The end of the world...

So as of right now, the Spanish part of Johannesberg is in raptures as is Spain and most Spanish fans have tears in their eyes. After years of underachievement, La Furia Roja have the mythical double, the European and World Championship simultaneously. All credit must go to a wonderful Spain team coached by a the truly talented Vincente Del Bosque. How must the owners of Real Madrid feel, as they dumped Del Bosque after winning everything you could win at club level.

However, spare a thought for the talented losers, the Dutch, who proved that they could combine steel with talent and have it equal success. There were many questions about this Dutch team from the goalkeeper to the front, but led by the marvellous Wesley Sneijder (another Real cast off) they fought Spain tooth and nail for 116 minutes only to lose to a wonder goal by Andres Inestia.

As wonderful as the world cup was, it will be forever marred by the frankly appalling officiating, encapsulated in the finals by the truly befuddling Howard Webb. It seems as if his appointment was solely to appease English anger at what happened in the Germany game. While he is a good official, he managed to sum up all the problems of the officiating at the world cup in one game. Spain while a wonderful team, emphasized any and all contact the Dutch engaged in, quite often falling at the merest "contact" at all, and shockingly were allowed to take liberties that were not afforded to the Dutch. Yes Van Bommel and De Jong could both have walked by half time, but Puyol should have walked for his foul on Robben at the 60th minute. Quite frankly, the antics of some of the Spanish players were bordering on the revolting and Sergio Busquets needs to decide if he wants to officiate or play the game.

The world cup is a memory now, and one that will live on forever for some and won't be able to be forgotten soon enough for others. For me, the shameful officiating is going to be the major thing I remember, and that is a shame, because I would rather remember the outstanding play of Sneijder, Villa, Mueller and Forlan to name a few, than remember the bungling of Larrionda, Webb, and Rosetti et all.