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.