The Netherlands tried to batter Spain into physical submission but ultimately failed in a bitter World Cup final. The Dutch, inventors of ‘total football’, were guilty of an horrific display of unashamed brutality in the final of football’s showpiece, earning nine yellow cards and one sending off.

A disgraceful kung-fu kick by Nigel de Jong to the chest of Xabi Alonso would have been a red card in any other match, and hard-man Mark van Bommel was lucky to stay on the field after several scything tackles. Johnny Heitinga was eventually sent off after 109 minutes, with Andreas Iniesta scoring the winner seven minutes later to hand Spain a deserved victory in a depressingly bad tempered game.

Referee Howard Webb came under strong criticism from the Dutch players and coach for his failure to send off Carlos Puyol after holding back Arjen Robben, but the striker could have prevented the outburst had he taken his chances.

Webb’s failure to award a corner just before Iniesta struck also incensed the Dutch players, but in reality they can count themselves lucky not to have been more severely punished by the referee after a first half that was a shameful display of viciousness that was designed to upset the flow of the Spanish game.

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk defended his tactics, claiming that his team needed to batter their opponents to win the game, but only served to reinforce Johan Cruff’s pre-match statement that he did not agree with the latest brand of Dutch football, which in the end, was rightfully defeated by a Spanish team that now stands on the brink of a lengthy dynasty.