World Cup 2010: Spain can hit more heights after surviving clog dance

Spain's final test was to endure the brute force of Holland. As a last trial of their claim to greatness it was wrong for a World Cup climax but right for the killing off of any last doubts about their pedigree.

As Mark van Bommel's special Fifa licence to foul was renewed for the last of the 64 games and other Dutchmen joined him in the clogging squad the beauty of Spain's kaleidoscopic passing game earned them high ranking on the list of the best World Cup winners since Brazil in 1970. No champions since the Pelé generation have articulated so clearly an ideal, an ethic, a scheme for how the world's favourite game should be played