SPAIN WINS WORLD CUP NETHERLANDS LOSE

The final whistle has blown and Spain have won the World Cup for the first time! The Dutch look very sorry for themselves, and Sneijder is raging at an official for some slight no one else is quite sure about. But only one team has really played soccer tonight; Spain were certainly shaken from their usual cool, but the Netherlands’ dirty play failed to do no more. Van Bommel and de Jong were both lucky to make it to half time. Spain came into this as favorite and no one can really say they don’t deserve this; Germany might have been more electric, but even they looked humbled to be on the pitch with Spain earlier this week. Read more: sportsillustrated.cnn.com The online journalist’s Netherlands vs. Spain World Cup final checklist: 1) Have you mentioned that this match will add a new name to the list of World Cup winners? Whatever the outcome of this final, history is going to be made, and the World Cup’s trusty engraver will have to break in a new stencil. 2) Have you mentioned that the Netherlands failed to win the World Cup during the decade in which it had unarguably the greatest soccer team in the world? Bonus points for using the words « Cruyff » and « Total football. » Guaranteed entry to journo heaven if you can crowbar in Arie Haan’s semifinal goal versus Italy in 1978. Holland is looking to make it third time lucky, with Johan Cruyff and co. having been denied by the host nation in two consecutive finals. No Total Football this time around, but the trophy would be …