Holland v Spain: the best pictures of the World Cup final

Rumour is there's a big game of football taking place in Johannesburg tonight - something like a World Cup final between Holland and Spain. Keep it to yourself though - wouldn't want the whole globe knowing
Photograph: Paul Gilham - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Just under 85,000 spectators are on their way to the Soccer City stadium and a further 700 million are expected to watch the game live on TV. Always good to do some housekeeping before the guests arrive
Photograph: Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

A bit of grass-cutting too. Lovely stuff. Look at those immaculate stripes - it's enough to make fans and players go giddy
Photograph: Paul Gilham - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Here we go. The Dutch fans are heading through the security gates. Not sure what this guy's dressed as - some kind of grotesque cockerel crossed with a cuddly sloth?
Photograph: Radu Sigheti/Reuters

Now that's just blasphemous!
Photograph: Radu Sigheti/Reuters

Look who it is - the former South African President Nelson Mandela with his wife Graça Machel. He didn't make it to the opening match between South Africa and Mexico four weeks ago, but he's made it tonight for the big one
Photograph: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto

Paul the psychic octopus has predicted a Spanish victory tonight. He's not put a tentacle wrong all tournament - he even got yesterday's third place play-off right, making it seven successful predictions in a row. However, Mani the Singaporean parakeet (Paul's adversary) has plumped for Holland tonight
Photograph: Gustau Nacarino/Reuters

Either way, a fresh name will be inscribed on the base of the iconic trophy later this evening as neither Spain or Holland have ever won the World Cup. The Dutch were twice foiled during their pomp in the 1974 and 1978 finals, while Spain's best finish was fourth place in 1950. It's hard to say which of them deserves the trophy most this year; Holland have been indomitable as they've journeyed to the final (winning all 14 of their competitive matches since the qualifiers began in 2008), while Spain have won 50 of their past 54 matches. Spain certainly play with greater élan than their counterparts these days, yet ironically theirs is a style founded on the credo of Total Football which Johan Cruyff exported to Barcelona in the 90s
Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Time for a bit of limbering up by the officials. That's Howard Webb, a former policeman, in the centre. He's the first Englishman since Jack Taylor in 1974 to officiate a World Cup final
Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Before the match kicks off, a crazed interloper makes a bee-line for the trophy. Though he seems more intent on plonking his hat onto the World Cup than holding it aloft ...
Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

So near but yet so far. Some last-ditch bouncer action prevents the trophy from being crowned with a barretina
Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

He doesn't seem to care. In fact, he's positively lapping it up. Turns out it's not his first dash for the limelight - his name's Jimmy Jump and his recent exploits include a stage invasion at the 2010 Eurovision song contest
Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

The teams come out onto the pitch where swathes of photographers await them. The most significant team news is that Spain have left Fernando Torres on the bench, favouring Pedro alongside David Villa
Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

After 30 days, 63 matches and 144 goals, the 2010 World Cup final begins
Photograph: Georgi Licovski/EPA

Spain monopolize possession in the first five minutes and only a smart save from the Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg prevents Sergio Ramos from opening the scoring with a powerful header
Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

It's a feisty match to say the least. Here, Carles Puyol causes Arjen Robben to scream following an unforgiving challenge
Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

That didn't go down too well with the referee, who brandishes one of five early yellow cards
Photograph: Oleg Popov/Reuters

Dirk Kuyt tries to weave through the serried Spanish defence
Photograph: Jerry Lampen/Reuters

Oh, wait, what's this? Another bad challenge. This time it's Kuyt scything Ramos from behind
Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Now that's the worst of the bunch! Nigel de Jong plants his studs into the chest of Xabi Alonso, leaving the Real Madrid midfielder gasping for breath. For it's sheer recklessness that's worth a red card, but the referee is lenient and only gives de Jong a yellow
Photograph: Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP

Ouch. They're tackling their own team-mates now. Here, Puyol clatters into his goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, who falls awkwardly from quite a height. It's 0-0 at half-time. So much for their footballing heritages, this is a more like a dogfight
Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AP

The second half brings easily the best chance of the match. In the 62nd minute, Wesley Sneijder exploits Gerard Pique's negligent positioning to feed Arjen Robben through the centre, leaving the striker one-on-one with Casillas ...
Photograph: Halden Krog/EPA

But Casillas, who goes to ground early, nicks the ball with his trailing leg and deflects it marginally wide
Photograph: Marcelo Del Pozo/Reuters

Robben can't believe it. That was a glorious opportunity for the Bayern Munich player, but his side-foot finish lacked conviction
Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Eight minutes later, Villa - the tournament's joint top scorer - almost gives Spain the lead when Jesus Navas's cross falls to him at the back post, but Johnny Heitinga scrambles to deny Villa's goalbound shot
Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

Ramos then misses a fine chance for Spain when he arrows a free header over the bar. It's 0-0 at full-time. Extra-time looms
Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Early drama in the first period of extra-time as Xavi tumbles in the box under Heitinga's challenge. The Spaniard is claiming a penalty, though he appeared to kick his own foot as Heintinga clumsily attempted to intercept the ball. The referee merely signals for a corner
Photograph: Bernat Armangue/AP

This time there's no contention as Iniesta goes to ground after mixing with Heitinga. The Ajax defender's cynical tug prevented Iniesta latching onto a shooting chance; it's rightly earned him a second booking, reducing Holland to ten men. Can they hold on for another 20 minutes?
Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

Only four are remaining when Spanish substitute Cesc Fabregas feeds Iniesta in the box. The 26-year-old waits for the ball to drop and then drives a half-volley at goal ...
Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

The connection is sweet enough ...
Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

... and he scores! Spain have the lead in the 116th minute. That must surely be the winner
Photograph: Oleg Popov/Reuters

Iniesta sprints off in delight and reveals a vest in remembrance of Dani Jarque, the Espanyol defender who died suddenly of a heart-attack during pre-season. Just look at Rafael Van der Vaart in the background - he's distraught. He knows that could be the end for Holland
Photograph: Kerim Okten/EPA

Joris Mathijsen is livid. He (and everyone else watching the game) knows Holland should have been given a corner a minute earlier, but Howard Webb's failure to notice the blindingly obvious allowed Spain to regain possession and eventually score. Mathijsen also believes Iniesta was offside before scoring, though replays show that wasn't the case
Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

And that's it, the final whistle has gone and Spain are the World Champions! Iniesta drops to his knees in delight - his goal has realised the ambitions of a nation
Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

Poor Sneijder; his five goals at this tournament have hauled Holland to the final, but the Oranje dream has been extinguished in brutal fashion tonight
Photograph: Georgi Licovski/EPA

Having changed into red shirts each adorned with a golden star to signify their triumph, the Spanish players make their way into the stand to claim their prize
Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

Iniesta gives the trophy a quick peck along the way ...
Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

... before Casillas, the captain, lifts the World Cup for Spain
Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Iniesta deserves praised not only for his winning goal tonight but for his skill and sang-froid throughout a testing tournament. He and Xavi have been the choreographers of Spain's success
Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Puyol grabs the trophy and goes charging around the stadium with a string of photographers in tow. Spain's euphoria mirrors Holland's utter misery. Imagine it - three World Cup finals, three defeats for the Dutch. They may feel they've been robbed tonight but, overall, the Spanish are worthy winners of football's greatest prize. At times over the past month they've played sumptuous football - a trait bellied by the narrow margins of their knock-out victories. Still, it's the winning that counts, and the World Cup is theirs at long last
Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

Cheer up lads, only four years to go until the World Cup in Brazil
Photograph: Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport