The Spaniards are champions of the world.

Two years after winning the European Championship, Spain defeated Netherlands 1-0 to become just the second team ever to follow a European championship with a World Cup championship, and just the third team to ever win the trophies back-to-back.

The game wasn't the prettiest of matches, marred by a gluttony of yellow cards and overall chippiness, but Andres Iniesta's goal in the 116th minute was as pretty as any.

Now the countdown begins, only four more years until Brazil 2014.

More World Cup links

• Andres Iniesta received a yellow card for his shirt-removing goal celebration, which wasn't an act of vanity, but rather him paying tribute to a fallen teammate and friend.

• Diego Forlan had a spectacular tournament for fourth place Uruguay, and was awarded the Golden Ball, as the World Cup's most valuable player.


• The best goals of the World Cup.

• To all those kids that get picked on for being the smallest in their class, Andres Iniesta showed you can have the last laugh.

• Ann Arbor.com Entertainment producer/copy editor Chrysta Cherri knows a thing or two about soccer too, winning the AnnArbor.com World Cup challenge.

• Sergio Ramos' skill was on prominent display in the final, and its no surprise he topped the Castrol Index ranking system as the most influential of the tournament.

• Now that the World Cup is over, what's next for South Africa?

• It's of course never too early to start thinking of the next World Cup, Brazil 2014.

Picture of the day:

Andres Iniesta hoists the Jules Rimet trophy high above his head. Iniesta scored the World Cup winning goal for Spain in its 1-0 victory over the Netherlands. (AP Photo)

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.