SPAIN WIN WORLD CUP FOR FIRST TIME AND PLAY THE FOOTBALL

The European Champions Spain have become the World Champions for the first time in their first final-and deserved it.They were the better side with better players.Holland did well to reach the final and had a physical and fouling game plan to stop the Spanish. Arjen Robben still had two great chances to win it for the Dutch.But they finished up with 7 yellow cards and Johnny Heitinga being sent off for two yellows.I warned pre-match that Van Bommel may have been sent off.He was lucky that did not happen in the first half.English referee Howard Webb came in for some stick afterwards but it was a difficult match and his 12 yellows and one red were justified.He did try and make it a match but the Dutch players did not allow it or the Spanish defenders marking Robben.The only goal that seperated the two teams was scored four minutes from the end of extra time by Andres Iniesta,the match's best player and for me the best player at the World Cup.So how come the football writers gave the Golden Ball for the best player to Uruguay's Diego Forlan?This was a World Cup full of surprises when many of the big names failed to perform.There were many disappointing games.But in the end the best team won.

CLOSER TO CALL THAN MOST IMAGINE

Nearly a billion people will watch the World Cup final between Holland and Spain on their television sets around the globe.Its still a mind blowing figure.Spain in their first final will be favourites and most lovers of football will want them to win.Holland,my dark horses to be World Cup champions,are well organised but not so much flair although they have key players in Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder.There are so many great players in the Spanish team with ace scorer David Villa but its been that sort of tournament with upsets galore along the way.At the outset I predicted in my blogs that it would be one of the three usual suspects,Spain,Brazil or Argentina but I also had a strong fancy for my dark horses Holland.My big worry for the Dutch,though,is not so much the football Spain play but whether Mark van Bommel will avoid a red card.He has survived quite a bit so far but now he comes up against English referee Howard Webb who I am sure will give van Bommel every chance but eventually enough will be enough.Lets hope for a red-card free final,a good match and the team that deserves it wins.I remember hoping Holland would win the first World Cup final I attended,1974 in Munich,when Holland and Johan Cruyff played total football but still lost to Garmany.That day I sat in the ITV commentary seats behind two legends,Sir Alf Ramsey and commentator Hugh Johns.Both would turn in their graves if they knew how England had played in this World Cup.

GOLDEN BOOT PREDICTION WAS SPAIN'S DAVID VILLA

I tipped David Villa to be the top goalscorer.It will be decided in the World Cup final because Spain's Villa and Holland's Wesley Sneijder top the Gold Boot with 5 goals each! I expect Villa to edge it.Sneijder has been one of the outstanding players on this South African tournament.Villa though is the sharp shooter and may get more opportunities from the position he plays.

ENGLISHMAN HOWARD WEBB TO REFEREE WORLD CUP FINAL

Top English referee Howard Webb will be in charge of the World Cup final-the highest honour for this South Yorkshire policeman.I didn't think he had a great domestic season but there is no doubt he has a commanding manner and is able to make tough decisions.The 38 year old will have Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey as his assistants.My first World Cup as an ITV interviewer was in Germany in 1974.I recall taking a message that a Wolverhampton butcher Jack Taylor has been given the West Germany-Holland World Cup final and track him down.It began a long friendship.Taylor had the strength to give a penalty AGAINST Germany in the opening minute!I am sure Webb won't hesitate to go the same.Then at least England will have something to be proud of from this tournament.

DUTCH REACH FINAL BUT MY DARK HORSES HAVE THE LUCK

My pre-World Cup tip that Holland were the dark horses is standing up.They are in their first World Cup final for 32 years having beaten Uruguay in an outstanding semi-final 3-2.Some of the Dutch goals included debatable decisions which the slow-motion TV replays showed the referee wrong.But in normal speed you are not sure and we all know where FIFA stand on those non-existent replays!You need a bit of luck and Holland had that.They also have a wonderful player in Wesley Sneijder.He looks a World Cup winner.The Dutch are getting stronger.It might well be a Holland-Germany final unless the talented Spanish team step up their game in tonight's other semi-final and who would have thought that on June 11.The Germans have had an excellent game plan,scored stacks of goals and their young team has impressed everyone.Joachim's Low's side has been the most impressive with Bastian Schweinsteiger defying his earlier critics.The Bayern Munich player still thinks Spain are the best team in the world.For sure the Germans will miss Thomas Muller who is suspended for tonight's match.Its a wonderful looking semi-final for the right to meet Holland in what will be an all European final.England may have been very poor but Europe has still seen off South America and Africa.

CLOSE CALL FOR GOLDEN BOOT AS WELL AS WORLD CUP WINNERS

Its hard enough trying to work out the World Cup winners in this tournament of surprises.Its not going to form.Its a tight call,too, for the Golden Boot. The winner is the player who scores the most goals in these World Cup finals.My tip was Spain's David Villa who plays tonight in the semi-final with under-estimated Germany.David Villa has five goals,the same number now as the outstanding Dutch player Wesley Sneijder.The two German players Thomas Muller(who is suspended for tonight's semi-final) and Miroslav Klose both have one less with four each.I still fancy Villa but Spain have to do the business and step up a gear or two.

HOLLAND AGAINST GERMANY IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL?

The experts said the Germans were not very good before the World Cup started.Bet they are changing their minds.Four against the Aussies,four against the old enemy England and now four against the Argies.They only conceeded one goal-to England-in the process and only one other so far in the World Cup-one nil defeat to Serbia when they had a player sent off and missed a penalty.No good eh?Will they beat Spain?Its a tough call but Spain will have to raise their game.The Germans are organised and stick to their game plan.Holland,my dark horses to win the competition,should beat Uruguay to set up an all-European final.I would like to see Spain but I have a feeling its going to be those tournament specialists Germany.

PICK OF MY EMAIL BAG

My thanks for your emails...Eddie Archibald's summed them up.He wrote:Apart from Stuart Pearce and the physio Gary Lewin England should have a complete clear out apart from the younger players like Wayne Rooney.I would like the see Steve Bruce and David Beckham running the team......well Eddie since you posted your email the FA have decided to keep Fabio Capello who will want to maintain his backroom team including the two you have mentioned.But you can bet your bottom dollar that he will be making lots of changes in the team line-ups in future.

AS I PREDICTED BEFORE KICK-OFF HOLLAND KO BRAZIL

Holland have been my dark horses to win the World Cup.I certainly fancied them to beat Brazil today and I predicted that they would beforehand(see earlier blog).I am not much of a gambler but I placed £20 with Star Sports( the gentleman's bookmaker) at 11-4 this morning.Mind you I was a little concerned at half-time but away from South America there is always a chance that Brazil could self destruct...and that's what happened.One nil up early on through a fine goal by Robinho,the second half was a reversal in form and outcome for both sides.Felipe Melo own goal,little Wesley Sneijder with the header and then Melo sent off for a horror job on Robben.Holland in the semi-finals and with now a great chance of reaching the World Cup final.

994,213 PLAY MY PIEMAN GOALIE GAME

Tamba Internationasl who created my Pieman goalie game report new offical figures of 994,213 playing since February.Great news,thanks for your support.If you have not played it why not try it and then pay a visit to my Pieman's shop which is full of goodies......

FABIO CAPELLO TO STAY

The FA who don't get many things right it seems these days have decided to keep Fabio Capello to his contract.They will say he is still the best for the job,outsiders may say its because they have given him too big a contract and they don't fancy shelling out £12 million or a similar large figure in pay-off.How good is Capello as an international manager? We still don't know.But I don't think he is the right person for the England job.His English is not great and his playing culture is more Italian than English in terms of off the field rules.Qualification is not surely what £6 million a year should be all about.Its about real progress in the finals tournament,the right selection,right results and playing well at the same time.Heck football managers on a lot less are sacked for a lot less!But if that is what the FA have decreed lets at least get behind Capello next season.He will make changes;he has to and will do that.We live in hope.But don't hold your breath that will be be European or World Champions soon...or under Capello.

HOLLAND TO BEAT BRAZIL!

Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-days sun! I must be slightly off my trolley but I think Holland will beat Brazil.Yes Brazil can be brilliant but the Dutch are wiser than Chile and technically they can do the business as well as Brazil.All along I have fancied one from these four to win the World Cup-- Spain,Argentina and Brazil with Holland as my dark horses.Brazil have injuries and suspensions but they do have enough defensive minded players to be extremely difficult to beat.Everyone is fit for Holland.Both teams are unbeaten.Brazil are odds on to win today:some bookies go 3-1 against Holland.The Dutch will play 4-2-3-1 today with a real game plan.Some flair players like Robin van Persie don't always enjoy it but it has been effective so far.Brazil have been so solid at the back with the last two results build on successive clean sheets.But the Dutch are a different prospect and there is an upset,I think,on the cards.On the other hand pass the sunhat please!!....Uruguay,Argentina and Spain to win the other quarter-finals.

ENGLISH MANAGERS ON THE MOVE

Roy Hodgson's move to Liverpool as manager makes sense on both sides.Hodgson is English,experienced and will be able to address the problems at Anfield.He is a very good manager but he needs to keep the best players from leaving.Easier said then done with the club's money problems.Liverpool is a great club but it has not been behaving like one in recent years......Nigel Pearson is a manager with a good future.He was a brilliant captain.Ron Atkinson says he best he ever had and they include Bryan Robson and Andy Townsend.Now he has proved at Leicester he can do it off the scenes.He feels he was not wanted there any more and surprised with the ease Leicester allowed him to talk with Hull.Now have turned round the fortunes of the Foxes if he can grab the Tigers by their tails and restore their fortunes he will really have arrived!Good stories during the rest days at the World Cup.Football never closes!