Spain are world champions thanks to Andres Iniesta's extra-time strike, breaking Dutch hearts after an enthralling 120 minutes.

Neither side reached the heights they are capable of, but there were still flashes of brilliance throughout, and it was the favourites who emerged victorious after the tightest of tactical encounters.

Both had opportunities to win it, and whoever won would do so for the first time. After two hours of action, it was the Spanish who triumphed in Johannesburg, against a 10-man Dutch side that had battled bravely to the end.

The first chance of the game fell to the Spanish, Maarten Stekelenburg reacting quickly to parry Sergio Ramos's glancing header after Xavi had swung over a free-kick from the right.

The right-back had another chance in the 11th minute, beating Dirk Kuyt and firing across goal, but Jonny Heitinga managed to divert it up and over his own crossbar. From the corner, David Villa caught his first sight of goal but volleyed into the side netting.

There was no doubting which side had started the better, Spain quickly into their fluid game while the Dutch were struggling to keep possession and build anything resembling an attack.

As the game progressed though Bert van Marwijk's side grew more and more comfortable with their more fancied opponents, neither side fashioning any further openings until former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben nearly slipped one inside Iker Casillas's near post after finding space on the edge of the Spanish area.

This followed a flurry of yellow cards handed out by English referee Howard Webb, for a series of rough challenges by the Dutch, who were rarely living up to their Total Football traditions.

Into the second half Xavi sent a free-kick narrowly wide for Spain, and Arsenal's Robin van Persie headed over for the Dutch, the game on a knife-edge.

Just after the hour, Robben went through after Gerard Pique missed Wesley Sneijder's through ball. It was the moment the game had been waiting for, that half the watching world had waited for, yet the Bayern man could not beat Casillas, who saved with his feet.

Could it be the turning point?

Spain created two golden opportunities, first Villa was somehow blocked by Heitinga, and then Ramos, who could now have had a hat-trick sent a free header over the bar.

Holland were still lethal on the break, Robben broke through against after van Persie had flicked on, beating Carles Puyol for pace before Casillas claimed at his feet, the attacker appealing for a tug by the defender.

It was to be the final opportunity in 90 minutes, so extra-time would follow.

Xavi had a fanciful penalty appeal turned away before threading through sub Cesc Fabregas. Usually so reliable in such situations, the Arsenal midfielder shot straight at Skelenburg.

Iniesta was denied by Geo van Bronckhorst, playing his last game before retiring, an expert piece of defending that his team-mate Heitinga could learn a lot from, after letting the Barcelona midfielder escape his attentions in the second half.

A quick pull of the shirt outside the area and that was that, Heitinga red-carded, the Dutch down to 10, and a free-kick for Xavi on the edge of the area. Great chance, poorly executed, well over the bar.

Would the extra man count?

It sure would.

Four minutes before the end of the 30, Spain won possession, Fernando Torres's pass finding Fabregas who in turn fed Iniesta.

Chelsea supporters know what it is to be broken by the little Barcelona man, it was he who smashed home to knock us out of the 2009 Champions League, and it was he who sent a half-volley into the bottom corner of the Dutch net.

In winning they become the first European side to lift the trophy on another continent.

Africa can be proud of the tournament it provided - the football may only have lived up to the billing in patches, but there is no better spectacle on Earth, no better way to show yourself to the rest of the world. And that's what it's all about.