What the world is reading

“What a brutal final! There were 14 yellows in all,one leading to a red—with Germany’s beautiful football,it could have been so different,” lamented the German website. It also said,“Paul the Oracle Octopus,the ‘psychic’ creature from Sea Life in Oberhausen,had correctly predicted the outcome of all of Germany’s games,and added the final to that list. Respect!”. Complimenting the Spanish on their ability to celebrate—”an Iniesta fiesta as the party went on through the night!”—it still rooted for the home team: “Germany thrilled the football world,and will hope to collect the World Cup in four years with some beautiful football.”

SPORT (Spain)

The Most Deserved Cup

Josep Maria Casanovas terms the win as “the largest victory which Spanish sport has achieved”. Casanovas states “this team has signed a contract of unwavering love and complicity with the ball”. Casanovas adds that “being world champion means having four years to enjoy it. It means to be above historical powers such as Brazil ,Germany,Italy and Argentina in the global track record. It is also a confirmation that Spain has found a pattern of play”. The column,like the rest of the country,celebrates the win: “Spain’s Casillas lifting the World Cup is a dream come true”.

Guardian (UK)

Where does this Cup rank?

Sean Ingle says this year has been “a middling-to-decent World Cup”,not a classic. For that it required “humdingers that scramble your equilibrium like a check hook to the temple,did-you-see-that individual performances,superb goals,a balance between epic matches and jaw-slumping shocks,and…great matches between great teams”. However,he says the tournament was “more expansive and attacking-minded,and for this reason South Africa 2010 probably sneaks slightly ahead of Japan/Korea 2002 and Germany 2006.”

THE NATIONAL (Dubai)

Football and thuggery

The ‘stop Spain’ operation carried out by the Dutch is not surprising,according to Richard Jolly. “The pre-match comments from the Dutch camp indicated a game plan based on a determination to disrupt. Deprive Spain of rhythm,the theory seemed to go,and it would be like denying them oxygen”,he says. Criticising the Dutch for failing to play fair,Jolly says “winning ugly used to be anathema to Holland. It is not now”.

Blog: Quickreads

Beautiful right up to end

Football writer David Reardon was rooting for the sport itself. “And I lost. We were promised the beautiful game. Instead we got something closer to no-hands rugby,” he writes. “It was a 116-minute display of bumping and flopping and missed opportunities.” He says he has learnt one thing: the more at stake,the less likely an exciting,cleanly-played soccer match.