"The intellectualisation
of football has
always foundered
on a simple problem-
-the players. Doing
all your most
rewarding thinking
with your feet seems
to dull the philo-
sophical impulse.
Unless, of course,
you are Dutch.
According to legend,
Europeans played
a moronic, muscular
version of the world's
game, until Holland
proclaimed its vision
of total football in the
1974 World Cup,
and enlightenment
dawned."

From:
Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football

"The referee was outrageous!"

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Albeit for different reasons, both teams had no appreciation for the - indeed terrible - English referee Howard Webb.

The players of the Dutch team felt robbed by Webb: "This referee is a disgrace," said Wesley Sneijder.

Webb didn't see that Holland should have had a corner five minutes from the end, when Sneijder's shot was touched by a defender and the Spanish goal keeper before it went out. "He is the only one in the stadium who didn't see it should have been a corner. Spain then quickly took the goal kick and then Iniesta is offside when - I believe - Torres plays the ball to him. The referee doesn't see it, Iniesta gets the ball again and it's a goal. How can a final of a World Cup be decided like that?"

Apart from that Sneijder argues that Iniesta should have been sent off. "He kicked Van Bommel. The fourth official saw it, but the referee did nothing."

Johan Cruyff remained a gentleman, but also revealed he wasn't crazy about Webb's performance: "Not only did he not send off two Dutchmen but he also looked the other way at times when he should have involved himself," the former Barcelona star said.

Similar comments came from Robin van Persie and other players, who all seemed to forget that Van Bommel, De Jong and Sneijder were fortunate to still be in the game after the first 45 minutes.

Sneijder: "Of course Spain had some chances, but I believe we did as well. The referee played a decisive role."

Spanish newspaper Marca gave Webb 0 out of 10. But naturally no one in Spain bemoaned the fact that the Dutch deserved a corner and that Iniesta was offside. "De Jong's karate kick on Alonso should have been red and Van Bommel should have been sent off, Sneijder was allowed too much and Xavi should have had a penalty. Conclusion: Webb isn't capable of refereeing a game at this level. Scandalous, outrageous!"

English newspapers were of course full of praise of their good old Howard, but the man himself said the World Cup final left him "physically and emotionally drained".

How do you think we feel Webb after you ruined the best game of the year?

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