[size=6]Van Marwijk critical of Webb[/size]

Bert van Marwijk was unhappy with referee Howard Webb's performance in the World Cup final, but accepted Spain deserved to beat Holland.

Andres Iniesta's goal four minutes from the end of extra-time was enough to ensure Spain added the world crown to the European title won two years ago.

At that stage, the Oranje were holding out for a penalty shoot-out with 10 men after defender Johnny Heitinga had been sent off for picking up a second yellow card.

A total of 13 different players were booked during the Soccer City showpiece and Van Marwijk suggested English official Webb had been influenced by comments about his performance in Spain's opening game defeat by Switzerland.

The Holland coach said: "I don't think the referee controlled the match well. But let me be clear about this: the best team won the match.

"I'm trying to analyse the match as best as possible. But I read a few things today about how angry Spain were at the refereeing in the first match against Switzerland.

"If you view the performance (of the referee) today, you'd almost think now that that first match had an influence on this game now."
Terrible fouls

Van Marwijk admitted that some fouls had been "terrible", but said both sides were responsible, though challenges by Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel were particularly X-rated.

He added: "It's not our style. Let me put it this way, it's not our style to commit horrible fouls. It's not our kind of football.

"It was a World Cup final and people were tense. Look at the rest of the tournament. I think both sides, also the Spaniards, committed terrible fouls.

"I'm on the bench and I haven't seen any replays. I'd have to see the replays. The way I saw it from the bench was very different."

Van Marwijk said the Dutch had done well to reach the final in South Africa, with Arjen Robben having their best chance in normal time.

"No one expected us to be here, in the final," he said. "We even came very close to a penalty shoot-out. We could even have scored through (Arjen) Robben.

"Whether we would have deserved that, I don't know. But it's a final. It's very disappointing. You want to win it, and we might have done. I think we performed really, really well to get this far.

"The team that scored the first goal was going to win that match. Those chances for Robben could have meant victory for us. But, unfortunately, we weren't so lucky."

He also defended Holland's attempt to 'win ugly', saying: "It was still our intention to play beautiful football, but we were facing a very good opponent. Spain are the best footballing country in the past few years, so we needed to have a top day to beat them.

"We did a good job tactically on them. We got into good positions at times. Both sides committed fouls. That may be regrettable for a final. It's not our style, but you play a match to win.

"It's a World Cup final, and there's a lot of emotion out there. You saw that with both teams. I'd loved to have won that match, even with not so beautiful football."
http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0,27032,12021_6256420,00.html

Your totally discounting the golden chances Spain also had

Did anyone catch why the dutch defence was so angry at the linesman for the Iniesta goal? he clearly was not offside, and the way they reacted made me think something obvious was missed of which i could not decipher.

Spain only really had 1 chance that was as close as Robben's and that was the shot from Fabregas.

I don't count the one from Villa like that because it was going wide anyway.

I was wondering about this as well. The only thing I could think of was the fact that the goal kick that it basically came from should have been a corner not a gk. Apart from that I don't think there was anything else to be so up in arms about.

I think the Dutch beleived Iniesta was offside the first time the pass came through, that van Bronkhurst(?) intercepted. He definately wasn't off the second time.

I think the Dutch beleived Iniesta was offside the first time the pass came through, that van Bronkhurst(?) intercepted. He definately wasn't off the second time.

Apart from the red card, which should never ever have been give

What! Iniesta gets past him and he grabs him on the houlder and pulls him back](*,) How the fuck is that not a second yellow and therefor a send off. :roll:

What! Iniesta gets past him and he grabs him on the houlder and pulls him back](*,) How the fuck is that not a second yellow and therefor a send off. :roll:

Then you must have been watching a match with Oranje glazed glasses!
Edited by leftrightout: 12/7/2010 11:38:18 AM

Well I am half Spanish so forgive me ;)

Also, Netherlands were angry at Spain's goal because there was a clear foul on Elia just outside Spain's penalty area, just before Spain counter attacked.

i think the Iniesta incident should of been a yellow, but i also think the Dutch were luck to play with 11 men for so long.

Your correct it was a yellow - his second in fact, there for he was sent off.

Your correct it was a yellow - his second in fact, there for he was sent off.

No it wasn't :p

Yes it was ;)

No it wasn't *infinty! :cool:

John Heitinga was sent off for his [size=7]second yellow[/size] card when he pulled back Iniesta, giving Spain the man advantage, yet the Dutch held firm and looked like taking the tie to penalties.

:d

Spain only really had 1 chance that was as close as Robben's and that was the shot from Fabregas.

I don't count the one from Villa like that because it was going wide anyway.

Ramos headed over a sitter, Capdevila swung at air with an almost completely open goal, Villa was denied by a block right on the line, Iniesta was 1 on 1 but decided not to shoot... they had a few good chances.

On the football, Spain controlled much more of the game.

When you put your hand on an attackers shoulder and he's 19 yards out you have to hope that the ref doesn't see you because it's a foul regardless of whether the attacker goes to ground or not!Howard Webb shouldn't have even been officiating in SA, he proved at the last WC that he was blind, slow and unwilling to hand out deserved red cards. Plus he stated that he wanted the match to be remembered for the football and not the officiating = fail AGAIN!