体坛英语新闻：Spain sink Netherlands 1-0 to lift first-ever World Cup

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said: "The best team won. I am disappointed. It is a world championship and we have just lost a final."

"It was a very difficult match," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. "We have fantastic players. We could have scored another goal or two but I think the result was deserved."

In the final, Del Bosque fielded the same starters in the semifinal, leaving striker Fernando Torres on the bench again. Dutch formation was almost the same as that of their semifinal, only seeing defender Van Der Wiel to replace Khalid Boulahrouz.

The 84,490 spectators did not enjoy a fluent flow of the game. Instead, the final was interrupted by tackles after tackles.

Andres Iniesta (C) of Spain celebrates his goal during the World Cup final against the Netherlands at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 11, 2010. Spain won the final 1-0.

The 14 yellow cards handed out in the match by England referee Howard Webb is now the record for most ever in a World Cup final. Of the 14, the Netherlands got nine.

Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt said "We are angry because we were so close. The feferee was slightly more for them than for us. That ultimately cost us the cup."

Only six minutes into the game, Xavi Hernandez's cross was met by Spain defender Sergio Ramos in the box and Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg made a superb diving save and was up quickly to stop Gerard Pique squaring it to David Villa for a tap in.

From a short corner in the 12th minute, Xabi Alonso crossed to the back post where Villa smacked a left-footed volley into the side-netting.

Three minutes later, Dutch forward Robin van Persie's late tackle on Joan Capdevila was met with the final's first yellow card. But Spain defender Carles Puyol, who headed in the winning goal in the semifinal, leveled up the yellow count for his tackle on Arjen Robben.

The third yellow card of the final went to Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel for an absolutely tackle on Iniesta from behind on 22 minutes, and the fourth was given to Ramos for piling in on Dirk Kuyt after one minute.

Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong went in the book in the 28th minute for clattering Alonso with a karate kick in the chest. Webb should have shown a red for such an awful tackle.

A short corner from the Dutch offers two chances in the 37th minute. Van Bommel scuffed his shot on the edge of the box, but he did better than Joris Mathijsen, who totally missed his kick at the back post.

The 45th minute witnessed a free kick across goal before Puyol cleared, then Robben's low shot was turned behind by a scrambling Iker Casillas.

Puyol leaped high to meet the corner at the near post in the 48th minute and as it fell to the back post, Joan Capdevila missed his kick from seven yards out.

The Netherlands collected two yellow cards around 55 minutes, one for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the other for Heitinga. And Puyol was also cautioned later.