Spain also become the first European team to with the World Cup outside of their own continent and become the eight different country to win the tournament, while The Netherlands lost in a FIFA World Cup Final for the third time in their history.

Andres Iniesta scored the games only goal in the second half of extra time in the 116th minute, a few minutes prior to that the Dutch had John Heitinga sent off in a game that produced a total of 12 yellow cards.

Spain looked the more determined to take the early lead and they instituted a more offensive game plan, five minutes in Xavi curled a free kick from the right into the danger zone. Ramos was able to rise up and headed the ball powerfully towards goal, Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg dived at full length across the face of goal to make a fine save.

Spain were again on the offensive in the 12th minute, this time Villa was able to connect with a cross from the right but sent his left footed Volley crashing into the side netting.

On the stroke of half time Robben had Casillas scampering across goal to block his shot from the edge of 18 yard area, the first half was characterized by both teams committing fouls the referee dished out five yellow cards three went the way of The Netherlands and two to Spain in the opening fourty five minutes.

The early stages of the second were blighted by stop go football as both teams were guilty of committing numerous fouls, just past the hour mark Sneijder sent Robben through on goal with a quick pass along the ground.

With just Casillas to beat Robben tried to place the ball past him, the Spain skipper came off his goal line and dived at full stretch and was able to make contact with the ball as it hit his out stretched right leg and went out for a corner.

Dutch defender Heitinga was unable to block a cross from the left and let the ball escape under his legs to Villa who was lurking just behind him. Villa hit the ball goal wards Heitinga regained his composure and was able to block the Spain strikers shot at goal. This took place in the 69th minute.

In the 83rd minute Van Persie flicked a long ball from Stekelenburg on for Robben, who raced past Puyol and again got himself into a one on one situation with Casillas, again the Spain keeper came out off his line and jumped on the ball to avert the danger.

Goalless after ninety minutes the game moved into extra time, five minutes into which Cesc Fabregas was sent clear on goal Stekelenburg managed to come out and blocked his attempt at goal, shortly after that Iniesta hesitated in front of goal and it took a desperate tackle from Van Bommel to clear the danger.

Heitinga was sent off for pulling back Iniesta in the 109th minute and the Dutch had to play out the rest of the game a men short, he became the fifth player to be sent off in a World Cup Final.

Instead of awarding Holland what should have been a corner the referee instead gave a goal kick, from which Spain were able to launch a counter attack and the ball was eventually played to Iniesta on the right just inside The Netherlands 18 yard area and fired the ball past Stekelenburg in the 116th minute to score what proved to be the match winner.