Who is watching worldcup now?????

What are we applauding?

Holland to the finals. Holland Urugay 3-2. Exiting match until the end.
Next sunday against Germany or Spain.

Bebootje wrote:Holland to the finals. Holland Urugay 3-2. Exiting match until the end.
Next sunday against Germany or Spain.

Thanks! I'll join in now then!



Holland/Spain for the finals....please...yayyyyyy!!!!!

Paul the English Psychic Octopus has chosen Spain.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Strange-News/Paul-The-Octopus-Predicts-Spain-Will-Beat-Germany-In-World-Cup-Semi-Final-In-South-Africa/Article/201007115660208?lpos=Strange_News_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15660208_Paul_The_Octopus_Predicts_Spain_Will_Beat_Germany_In_World_Cup_Semi-Final_In_South_Africa

Wonder if he's right?

But from history's perspective I would like to see a Dutch German Final.

Sorry Bebootje - Your wish won't come true now

But Paul's amazing powers have triumphed again. Can't wait to find out who he favours in the final .....

Alfiefinn wrote:Sorry Bebootje - Your wish won't come true now

But Paul's amazing powers have triumphed again. Can't wait to find out who he favours in the final .....

Amazing! Yes, an English octopus. I believe he was born in Weymouth.

Amazing it is... Was he really right all the time?
So Spain it will be. Cant wait...

football 1 - holland 0

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/worldcup2010/3049624/Holland-0-Spain1.html#ixzz0tSPrRcf9

HOLLAND 0 SPAIN 1 MATCH REPORT

JUSTICE was done.
Spain
were rightly crowned world champions for the first time to add to their
European title of two years ago while the Dutch were guilty of crimes
against football.

The Spanish bulls tried to play the game and
it would have been a scandal had Holland nicked it by kicking Vicente
Del Bosque's team off the park.

As it was, Andres Iniesta's
winner four minutes from the end of extra time, which he rattled into
the corner from a pass by sub Cesc Fabregas, sparked a fiesta.

Iniesta typifies Spain's approach. They want to pass the ball, run with it, love it and entertain.

Ironically
it is what the Dutch "total football" sides of the 70s used to do but
this one was a disgrace to their memory - this was more "total
thuggery".

Holland collected nine yellow cards and a red for
Everton's Johnny Heitinga while Spain, in the face of serious
provocation, got five of their own.

That established a rather
dubious World Cup record for English referee Howard Webb for the number
of yellow cards dished out in a final - 14. The previous record was six
in 1986.

Dutch players surrounded Webb at the end berating him
for goodness knows what. They were lucky they only had one man sent
off. It could have been three.

This final will not be remembered as a classic, nor indeed will the competition as a whole but you have to hand it to Spain.

So
many of their teams of yesteryear were dismal failures despite
possessing plenty of talent but this group allies skill with grit and
determination.

It is amazing to reflect that Spain actually
lost their first game of the competition to unheralded Switzerland and
were in danger of going out.

But they got it together to break
German resolve in the semi-final and overcame the aggression of the
Dutch who are now three-time losers in World Cup finals.

Former
Chelsea winger Arjen Robben had said he was only interested in winning
rather than playing beautiful football but in the end his team achieved
neither.

Robben missed two golden chances when one-on-one with
keeper Iker Casillas, although on the second occasion he was raging at
referee Webb, claiming he was pulled back by Carles Puyol.

Spain
started brightly with a Sergio Ramos header forcing a diving save out
of Maarten Stekelenburg, and David Villa volleying Xabi Alonso's cross
into the side netting.

But the first half was more notable for a series of nasty fouls of which the Dutch were by far the worst offenders.

There
were five bookings in the space of 14 minutes, the worst of which was
when Manchester City's Nigel de Jong karate-kicked Alonso in the chest.


Holland did not create much but, on 37 minutes, Mark van Bommel
completely miskicked Robben's short corner and it fell to Joris
Mathijsen who was so surprised he kicked fresh air.

Then right on half-time, Robben forced a save out of Casillas at the near post.

Spain
were the dominant force though and early in the second half Puyol
headed across goal but Joan Capdevila was half asleep and, like
Mathijsen, missed his kick from four yards out.

It was a game which so needed a goal and that really should have been one.

Heitinga
made it a not so magnificent seven cautions when he was late on Villa
and it was difficult to imagine how we could possibly finish with 22
players on the pitch.

There had been so many bookings it was
easy to lose count and though Webb was turning out to be the central
figure he had called them right.

A spot of football finally broke out on 62 minutes.

Wesley Sneijder cleverly released Robben through the middle and the winger was away with only Casillas to beat.

Robben
took aim towards the left corner and, though Casillas dived the other
way, he managed to get a boot to the ball and divert it past the post.

Robben held his head in his hands as team-mates fell to the floor in anguish. It was a big, big chance.

The
game was opening up and, when Heitinga fell over trying to clear, Villa
had a brilliant opportunity but his shot hit the grounded Everton
defender.

Had Spain lost, Ramos would have been cursing for he
should have scored with 13 minutes left instead of heading Xavi's
corner over when unmarked. There was another chance for Robben as he
broke and seemed to be pulled back by Puyol - who had already been
booked.

Surprisingly, for a player who usually goes down
easily, Robben kept on his feet and got into the box but, when he tried
to go round Casillas, the keeper saved.

Robben went after the ref claiming a free-kick and a sending off for Puyol but Webb had correctly played advantage.

On came Fabregas for Alonso with four minutes of normal time remaining.

The
Arsenal star put extra life into the Spanish play although, like
Robben, he was denied in a one-on-one with the keeper as Stekelenburg
saved with his boot early in extra time.

Fabregas had another
effort which he slid wide but Spain found more space once Heitinga was
dismissed with 11 minutes left for pulling back Iniesta.

A cross from Liverpool's Fernando Torres, who had replaced Villa, was cleared only as far as Fabregas.

The Gunner laid the ball off for Iniesta who smashed it across the keeper with his right foot.

Viva Espana!

van bommel and de jong should have gone before half time. van bommel was just a thug. robben was a tart when at chelsea and doesn't seemed to have changed. interestingly but predictably the dutch chose to blame the referee at the end, just as outclassed sore losers tend to do.

Marky wrote:van bommel and de jong should have gone before half time. van bommel was just a thug. robben was a tart when at chelsea and doesn't seemed to have changed. interestingly but predictably the dutch chose to blame the referee at the end, just as outclassed sore losers tend to do.

Indeed. Robben is so one footed and predictable its unbelievably easy to deal with him.De Jong should be up at the magistrates for assault.What a way to approach a world cup final,holland have done themselves no favours and got what they deserved.