I intentionally didn’t feature the event in the last issue as I was certain every other publication would do so. However, having followed the Spanish team every step of the way I felt they at least deserved a   mention in our little mag. I do not claim to be an expert of the game, merely an observer passing comment on what was a spectacular event.

So, apologies to all you non football lovers, here are some interesting bits and bobs about footie and in particular, why Spain so deserved to win … maybe England could learn a lesson or two from them!

The Spanish side is often referred to as La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) or La Roja (The Red).

In July 2008 Spain rose to the top of the FIFA World Rankings for the first time in its history, becoming the sixth nation to top this    ranking, and the first nation to top the ranking without previously having won the World Cup.

Between November 2006 and June 2009 Spain went  undefeated for a record tying 35 consecutive matches before their loss to the United States, a record shared with Brazil, including a record 15-game winning streak and thus earning third place in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The odds of Spain winning the 2010 World Cup were   4 to 1.

They were joint    favorites, with Brazil, and were backed by the world’s greatest ever player, Pele, to claim their first championship. Following a flawless qualifying campaign, winning ten out of ten, Spain were the number one team in the FIFA rankings.

South Africa were the first African hosts (and what a fabulous job they did too!)

The United States won its group for the first time since 1930.

Spain are the first European country to win the title when the event was held off-continent.

Spain are the first to win after losing their opening game.

Spain are the first European champion to win since West Germany in 1974.

Spain are the first to win after having been humiliated by the Americans a year earlier.

All of Europe’s five FIFA World Cup winners have lifted the Trophy at the end of their first Final, after Spain emulated Italy,   Germany, England and France.

32 years after Argentina’s Daniel Bertoni scored the last extra-time goal in a FIFA World Cup Final, Spain’s Andres Iniesta  repeated the feat.

Its ledger since 2006 is quite astounding:  50 victories, 2 losses, 2 draws. The losses came to the US, by a 2-0 count in last year’s Confederations Cup in South Africa, and to Switzerland in its Cup group     opening game. Since that match Spain    allowed only one goal (to Chile) and ended the tournament with a streak of 433 scoreless minutes.

What’s an intriguing Spanish tale, of course, is that a man from Madrid     (Casillas) saved the match and a man from Barcelona (Iniesta) won it. Proving that  despite strong club rivalries, the country comes first!

The victory sees Spain become only the third nation to hold the European and world football crowns at the same time, two years on from their European Championships success in Vienna.

Spain has not always shown such support for their national team. As recently as five years ago the country mocked the national team. Only when Spain began to do well at the European Championships in 2008 did the country show any interest in the national side. Even then it was only come the semi final that the country got excited about their national team.

Having been a Liverpool fan since an early age I was disappointed by the performance of Fernando Torres (El Niño). I have since learnt that the way the Spanish national team play does not suit El Niño. His continuing frustration comes from the fact that the neat passing game Spain play often leaves him as a spectator. He is much better running on to a distant pass. He is very dangerous picking up a long ball. He has done that for Liverpool so often and so well. But Spain do not play that way. Unfortunately for Torres, he typifies England team players rather than his national side.

I’m sure some of you will dislike me for saying this but England are light years away from being as good a team as Spain

A lot of the demise of the quality and attitude of England players may well be blamed on television. The moment the footballing authorities took the Sky money, the domestic game was always going to rule supreme. Rather than developping home grown youth talent, clubs spent fortunes on buying foreign  footballers. That was a big mistake the true cost of which we are only witnessing now.

The obsession with the Premiership and the dominance of the domestic game has been so detrimental to the national team. Playing for your country now means little to most of the  millionaire footballers who are chosen to wear the three lions shirt.

Sure, the likes of Villa, Iniesta and Xavi are paid well in Spain. The difference is that they have  pride. They actually want to play for their national team and they want to play well.

The relationship of the two teams with the press and media is a glaring difference. Spanish football reporters,  from newspapers, TV and Radio were allowed into team dressing rooms to interview players after a game. The press were on the plane bringing the victorious team back to Madrid. The main football TV    presenters were on the plane celebrating with the players. There is a mutual trust between the players and the press. You only have to look at the videos posted on youtube if you missed them on national television.

In Spain, many players are  friends with those who write or broadcast about them. The Spanish Capitain is maybe a  wee bit friendlier than others …

Even the Spanish royal family were  televised expressing their elation and   frustrations during the final matches. Reina Sofia even visited the team’s dressing room (with Pujol still dressed only in his towel may we add!)

So that’s my rant over. Be I right or be I wrong .. let us just celebrate the fact that a team that believes in playing football the right way are Champions of both Europe and the World.

The entertainment factor was superb. South Africa did us proud with their ceremonies and organisation of the whole event and the music of Shakira (Waka Waka), K’naan & Bisbal (Waving Flag ) will be with us forever …

The Spanish flags will no doubt continue to wave for a very long time from now and why shouldn’t they.

Here’s to the Spanish passion … for the wonderful game of football and for life in general. This has been one hell of a party … ¡ Vive España!  ¡ Vive la Roja !