Tonight we would see a new World Cup winner; as neither Holland nor Spain had won the trophy. For Spain, it's their first World Cup Final; Holland are hoping it's third time lucky.

Spain started the 2010 World Cup Final looking the more assured and made the first attempt at goal in the fifth minute; as Maarten Stekelenburg had to dive to parry away a header from Sergio Ramos and then get up quick to block Pique's attempt to get the ball across the goal.

Five minutes later, Ramos was at it again; as he slipped past Dirk Kuyt only to see John Heitinga boot the cross out for a corner.

Then Howard Webb started dealing out the cards: Holland, Spain, Holland, Spain; four yellow cards within eight minutes.

That spoilt the flow of the game.

The next card could have been a Jack of Diamonds (red) as Nigel de Jong seemed to plant his studs into 's chest.

Then Spain settled for a moment, by trying to play the ball around.

Holland tried to grab a quick goal just before the break but Iker Casillas kept them out. Holland van Thuggery were lucky to go in with a full team of players at half-time.

Half-time: 0:0

So much for a display of football by the best players on the planet; as Howard Webb continued to blow his whistle for everything but a goal.

Holland's best chance came in the 62nd minute; as Arjen Robben ran on the Spanish goal and almost waited for Iker Casillas to fall before he shot, but the Spanish stopper kicked out a foot and sent the ball out for a corner.

Spain came close with twenty minutes left to go as Heitinga stumbled all over Jesus Navas's low cross and David Villa cursed his luck to miss his chance at the far post; when Heitinga made a recovery.

Six minutes later, Sergio Ramos headed over the bar and Vicente del Bosque hid his head in his hands in disbelief.

Holland found a little more movement in the last ten minutes and Iker Casillas had to be quick to save at Arjen Robben's feet. Robben then turned and ran all the way up the pitch to chase after Howard Webb; complaining like a baby about an earlier challenge, and earned a booking for his efforts.

Into Extra Time - with another thirty minutes to avoid penalties.

And it seemed like the teams had saved their best football until the end. With nine players on yellow cards, they didn't really have much choice but to play the ball.

A red card just had to happen, the question would be for who? The arm on Andrés Iniesta's shoulder belonged to John Heitinga; and he already had his name in Howard Webb's book. So with a little over 10 minutes of extra-time to play, Holland were down to ten men.

Spain made the most of that as Cesc Fabregas looked up to see Andrés Iniesta back onside then fed in the perfect ball for a perfect finish to a not-so-perfect World Cup Final.

Howard Webb still had time to deal out a few more yellow cards before Spain went up to lift the World Cup for the first time in their history.

Holland 0 Spain 1

Uruguay were the only non-European team to make it to the final four.

With nothing to lose anymore, as both teams lost their semi-final matches, fans of an attacking game had everything to hope for.

When Fernando Muslera could only deflect Bastian Schweinsteiger's long range shot, in the 18th minute, Thomas Müller ran into the penalty area to follow up and score his fifth goal of the tournament.

Ten minutes later, Diego Perez stole the ball from Bastian Schweinsteiger and moved the ball upfield; where Luis Suarez fed Edinson Cavani for Uruguay's equaliser.

Suarez and Cacau had close misses for Uruguay and Germany in the first-half, as both teams left the pitch with honours even.

Half-time: 1:1

Uruguay started the second-half by giving Germany a taste of their own Medikament with some swift passing and clean striking of the ball around the penalty area; Egidio Arevalo pulling the ball back, for Diego Forlan to crack in with his weaker, right foot - just six minutes after the re-start.

Five minutes later, Germany were level as Fernando Muslera missed Jerome Boateng's cross and the ball hit the side of Marcell Jansen's face on its way into the goal.

Eight minutes from time, a sloppy corner bounced around the Uruguay area before Sami Khedira could nod the ball into the back of the net.

Not a spectacular goal, not a contender for goal of the tournament, but a fifth goal in an otherwise meaningless game before the main event tomorrow evening.

Congratulations to both Uruguay and Germany for making a game of it. Over the course of the tournament Germany probably deserved their medal although Uruguay came so close to levelling the score; when Diego Forlan's free-kick hit the crossbar in the last action of the game.

Uruguay 2 Germany 3

Last round, four South American teams could have made it through to the semi-finals. Instead, it's now going to be an all European World Cup Final.

Some would say that this was a re-match of the Euro 2008 Final; which Spain won (1:0).

Spain sought to control the midfield and thus restrict Germany's movement.

The European Champions also looked the more likely to score early in the game; Manuel Neuer quick to block from David Villa in the seventh minute, and Carles Puyol heading over the bar seven minutes later.

For their part, Germany had a slight penalty claim turned down, just before the break, when Sergio Ramos clipped Mesut Özil just on the edge of the area.

Half-time: 0:0

Germany semed a little more comfortable in the second-half; until Pedro skipped down the right, past Boateng and Friedrich, and tried to set up Alonso.

Joachim Löw didn't like the look of that; replacing Jerome Boateng with Marcell Jansen.

Spain joined Brazil (USA 1994) and Holland (France 1998) in completing 3,000 passes at a single World Cup Finals tournament.

Spain started to up the tempo, just before the hour, with Pedro forcing Manuel Neuer to make a save and then shooting wide less than a minute later.

Sergio Ramos also ran into the area to try his luck. The Real Madrid right back has been wanting to score for a few games now.

Iker Casillas made the save from Toni Kroos look better than the soft shot warranted; after some swift movement on the left and a lofted cross from Lukas Podolski found the German substitute unmarked.

Four minutes later, Carles Puyol powered a header in from a corner to finally edge Spain in front.

Pedro could have sealed the win for Spain, with a little over eight minutes left of normal time left to play, when he broke through with substitute Fernando Torres free to his left.

Spain repeat their Euro 2008 performance against Germany; with the same scoreline.

Germany 0 Spain 1

Out of four South American teams in the quarter finals, Uruguay was the only one still looking for a place in the final.

Holland took the lead through a wonderful strike by Giovanni Van Bronckhorst but Uruguay levelled the score with an impressive curler from Diego Forlan, five minutes before the break.

That's pretty much what the first-half was about, two teams cancelling each other; even with the quality of their individual goals. Maybe Maarten Stekelenburg could have put a hand on Forlan's shot but there was some influential swerve on the ball.

Half-time: 1:1

Bert van Marwijk looked to make a more attacking change after the break; bringing on Rafael van der Vaart in place of Demy De Zeeuw.

It took a while to pay off, as Holland started to look frustrated with themselves and Uruguay appeared the more relaxed.

After Maarten Stekelenburg knocked a Diego Forlan free-kick away, Holland woke up with two goals in three minutes; thanks to Wesley Sneijder's deflected shot and Arjen Robben's header.

From a game that started to look like it had penalties written all over it, to one that almost looked like a walkover; the change happened faster than Ravshan Irmatov could flip a coin.

Once Diego Forlan was substituted, with six minutes still to play, one sensed that Oscar Tabarez felt there was no way back.

The Uruguay players had other ideas though when they earned a free-kick in injury time. With no Diego Forlan on the pitch, the ball was played low to Maxi Pereira who scored to give the game a tense final few minutes.

Uruguay couldn't get the equaliser they needed so Holland booked their place in a World Cup Final for the first time in 32 years.

Uruguay 2 Holland 3

Paraguay or Spain for a semi-final meeting with Germany.

Iker Casillas showed a slight lack of concentration in the seventh minute but for the first twenty minutes nothing really seemed to take shape.

Paraguay did enough to contain Spain, before thinking about maybe moving forward a little themselves.

Fernando Torres almost woke up in the 27th minute, then once in the Paraguay area with two defenders Torres didn't seem to believe that he moved so well and the opportunity was lost. Xavi then watched his own shot float past the target.

Paraguay's closest attempt was when Jonathan Santana failed to get his head on Morel's long ball, and a goal disallowed for offside.

Paraguay deserved to be in front, just about; mainly because Spain didn't.

Half-time: 0:0

Spain continued to pass poorly at the start of the second-half; so much so that Vicente del Bosque decided to bring on the master passer Cesc Fabregas, for the ineffective Fernando Torres.

Then a few minutes of drama as Carlos Batres gave both teams the chance for a little penalty practise: Iker Casillas saved from Oscar Cardozo; then at the other end Justo Villar saved from Xabi Alonso, at the second attempt. Spain could have had another penalty in the melee that followed the save.

It took a while coming but even the goal was hysterical as Iniesta laid the groundwork for Pedro Rodriguez to hit the ball onto the post. David Villa's follow up shot also hit the post before settling in the back of the net.

Paraguay 0 Spain 1

Argentina started the game seeking revenge for the 2006 quarter-final defeat against Germany.

But it was Germany who took the lead inside three minutes; Bastian Schweinsteiger's free-kick headed in by Thomas Müller.

Argentina struggled to get back into the game due to Germany's defensive discipline. Each time Argentina tried to ignite something, Germany smothered their flame and broke out in numbers, with plenty of options.

Twenty minutes after their first goal, Germany should have doubled their lead; if Müller's pass to Klose wasn't lofted over the bar.

Germany let Argentina come at them, just like they did with England, but then closed all the holes with doubled-up defence.

Argentina started to work a little harder for each other around the half-hour mark and came closer to penetrating the German area; Gonzalo Higuain cutting inside and forcing Manuel Neuer to save low at the near post.

Neuer then had a double fist clearance to keep Argentina out, as half-time drew ever closer.

Philipp Lahm tried one more forage down the right for Germany but they would have to be content with the one-goal lead at the end of the first forty-five minutes.

Half-time: 0:1

Argentina looked positive at the start of the second-half, with some ball dancing by Messi and a shot just wide from Di Maria.

Twice the ball fell out of Neuer's hands, but both times there was no Argentina follow-up threats to trouble him.

Angela Merkel was all smiles in the 68th minute as Podolski and Klose combined in a typical trademark move of theirs; Klose just getting into the right position to tap the ball into an open goal.

Argentina couldn't reply, as a well-drilled German Mannschaft made it all look so easy; because they played their football as a team game.

Bastian Schweinsteiger strolled through the Argentine defence on the left, to set up Arne Friedrich for his first international goal; and Germany's third, with over fifteen minutes still to play.

The icing on the cake came just before the final whistle, as Miroslav Klose volleyed home to make it four to Germany, for the third time in this tournament, and put himself on a total of 14 World Cup Finals goals; level with Gerd Müller and just one behind Ronaldo.

Germany progressed to the semi-finals for the eleventh time in the last fifteen World Cups.

Argentina 0 Germany 4

The last African team in the 2010 World Cup Finals hoped to become the first to reach the semi-finals.

The first twenty minutes belonged to Uruguay; Diego Forlan's set pieces and the nervous Ghana defence. It wasn't until Richard Kingson tipped the ball over the bar from Luis Suarez, in the 27th minute, that Ghana really woke up.

Then, from a corner in the 29th minute, Ghana kept the pressure on. Kwadwo Asamoah dropped back a little, Kevin-Prince Boateng moved up alongside Asamoah Gyan and Ghana started to look more promising.

With two minutes added on, Ghana pushed forward a final time before the break.

There didn't really seem much urgency in their movement, as Asamoah Gyan helped the ball along; into the path of Sulley Muntari. Fernando Muslera was seen moving one way, so Muntari sent the ball the other.

Half-time: 0:1

Ten minutes into the second-half, Diego Forlan's direct free-kick brought Uruguay back into the game. Richard Kingson didn't really give himself much of a chance when he started to move; especially when Jabulani had an extra move itself.

Asamoah Gyan almost put Ghana back in front, but Muslera was down quick to keep the ball out.

Twenty minutes from time, Uruguay probably put together of their best moves; Kingson saving from Suarez.

Uruguay looked fresher towards the end of normal time; Ghana just seemed to be hanging on.

Not only were Ghana the third African team to reach the quarter-finals, they also became the third African team to take their quarter-final match into extra-time.

Uruguay probably should have had a penalty in the first period of extra-time, but Pantsil was lucky to get away with sticking his foot out.

With both teams visibly tired, the Dutch players must be licking their lips.

Stephen Appiah missed the chance to avoid the penalty shoot-out by trying to control the ball instead of just throwing his head at it.

Then Gyan couldn't get the better of Andrés Scotti; Kevin-Prince Boateng headed wide and then drama of all dramas as Luis Suarez was sent off for handling the ball on the line in the 120th minute and the normally assured Asamoah Gyan crashed the penalty onto the crossbar.

Now to the real penalties.

Penalties:

Uruguay went first.

1:0 Diego Forlan - Calmly struck.
1:1 Asamoah Gyan - Courageously went first and scored.
2:1 Mauricio Victorino - Blasted into the roof of the net.
2:2 Stephen Appiah - Scored just above the keeper's gloves.
3:2 Andrés Scotti - Hesitated but low and through the middle.
3:2 John Mensah - No run up. Easily saved.
3:2 Maxi Pereira - Shoots miles over.
3:2 Dominic Adiyiah - Saved.
4:2 Sebastian Abreu - Cool customer scored light and easy.

Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 After Extra Time (4:2 pens)

Both teams started this match on top of their game but still offered plenty of room for improvement.

Joris Mathijsen was injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by André Ooijer, and the hole in the Dutch defence was instantly exploited on a couple of occasions.

Having already had a goal disallowed for offside, Robinho made sure at the second attempt; running onto a long, low through-ball from Felipe Melo.

Dirk Kuyt tried to reply for Holland, but Julio Cesar saved for a corner.

Brazil maintained control of the first-half, passing better, moving better, defending better and frustrating Holland to such a point that Arjen Robben tried the mother of all pointless corners; making a slight touch and then running away for someone else to come over to the ball.

The Brazilians even snuffed that trick out with a sweet treat of sublime football; a lesson to the Dutch in how to defend with style, attack with class and play the game with purpose.

No wonder Johan Cruyff wouldn't pay to watch the game on this showing, Holland looked too one-dimensional and unable to change the way they played when route one was blocked over and again.

Half-time: 0:1

Michel Bastos was lucky not to receive his second yellow card, even though Arjen Robben did overact, but Holland pulled themselves back into the game when Felipe Melo went up with Julio Cesar, as Wesley Sneijder's curling ball came towards the goal.

The Brazilian goalkeeper missed the punch but Melo made contact with the ball; for the third own goal of the 2010 World Cup Finals.

Holland took the lead in the 68th minute when Dirk Kuyt flicked on a corner and Wesley Sneijder headed the ball in at the far post; tapping his forehead with glee.

Then Brazil started to lose the plot and frustrate themselves; Felipe Melo's red card reducing Brazil to ten men. Oh well, they're hosting the next World Cup Finals in 2014.

Wesley Sneijder could have sealed it for Holland with less than seven minutes to play, then André Ooijer was on the case to deny Kaka an equalising chance.

With three minutes to go, Dirk Kuyt tried to impersonate Diego Maradona at his best and run through the opposition on the way to goal, but was foiled by a solid tackle from Juan.

Holland 2 Brazil 1