Football’s cream rises to the top

WELL it curdled and curdled but just when we thought the final of the 2010 World Cup would leave us with a sour taste in the mouth, the cream eventually, and mercifully, rose to the top.

And be in no doubt that Spain are the crème de la crème. In Johannesburg last night, they might have only fleetingly come close to touching the heights of which they are capable but their deserved victory over the Netherlands was reward not just for keeping their composure in the face of serious provocation but for retaining faith in the very idea of the passing game which made them European Champions two years ago.

As back to back champions, there can be no doubt that this Spanish team define the football age and, given the ugly alternative vision which the Dutch put before us, we should be grateful for that.