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This World Cup always promised to be different.

The first one ever held in an African nation, the tournament soon became notable for refereeing blunders, Maradona madness, Jabulani frustration, Vuvuzela chaos, player mutinies, technology-inspired debates and oracle octopi.

And it all comes to its dramatic conclusion tonight, when Spain face off against the Netherlands for the tag of ‘the world’s best.’

Each nation has not won a World Cup, so irrespective of the result; it will prove to be an historic fixture.

For much of the tournament, Spain were diligently doing what was needed to progress, without reaching the untouchable form that they had shown the world in the past.

But they put those worries behind them with their impressively clinical disposing of Germany in the last semi-final.

In fact, so impressive was their last win that the Euro 2008 Champions go into the final as rightful favourites – especially when one considers the ilk of players that they boast in every position of the pitch.

But the Dutch do have the firepower, team ethic and unity to bring the challenge right up to their more-fancied opponent.

The jewel in their team is undoubtedly playmaker, Wesley Sneijder. The Inter midfielder would love to finish off his campaign strongly and reinforce his bid to be crowned the tournament’s most valuable player.

But possibly the most important tasks dished out by Dutch coach, Bert van Marwijk, will be to midfield scraggers, Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong – to try and attempt to rein in the star-studded Spanish midfield.

But it may prove to be too hard a task as the Spanish try to add to their imposing record of only losing twice in their last 54 games.

Third-place play-off:
Germany defeated Uruguay 3-2

Attack was the theme of last night’s unforgettable third-place play-off.

Ultimately it was the impressive, young German team that managed to secure victory and the bronze medals – but only after a dramatic finale to the game where Uruguayan marksman, Diego Forlan, sent an injury-time free-kick shuddering into the crossbar of the goal with the last kick of the game.

The German team started with all the momentum and procured an early lead through a cool Thomas Mueller finish after a Bastion Schweinsteiger shot was saved by the Uruguayan goalkeeper.

Mueller’s goal was his fifth in six games and further cemented his profile as the promising young player in the world.

But the resilient Uruguayans soon worked their way into the match and their focus on midfield pressure was duly rewarded when Diego Perez capitalised on a Schweinsteiger error to set up a fleeting forward movement that ended with Palermo’s Edinson Cavani sliding the ball beyond the German keeper’s reach.

The Uruguayans finished the half with a flurry of golden chances, but couldn’t steal a lead as the score remained deadlocked at 1-1 at the change.

But Uruguay did find that elusive second goal in the second half, when Forlan sent a beautiful bouncing strike for a goal – also bringing his personal goal tally to 5 (equal top with the aforementioned Mueller, Spain’s Villa, and Holland’s Sneijder).

But the Germans then hit back when a bundled attempt to cut off a cross from the Uruguayan keeper came undone and Marcell Jansen was allowed to shoot an unlikely header bouncing into the back of the net.

The fast-flowing, attacking game continued until a Mesut Ozil cross initiated a scramble in Uruguay’s defensive box, allowing German midfielder, Sami Khedira, to pop up with a simple header that drifted over the spectator defenders and across the goal-line.

The great game deserved a memorable end and it ensured with a tense finish – culminating with Forlan’s final chance.

Uruguay can be proud of their performance this tournament, but it was the Germans that were able to exhibit just why the soccer world is talking them up their young squad as future world-beaters – and with this World Cup’s form, a dynasty seems well under way.