We most likely watched different games. Up to the goal, Germans actually had more scoring opportunities, but didn't press nor follow through enough. A non-call at the end of first half also helped Spain, would have liked to see how it turned out. German defense comfortably handled Spanish attack, actually re-play the game and see how much smaller and slower Spain looked against bigger and faster German defenders. Germans simply fell asleep for long stretches, Villa simply had no one on one chances as time and again Germans provided cover tracking back at speed. Same for Torres, even that fast break away of 2 against 1 was quickly taken care of with Spain losing the ball.

I am routing for Holland in the final, Spain simply got to the final on pure luck in a number of games so far. I just hope De Jong, Van der Vaart and Huntelaar all start (with Elia, Robben and Dan Persie coming in at 70 minute mark).
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I thought Germany got schooled today. They kept the same strategy, defend deep and counter, but Spain contained them. They weren't able to transition because Spain was on the ball carrier the second they got possession. Really good strategy on Spain's part.

And the goal they let in was awful. Puyol ran in unmarked from the top of the box and got a free header. Very poor defending, someone fell asleep on that play.

Anyhow, it should be a good final. Germany are a young team, it will be interesting to see them at Euro in 2 years.
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I think Robben should always start. Elia and Van Persie at the 70 minute mark sounds like a good plan. My team would be:
Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijssen, Gio, Van Bommel, Sneijder, De Jong, Robben, Huntelaar, Kuyt.
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Honestly I think Spain squeaked by AGAIN. Germany let us down this past game.
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Fernando, have you signed up to Bobbi Eden's fan club? She promised to give free blow jobs to all her followers if Holland wins on Sunday. Still time, you know...

http://outofbounds.nbcsports.com/201...ale-1.html.php
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I added her to my twitter account the moment they announched 'teambj'. :-)
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Wow, did the Spanish world cup team train with the Spanish Olympic diving team or what?
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Congrats to Spain...damn fine final!! :-)
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this sucks! this really sucks!
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The Dutch played the game they had to play and were oh so close to PKs. Congrats to Spain, but I wish it had turned out the other way!!
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Robben should have dived when Puyol tried to floor him. Puyol would have been sent off and we would have won the worldcup. So much for trying to play fair.
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Damn! No bjs now :-)
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There have been allot of bad calls by the officials this year, Its hard for a game to be played fair. It looks like they may be doing an instant replay in the future.
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Another game decided by the refs (sigh...) Stupid, stupid, stupid. Webb was so inconsistent it was awful. Robben is handled and pushed off the pitch, no call at all, yet just 10 seconds later Iniesta is touched on the shoulder (does a great Swan Dive - 0.3 degree of difficulty) and a player is sent off. Then just 2 minutes later Elia is clearly brought down on the edge of the box and again, no call. WTF?!

Not that f***ing Robben helped things, TWICE! Did I say already how much I don't like the guy playing a full game?

Oscars should introduce new categories starting next year: Best Sports Acting Team and Best Sports Actor. Both Spain and Iniesta should easily win.

Worst WC, by far! In so many ways.

Germany was the best team for me.
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Sorry Ferdinand, I was rooting for your guys.
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in all seriousness Ferdi, even cigar aficianado called Spain to win... I don't think a dive from Robben would have saved you. Perhaps playing with 10 men was Netherlands bigger problem.
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If Robben dived, Puyol would have been sent off, that would have changed the game. Spain would not have been able to play their tactical game with 10 vs 11. He should have done what Inesta did to Heitinga, and I would have been a happy camper on his way to get hammered right now, instead of posting on CA.
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For this American viewer who admittedly is just now trying to better learn and enjoy the game, what drives me crazy is it seems in order to get a call you must embellish the foul. In hockey, the embellishment itself would be a penalty, and for other professional North American sports, embellishment is generally frowned upon. In football (American :-)), if a receiver is held but still makes the catch, they can decline the penalty. It seems to me, with soccer, if you don't go down and try to play through the foul, the foul is not called.

A serious question, is this part of the rules of soccer, either "by the book" or just generally accepted? If so, I'll probably be continuing my every four years viewing.
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Agreed! :-)

I was thinking the same thing the second it happened.... And then Iniesta went for the Oscars and all I could think was Robben should've done the same. Which is really freakin' sad... B/c I HATE diving. I mean, I know a lot of times it is necessary for you to get the foul call (when you are fouled) but sheesh!!!
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For certain countries it is the norm. Spain and Italy are main culprits, their youth academies spend as much time on "acting" as they spend on technique. Watch Germany, England and Dutch play, if you see a dive it is a rare occurrence and only lately after their leagues have been infected by foreign players and coaches. Arsenal won a load of games this way in years past (Pires, anyone?), although they have cleaned up after their manager was taken to the task by other teams/managers. Drogba, Ronaldo (I am a Manchester fan) and a few others imported this BS lately to PL. Too bad.

But as usual, Blatter won't do crap about this...
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