THE END OF SUMMER 2010 AS WE KNOW IT

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't riveting, it wasn't perfect, but it was victory at last for a country that has had to wait far too long to get their hands on the World Cup Trophy. Andres Iniesta scored the most important goal in Spanish footballing history with 4 minutes left in the second overtime period, crushing the hopes of Dutch fans and essentially putting an end to a game that seemed to defy the rich footballing histories being represented.

The Dutch national team was the team that brought the concept of 'total football' to the world, a style of play premised on the idea of free-flowing attack and creativity. For whatever reason though, this particular Dutch team seemed to shed some of its fabled style for a gritty determination that often was anything but pretty. This transformation was clear in today's game, nearly every single Dutch player who stepped onto the field walked off with a yellow card, one should have ejected in the first half for a challenge on Xabi Alonso, and another was sent off in overtime after receiving his second yellow.

Spain has also forged a uniquely cerebral and attacking footballing system, Spanish players are known for their technical brilliance and ability to dominate games through possession. Like the Dutch though, the Spanish seemed to be somewhat out of character, few scoring opportunities were created and the passing, the undeniable staple of Spanish soccer, was not at its best.

Despite their shortcomings and the choppiness of the game, Spain looked to be the better team from the first whistle (although Holland created some of the most dangerous opportunities), and finally after 116 minutes of play the ball finally found its way into the back of the Dutch net, the shooter was none other than the harrowed Andres Iniesta; the player who started the attack with his backheel at midfield finished it with a superb strike into the left corner of the goal. The rest of the game was just a formality, that strike sealed the end of Spain's world cup under-achievements, and lifted Spanish soccer to a level that only seven other countries have ever achieved; and perhaps as an added bonus for its long wait Spain also became the first European country to win a world cup outside of the European continent, and the first country to win a world cup after losing its first game.

At any rate, the world cup is over, it was insane, it was historic, and it ate up my life for weeks. I have absolutely no clue what I am going to do with the rest of my summer. . . I suppose I will just have to devote the rest of the summer to reliving the glory with the help of my Nintendo Wii.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from The Guardian's coverage of the world cup along with the game winning goal, and the official world cup song so you can all sit and tear up to the bittersweet end of the greatest sporting event on the planet.