'Can you imagine what it would have been like if we’d won?' says Dutch coach as thousands of fans in boats welcome the World Cup runners-up home

By Daily Mail Reporter

A not-quite-heroes' welcome: The Netherlands' losing World Cup team is seen on a green boat, front right, prior to a boat tour through Amsterdam's canals today


Hundreds of thousands of fans took to the streets and canals of Amsterdam today to celebrate the Dutch football team’s second place in the World Cup.

The players waved at fans, swigged beer and blew vuvuzelas aboard an open-top boat as it weaved its way through Amsterdam’s network of canals.

Scores of boats packed with dancing revellers followed the official flotilla, cheering the team as it passed.

Half a million people descended on the city to celebrate the Netherlands' best World Cup finish since 1978, the Amsterdam police tweeted.

‘I expected some people to come, but this is unbelievable,’ coach Bert van Marwijk said. ‘Can you imagine what it would have been like if we'd won?’

Midfielder Rafael van der Vaart sprayed fans with beer while defender Edson Braafheid caught a bottle of beer tossed to him by a fan and started drinking from it. Players had to regularly duck as their boat cruised under low bridges.


'The best supporters in the world': Fans cheer as they welcome the Netherlands World Cup team back during a canal parade in Amsterdam


Before the team boat arrived, several fans leapt into the murky waters of the Brouwersgracht canal cheered by hoards of orange-clad, flag-waving supporters - despite warnings from authorities that swimming in the canals could expose them to anything from E.coli bacteria to sunken bicycles and shopping carts.

‘It's a bit much, considering we lost,’ said Loes Olden, who was sipping a glass of white wine at the water's edge at a table decked in an orange tarp, two ornate candle sticks and a bowl of oranges.

‘It's over the top, but we're enjoying it.’


Refreshing a few parts: Dirk Kuyt of Holland and Liverpool swigs a bottle of Heineken on the boat trip


Horn of plenty: Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder gives his orange vuvuzela a blast during a boat parade


In front of about 100,000 fans at the central Museum Square, winger Arjen Robben said: ‘Spain may have won the World Cup, but we have the best supporters in the world.’

Earlier, the team was honoured by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende at the start of a hectic day of celebrations.

Under bunches of orange balloons, Van Marwijk and retiring captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst were given the honorary title of ‘Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau’ at a reception in front of Balkenende's official Catshuis residence.


Fans line Amsterdam's canals to welcome the Netherlands' World Cup team home


Oranje boom: Female fans dressed in Dutch mini skirts cheer the players on the canal


The team was then driven by coach to meet Queen Beatrix at her Noordeinde Palace in The Hague before an Air Force helicopter whisked the team to Amsterdam for its boat tour and an open-air party at Museum Square, where fans had watched the action from South Africa on giant screens throughout the tournament.

The Dutch lost 1-0 in extra time to Spain in Sunday's final - the third time the country has lost the final after defeats in 1974 and '78.


Star turn: Joint top World Cup scorer Wesley Sneijder is raised aloft as fans cheer in the packed Museum Square in Amsterdam


Robben said his missed chance on the hour mark was still haunting him. The Bayern Munich star had only Iker Casillas to beat, but the Spain goalkeeper deflected Robben's shot wide with his outstretched foot.

‘You want nothing more than to score that goal. It was a big chance,’ he said. ‘It hurts to miss a chance like that.’ As he sang and danced in front of the huge orange crowd of adoring fans in Amsterdam, the pain appeared to be easing.


A Royal welcome: The Netherlands' World Cup team poses with Queen Beatrix at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague




source :dailymail

Heroes' welcome: Hundreds of thousands line streets of Madrid as victorious Spanish team arrive home to World Cup parade

By Jane Flanagan and Wil Longbottom

Champions return: Spanish captain Iker Casillas lifts the World Cup as the team parades through Madrid today


Spain's World Cup-winning team arrived home today to a glittering parade through historic Madrid.

The victorious squad were welcomed by airport staff decked out in the famous red and yellow of the national side at Madrid's Barajas airport.

They then travelled to a hotel to rest, before being received by King Juan Carlos in the Royal Palace and meeting with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

But the highlight of their homecoming was the 3-mile open-topped bus ride through the Madrid streets teaming with hundreds of thousands of fans celebrating Spain's first World Cup title.


One giant party: Overjoyed fans are sprayed with water to keep cool in the scorching sunshine


Filling the streets: Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards filled the Madrid streets to welcome the team home


Lighting up the sky: Members of the Spanish Air Force aerobatic group Patrulla Aguila display colours of the Spain's national flag during the celebrations


Earlier today, as the squad touched down in Madrid, captain Iker Casillas emerged from the plane clutching the trophy, closely followed by the Spain manager Vicente del Bosque.

A special slogan printed along the fuselage of their Iberia plane read 'Proud of our National Team Champions.'

The crowd of airport workers then broke out into a chant of 'Campeones, Campeones,' - meaning champions.

The players, wearing their team shirts, walked from the plane to a waiting Spanish football federation bus.

Sheer joy had reigned in Spain last night as fans took to the streets to celebrate as their country scored four minutes before the end of extra time of the World Cup final to win 1-0 against Holland, sparking carnival-like scene across the country.

They lit flares and flocked to fountains – a favourite celebratory tradition among Spaniards – after Andres Iniesta sealed a victory that had been long denied to this football-loving nation.


Road block: The Spanish players were given a police escort





Welcome home: Iker Casillas proudly holds the World Cup aloft as the team emerged from its plane in Madrid this afternoon


Captain fantastic: Casillas emerged from the Spanish team's plane alongside manager Vicente del Bosque to thunderous applause from airport staff


They even sang the praises of Paul the 'oracle' octopus who successfully his eighth accurate win in a row at the match in Johannesburg watched on TV by 750million.

Here in Britain, Spaniards headed to Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus in central London.

But where rapture reigned in Spain, heartbreak filled the streets of Holland, where expectant fans clad in orange watched their team lose in a third World Cup final.

The scenes of joy and pain came after a tempestuous match that saw the largest number of bookings in the tournament’s history.

English referee Howard Webb set the new world record by handing out 14 yellow cards and one red in a nail-biting finale which ended in the dying minutes of extra time.

He faced angry remonstrations from the Dutch after last night's match for some of his decisions.

They argued that he should have sent off Spanish defender Carles Puyol for a tackle and failed to award their side a corner moments before the goal when a free-kick took a deflection off Spain's Cesc Fabregas.

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said of the former police sergeant: 'I don't think the referee controlled the match well.'


Celebrations: Pilots inside the Spanish team plane wave flags out of the window with the message 'proud of our national team champions' on the fuselage


In Royal hands: Spain's King Juan Carlos (middle) holds the World Cup next to goalkeeper Iker Casillas (right) and coach Vicente del Bosque (left) at the Royal Palace in Madrid


A cup fit for a princess: The goalkeeper proudly shows off the winning prize to Princesses Leonor and Sofia, the daughters of Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia


Earlier in the day, his family had hit out at 'extreme pressure' from the sport's governing body FIFA. They had warned that attending the evening spectacular would prove 'too strenuous' for him.

The spectacle of him riding on to the Soccer City pitch on the back of a golf buggy, flanked by his third wife Graca Machel, prompted a deafening blast of vuvuzelas and cheers from the 85,000-strong crowd.

Smiling broadly, his thin frame muffled in a scarf and coat, Mr Mandela waved to the crowd and shook hands of starstruck well-wishers.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner is rarely seen in public these days and is in increasingly fragile health.

Mr Mandela’s grandson today lashed out at Fifa's controversial president Sepp Blatter in particular for putting too much pressure on him to attend.

Plans for him to be at the opening ceremony and game were cancelled after his 13-year-old great granddaughter was killed in a car crash the night before.


Royal thank you: King Juan Carlos, centre, and members of the royal family pose with the Spanish national team and World Cup at a reception at the Royal Palace


Hero: Liverpool's Fernando Torres talks to children at the Spanish team hotel after the arrive back in Madrid


World at their feet: The Spanish press celebrate their World Cup triumph


On the morning of the final, the former South African president's grandson Mandla Mandela told the BBC: 'We've come under extreme pressure from Fifa requiring and wishing that my grandfather be at the final.

'I think people ought to just understand the family's traditions and customs and understand we've had a loss in the family and we are in mourning and that for me would be enough reason to leave the family to be for now.'

Although pundits will never record the tournament as the most successful in footballing terms, the month-long event has had a hugely unifying effect on South Africa which continues to be dogged by racial divisions, 16 years after the end of apartheid.

last night’s final will certainly prove to be the noisiest match of the entire competition with fans enjoying their last chance to blast the controversial vuvuzela, which has become synonymous with the tournament.

And the sight of the legendary anti-apartheid leader gave South Africa a chance to relive the 'Mandela moment’ from the 1995 rugby World Cup, when the country’s first black president donned the captain’s jersey of the winning rugby team.


Goal! Spain's Andres Iniesta (right) shoots the ball past Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg in the second half of extra time


Champions: Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casilla lifts the World Cup after beating the Netherlands 1-0 in a bad-tempered final at the Soccer City stadium outside Johannesburg


Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder vents his frustration as he is penalised by English referee Howard Webb









source: dailymail

2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Singer Shakira performs 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' with South African band Freshlyground during the Closing Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.



Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. South Africa and Mexico play in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. NO PUSH TO MOBILE / MOBILE USE SOLELY WITHIN EDITORIAL ARTICLE.





JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Dancers perform as elephants as part of the closing ceremony, prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.





JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Singer Shakira performs 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' with South African band Freshlyground during the Closing Cermony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.



JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Fireworks explode as the Spain team celebrate victory with the World Cup trophy following the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa




JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Dancers perform during a light and projection show as part of the closing ceremony, prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.




JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: A general view of atmosphere during the Closing Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.




BERLIN - JULY 11: Football supporters of the Netherlands watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup final match between Spain and the Netherlands at a live public viewing on a large screen monitor at FIFA Fanmeile on July 11, 2010 in Berlin, Germany.




Spain's players pose for a team photograph before their 2010 World Cup final soccer match against the Netherlands at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg July 11, 2010. The players ( from top L) Pedro, Sergio Busquets, Sergio Ramos, Joan Capdevila, Gerard Pique, and Xabi Alonso; ( from bottom L) goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Xavi and Carles Puyol.




Netherland's players pose for a team photograph before their 2010 World Cup final soccer match against Spain at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg July 11, 2010. The players ( from top L) goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Robin van Persie, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Dirk Kuyt, and Mark van Bommel; ( from bottom L) Gregory van der Wiel, Nigel de Jong, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.




JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Iker Casillas and Carles Puyol of Spain celebrate victory at the final whistle during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.





Italian footballer Fabio Cannavaro (L), captain of the 2006 World Cup winning team, and an unidentified person present the World Cup trophy prior to the start of the 2010 World Cup football final Netherlands vs. Spain on July 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg.




Italy's defender Fabio Cannavaro, captain of the Italian team which won the World Cup in 2006, holds up the World Cup trophy prior to the start of the 2010 World Cup final football match Netherlands versus Spain on July 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, a suburb of Johannesburg.



An octopus named Paul swims in his aquarium on July 9, 2010 at the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, western Germany. Paul, the 'psychic' octopus with a perfect prediction record, decided Spain will win the football World Cup for the first time in their history. The eight-legged oracle, who has become a World Cup sensation by correctly predicting all six Germany games, very quickly plumped for Spain carried live on national German television.




JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Fernando Llorente and David Villa of Spain celebrate with team mates as they lift the World Cup during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.



Spain's fans celebrate after watching Spain win the 2010 World Cup final soccer match against the Netherlands, in Trafalgar Square in London July 11, 2010, Spain stunned the Netherlands to win their first World Cup on Sunday in sensational fashion with a goal in the last minutes of extra time.




JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: FIFA President Jospeph Sepp Blatter and South Africa President Jacob Zuma present the World Cup trophy to Iker Casillas, captain of Spain, following the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.




JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter and President of South Africa Jacob Zuma present Iker Casillas of Spain the World Cup during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.



Spanish soccer fans celebrate in front of Rome's Trevi fountain after Spain defeated the Netherlands to win the World Cup soccer final, played in South Africa, Sunday, July 11, 2010. Spain won 1-0.



Fans of Spain's soccer team react on the Champs Elysees in Paris, after Spain defeated the Netherlands in the World Cup soccer final, Sunday July 11, 2010.











photo: AP, Gettyimages, Reuters

WORLD CUP FINAL 2010: Holland 0 Spain 1

By Matt Lawton

Golden goal: Andres Iniesta (right) beats the despairing dive of Rafael van der Vaart and keeper Maarten Stekelenburg to seal a maiden World Cup win for European champions Spain


No wonder Johan Cruyff decided to support Spain. With an approach that was more typically Teutonic than the ‘total football’ that is supposed to be their trademark, Holland kicked their way to extra time in this hugely disappointing World Cup final.

Thank goodness Andres Iniesta saw that justice was done with a neat finish three minutes from the end to give Spain their first — and well deserved — World Cup.

The disgraced Dutch will have to wait longer after this, their third defeat in a final. Anything else would have been a travesty, Holland earning eight bookings and a red card for John Heitinga.

It was so depressing, Bert van Marwijk ordering his players to stifle the classy Spaniards in a manner that betrayed their proud heritage.

Had Howard Webb been stronger in punishing their cynical fouling, Holland could have ended the first half with only nine men. Nigel de Jong deserved a straight red for a karate kick on Xabi Alonso, while his partner in the dark arts of defensive midfield play, Mark van Bommel, committed enough fouls to get two yellow cards.


'Dani Jarque is always with us': Iniesta paid tribute to the deceased Espanyol and Spain player after scoring


As it was, this comfortably beat the record for the most bookings in a World Cup final. In 1986 we saw six. Here we had nine in normal time and there should have been more.

Having followed Jack Taylor to become the second Englishman to referee a World Cup final, Webb should have had his predecessor’s nerve to dismiss two players as well.

By the time he sent off Heitinga after 109 minutes, it was far too late to have the necessary effect.


Shame game: Nigel de Jong lands a boot in the chest of Spain's Xabi Alonso... yet saw only yellow


Instead, the game turned into a midfield war of attrition. With Holland’s spoiling tactics limiting the impact of players like Xavi and Iniesta, decent chances were scarce.

Sergio Ramos could have scored twice and David Villa really should have struck midway through the second half, but Arjen Robben will feel he squandered the best opportunity when he went through on goal only to see Iker Casillas make a magnificent save.

Robben had further cause for complaint when Carles Puyol denied him a second opportunity in the 83rd minute, pulling him back but somehow going unpunished. In the end Robben was booked for dissent.


Flying Dutchman: Holland keeper Maarten Stekelenburg makes a smart save to deny an early header from Spain defender Sergio Ramos


What a shame the game could not match the drama and excitement that came before it — the inspiring sight of Nelson Mandela appearing on the pitch shortly after a terrific closing ceremony and then, moments before the teams were led on to the field, a foolish individual making a dash across the pitch for the World Cup.

He almost got there until a security official stopped him in his tracks with what looked like one hell of a punch.

The Dutch found it particularly funny but their mood soon changed, Spain starting much as they did against Germany by completely dominating.


Total violence: Spain players surround referee Webb as he cautions Mark van Bommel, one of five first half bookings between the sides


Had it not been for a quite brilliant save from Maarten Stekelenburg Spain would have been ahead after only four minutes.

Sergio Ramos met a free-kick from Xavi with a thumping header and the Dutch goalkeeper excelled in palming the ball away to safety. Holland showed promise briefly when a mistake by Sergio Busquets presented Dirk Kuyt with a chance to strike, though his effort proved easy for Iker Casillas to gather. But the Spanish were so in control, with Sergio Ramos and Villa both threatening.


Up and over: Spain captain Iker Casillas collects the ball in an unorthodox manner to upend his own defender Carles Puyol as Van Persie looks on


It was not long before the Dutch, in their growing desperation, were testing Webb’s patience. Van Bommel caught Puyol with a cynical challenge and Robin van Persie collected the first booking of the evening when he caught Joan Capdevila.

That said, Puyol then received a yellow card for a similarly nasty tackle on Robben.
Casillas did well to hold the free-kick that followed from Wesley Sneijder


Forward march: Spain's Gerard Pique drives ahead from defence as Dirk Kuyt looks on


Soon after that came bookings for Van Bommel’s foul on Iniesta and a foul by Sergio Ramos on Kuyt. In Robben and Sneijder, the Dutch were posing an attacking threat, with one surging run down the right flank from Robben causing some serious anxiety among Spain’s defensive ranks.

But discipline remained a problem for Webb. He showed De Jong the fifth yellow of the night but the kick in the chest wasn’t a challenge. It was assault.

It nevertheless remained significant, because now the two players given the task of protecting the back four from these brilliant Spaniards were — De Jong and Van Bommel — were on a booking


Last ditch: Everton defender John Heitinga makes a superb recovery block to deny David Villa just yards away from breaking the deadlock for Spain in the second half


Holland’s tactics damaged the game as a spectacle but gave them a bit of momentum. When Robben unleashed a shot shortly before the break, it took a decent save from Casillas to deny him.

After the interval the Dutch continued to live dangerously, with Van Bommel fortunate not to concede a penalty for a shove in the back of Alonso. Tempers were starting to flare, not least when Van Bommel rather unsportingly chose to kick long for a throw-in deep in Spain’s half when he was supposed to knock in back towards Casillas following an injury.


One on one: A world class save from the foot of Casillas stuns Arjen Robben, after the former Chelsea star
broke clear through on goal


But after little more than an hour the best chance of the game fell to the Dutch. A super ball from Sneijder sent Robben clear but Casillas diverted his shot wide with his outstretched right foot. It amounted to the save of the tournament.

Spain would then suffer similar frustration, with Villa failing to seize on a mistake by Heitinga when he should have scored. He was no more than four yards out, but drove his shot into Heitinga’s legs.


So close: Unmarked Sergio Ramos sees his free header sail agonisingly over the crossbar


Sergio Ramos then met a corner from Xavi with a header he should have buried, while Robben felt most aggrieved when Puyol, already on a booking, dragged him back.

Spain had the better of the first period of extra time, Cesc Fabregas seeing their best chance coming back off Stekelenburg’s legs.

Everton defender Heitinga saw his second yellow when he pulled back Iniesta, who then took a pass from Fabregas and tucked the winner home right-footed.





source: dailymail