Never mind the quality, feel the justice

ANDRES INIESTA won the World Cup for Spain, and for football, as he scored the most dramatic of extra-time winners to deny a Holland team who abandoned the beautiful game and had one man sent off and eight booked in a bruising final in Johannesburg.

Spain, already the European champions, needed to show all their resolve and technical skill to survive a barrage of cynical tackles that made a mockery of Holland’s reputation as guardians of Total Football; and their determination to do things the right way eventually paid dividends as late as the 116th minute.

By that time John Heitinga had already been sent off for the Dutch, rightful punishment for the way Bert van Marwijk’s side approached this.