelling World Cup, there is far more victory to behold in Ghana's performance than defeat. And if ever there was a hero to look up to, Asamoah Gyan, Ghana's fallen Icarus, is already working on building a better pair of wings for 2014.

So, did the best team win this match? Or, did a lesser one slide by, by forcing a technical foul that nullified a match-winning goal? As for the so-called penalty kick, it really only served to penalize Ghana, which was forced to reenact, on the spot, what essentially had already been achieved.

Uruguay will have a chance to redeem itself of any doubts about its worthiness as contenders, on Tuesday, when it stands up against the Netherlands, a team that has proven itself to be an indomitable juggernaut in this competition. I'm extremely anxious to see how Uruguay will do. Though Forlan has been one of the most exciting players to watch in this World Cup, one man does not make a team, especially in soccer, a game that has the words E pluribus unum etched across its soul. Guess we'll see on Tuesday, if those words ring true for Uruguay as well.