Spain win World Cup 2010

Winning goal: Andres Iniesta scores the goal that brought Spain the World Cup Photo: REUTERS.

Spain have won the World Cup for the first time in their history after Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory over Holland in Johannesburg.

Iniesta scored the dramatic winner, 27 minutes into extra time, to claim Spain's biggest ever sporting achievement.

In a fiery game which always looked destined for extra time, English referee Howard Webb issued 13 bookings, while Holland's Johnny Heitinga saw red in the second half of extra time after receiving a second booking.

The victory sees Spain become only the third nation to hold the European and world football crowns at the same time, two years on from their European Championships success in Vienna.

The result continues a history of Dutch failure on football's greatest stage, having also been losing finalists in 1974 and 1978.

Iniesta's winner was met with scenes of joy in Madrid, where over 200,000 fans gathered to watch the match on a big screen in the city centre.

Despite starting the tournament as hot favourites, Spain made a terrible start to their campaign, losing their opening match to Switzerland, in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

However, the Spanish grew stronger as the tournament progressed, impressing fans with their unrivalled passing game and strong defence.

They conceded just two goals throughout the tournament and reached the final thanks to impressive victories over Portugal, Paraguay, Germany in the knockout stage.

[Source]