DE JONG'S TACKLE WAS THE WORST

Xabi Alonso fears he may have broken a rib after describing Nigel de Jong's challenge in the World Cup final as 'one of the worst tackles' he has suffered.

Holland midfielder De Jong was fortunate not to be sent off in Sunday's Soccer City showdown after a kung-fu style kick into Alonso's chest in the first half.

The Spain ace was able to continue playing before being replaced by Cesc Fabregastowards the end of normal time, but he was unhappy with De Jong's tackle.

Reigning European champions Spain have now become the third side, after West Germany and France, to hold both tournaments at the same time.

No country has ever managed three on the trot, which will be Spain's task in two years' time at Euro 2012, and they have already been installed as favourites to complete a memorable hat-trick.

Alonso accepts there is plenty of work ahead of his team-mates before then, but the raw talent is certainly there.

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FINAL: SPAIN 0 - NETHERLANDS 0 (1-0 EXTRA TIME)

Andres Iniesta's strike with four minutes left of extra-time fired Spain to World Cup glory for the first time in their history as they vanquished Holland in a fractious final at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium.

In a game when a record number of yellow cards were given and John Heitinga was sent off in extra-time, both sides missed great chances from Arjen Robben and Cesc Fabregas, but Andres Iniesta netted in the 116th minute to give European champions Spain their first World Cup title.

Spain completely dominated possession but had few clear-cut chances to show for it, with a free header from Sergio Ramos and a David Villa strike that was deflected over the best opportunities in normal time. Demonstrated some excellent touches in midfield, with plenty of classy interchanges and never showed frustration when they couldn't break through. 

After an unimpressive first period, in which four Dutch players were yellow carded, Bert van Marwijk's side came into the game more after the interval, trying to get the ball to Arjen Robben as much as possible. It almost worked to devastating effect on two occasions when Carles Puyol's pace was exposed, but Robben was twice thwarted by Iker Casillas. Were outclassed in extra-time and after losing their cool a third World Cup final defeat will be the bitterest pill to swallow.

The introduction of Fabregas injected some much-needed freshness into Vicente del Bosque's side and the winning goal was just reward for the team that unquestionably played the better football.

Three minutes into the first period of extra-time, Spain had appeals for a penalty rightly turned down by Webb, who judged that Xavi kicked into Heitinga when in the area. 

In the 19th minute of extra-time, Holland were reduced to 10 men after Heitinga received a second booking for pulling on Iniesta's shoulder. And with four minutes remaining, Spain scored the goal that won them the 2010 World Cup.

Fabregas slipped a pass to his right, and waiting was Iniesta. The Barcelona schemer took one touch before planting the ball past Stekelenburg with aplomb, sparking delirium from the Spanish players as they completed their mission for world domination.

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Anywhere… Everywhere… We'll Deliver! - NOBLE STAR

WORLD CUP IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING

Xabi Alonso admits winning the World Cup with Spain would surpass his Champions League success with Liverpool.

Real Madrid midfielder Alonso was part of the Liverpool side that staged the remarkable comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul.

Alonso scored against Milan as Liverpool came from three goals down to draw 3-3 before winning the game in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

"But winning the World Cup, that is an achievement that so few players can make. Some of the best players the game has known never got a chance like this, when you can spell your name in history."

Spain take on Holland on Sunday in their first-ever World Cup final and Alonso admits winning the game's biggest prize would be the ultimate honour.

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Anywhere… Everywhere… We'll Deliver! - NOBLE STAR

 

HODGSON CONFIDENT GERRARD WILL STAY

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson believes Steven Gerrard will be staying at Anfield after revealing that he has had "positive" talks with the club captain.

Having already lost Yossi Benayoun to Chelsea, Hodgson is focused on keeping Gerrard and Fernando Torres at the club, amid speculation that the pair could leave.

But the future appears bright for Liverpool fans, as Hodgson met with Gerrard and Jamie Carragher following his appointment last Thursday, with the talks going to plan according to the new Reds boss.

With Gerrard happy to stay, Hodgson must turn his attention to Torres when he returns from World Cup action, though the Liverpool boss is confident that he can convince the Spain striker to commit his future to the club.

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GERMANY 0 - SPAIN 1

Spain needed a 73rd minute goal from defender Carles Puyol to edge past Germany 1-0 on Wednesday and set up a World Cup final against Netherlands. Puyol climbed above the defence to head the winner from a Xavi corner and send Spain to their first World Cup final.

The Spaniards dominated most of the match but struggled to finish off a German side that was lacking their usual pace. European champions Spain dominated possession early on and needed only five minutes to carve out their first chance against a nervous German defence.

Spain forward Pedro, who started ahead of the misfiring Fernando Torres, played the ball for David Villa, who caught Arne Friedrich napping but could not beat keeper Manuel Neuer. With the Germans, who lost the Euro 2008 final to the Spaniards by the same score, boxed into their own half, Spain kept up the pressure, with Puyol heading an Andres Iniesta cross from the right narrowly over the bar after 15 minutes.

The Spaniards came agonisingly close in the 58th minute with a Pedro shot that forced a spectacular save from Neuer before Iniesta cut the ball across the face of goal a metre ahead of the sliding Villa. Germany remained on the backfoot and 17 minutes from time were punished when Puyol headed home the winner.

Spain will face Netherlands at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Sunday. The Dutch have been in the final twice before but have never won it so a new world champion is guaranteed.

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Anywhere… Everywhere… We'll Deliver! - NOBLE STAR

TORRES PROUD TO BE IN THE SEMI-FINAL

Spain striker Fernando Torres believes the best is yet to come from his team as they prepare to take on Germany. The European champions face the Germans in Durban on Wednesday in the semi-finals of the World Cup, a repeat of their final in Euro 2008.

Spain lost their first game in the competition to Switzerland but have since bounced back and beat Paraguay 1-0 in the quarter-finals on Saturday. Liverpool striker Torres, 26, admits he is proud to lead the line in Spain's first ever World Cup semi-final, and is expecting a tough game.

Torres has not been on best form this summer as the Liverpool forward is struggling for fitness after only recently recovering from an injury. His strike partner David Villa, meanwhile, has been firing in the goals and sits top of the scoring chart with five strikes to his name so far.

Torres is unconcerned by his recent dip but insists it is the results that count, not individual performances.

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Anywhere… Everywhere… We'll Deliver! - NOBLE STAR

GERRARD SLAMS NON-PLAYING OFFICIALS

England's World Cup captain Steven Gerrard has called for goal-line technology to be introduced to football.

The Three Lions were victims of a questionable decision in their last-16 encounter against Germany in South Africa when a potential equaliser from Frank Lampard was disallowed despite clearly crossing the line.

Gerrard really hope that the failure of the linesman to see Frank Lampard's goal will opens the debate up again about goal-line technology. Though, he can't understand why there is so much opposition to the goal-line technology because it is about decisions that can decide things as big as the World Cup. He fear that the decision will be made by people who don't play the game and who aren't affected by these mistakes.

UEFA experimented with extra officials behind the goals during the Europa League and, after experiencing that system with Liverpool,Gerrard believes a similar strategy should have been employed at the World Cup. He added that if there had been a linesman behind the German goal then maybe England would still be in the World Cup.

The Reds skipper also feels that players should have a larger influence in changes made to the rules.These decisions are made they are always made by officials, but they don't play the game.

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QF: SPAIN 1 - PARAGUAY 0

An 83rd minute goal from David Villa defeated a dogged Paraguay as Spain unconvincingly booked a World Cup semi-final tie with Germany.

Villa scored with seven minutes remaining at Ellis Park to save his country's blushes following an unusually lacklustre performance and send them to the last four for the first time in their history.

The winning goal came after Oscar Cardozo and Xabi Alonso both missed penalties, the latter following a re-take.

Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque name an unchanged starting XI, despite pressure to remove the mis-firing Fernando Torres. Chile, meanwhile, made six changes to the team which beat Japan on penalties. Among those alterations, forward trio Roque Santa Cruz, Lucas Barrios and Edgar Benitez all dropped to the bench.

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