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'Marina Barrage helped prevent more flooding’ By yahoosingapore – July 19th, 2010 Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim says the opening of the Marina Barrage in 2008 helped prevent flooding in many low-lying areas around the city during the recent floods. Dr. Yaacob was replying to Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Sylvia Lim’s question on the role of the barrage in the recent flash floods which hit Singapore. He said the $226 million barrage receives water from a large 10,000 hectare network of canals and drains. But areas located more centrally or further north could still be vulnerable to floods if the drains there do not have the capacity to contain water during an intense downpour. He added that the barrage played three main roles, that of a freshwater reservoir, to prevent floods as well as for recreational activities. Questions about the recent floods and how they can be prevented in future dominated Monday’s parliament session. Saturday morning’s flash floods, the fourth in recent months, prompted the government to bring forward plans to improve drainage in major canals and drains in flood-prone areas. 1. Review of Stamford Canal ‘top priority’ First and foremost, the government has ordered an immediate review of the Stamford Canal, which overflowed and caused the June 16 and July 17 floods in Orchard Road. The government says that a blocked drain due to litter was not the main cause of the floods which hit Orchard Road. Rather, it was the design and capacity of the major canal which could not cope with the high amount of rainfall which was the central problem. Depending on the findings, the 4-km-long Stamford Canal which stretches from Tanglin Road to Raffles Avenue may be widened or deepened. 2. Review of all major drains and canals in Singapore The review of Stamford Canal will be part of a multi-agency taskforce study of all major drains and canals in Singapore. Dr. Yaacob said the study will consider all measures but within the constraints of “cost effectiveness and competing uses for limited land in Singapore.” Improvement works for waterways along the Geylang River, Bukit Timah First Diversion Candal and Rochor Canal have also been planned. 3. SMS alert for shops along Orchard Road, general public The government has urged businesses along Singapore’s main shopping belt to sign up for an SMS alert service by the PUB which is activated when sensors in the Stamford Canal detect high water levels. Dr Yaacob said authorities are also looking into extending the warning system to the general public living in flood-prone areas of Singapore. 4. Installation of flood barriers Dr Yaacob also said his ministry will be studying if flood barriers and road humps should be installed to protect basement car parks or even basement shops along Orchard Road, like those in Liat Towers or the Wisma Atria stretch. Building owners and managing committees have also been encouraged to improve their communication and evacuation procedures as part of their emergency response plans for flood incidents.

ⓛⓞⓥⓔ Desperado !!! Ronaldo Jr's mum is ordinary American waitress: report Mon 19 Jul 11:26 SGT By Ewen Boey The much-discussed identity of the mother of Cristiano Ronaldo's baby son has finally been revealed: she is reportedly an ordinary American waitress. The Portuguese star became a father on June 17 but the identity of the mother has remained a mystery after she was reportedly paid S$21 million (£10 million) to keep quiet. Now British newspaper The Sunday Mirror reports that Ronaldo met the unnamed woman in a Los Angeles restaurant last year, and the birth was a result of a one-night stand with the "penniless" waitress. Ronaldo was reported to have told his friends, "I feel like Boris Becker", the tennis star who fathered an illegitimate child after having sex once in a London restaurant, which resulted in a £20 million settlement and an end to his marriage. Apparently, the 25-year-old Real Madrid megastar approached the woman at a Los Angeles restaurant with a dirty pick-up line she could not understand. So Ronaldo resorted to drawing a love heart on a misted-up window near his table and said: "Me, you, kiss!" They then made their way back to a hotel. Nine months later, what do you know, Ronaldo is a father. Initial reports said Ronaldo had paid a surrogate mother to have his child but now it's reported that the waitress tracked Ronaldo down through his agent, Jorge Mendes, after discovering she was pregnant. It was agreed that the player would give DNA for a paternity test once the baby was born and provide support for the mother and child if it was his. A friend told the Sunday Mirror: "Cristiano was told the result while he was away at the World Cup." Ronaldo had announced the birth on what is billed as his official Facebook page earlier this month before revealing he had named the little boy Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. The Real Madrid star reportedly then used his best friend to help broker an exclusive paternity deal in New York, supervised by his mother Dolores Aveiro, to bring the baby back to Portugal. Ronaldo has apparently told friends that he will not reveal to his son the identity of his mother until he turns 18. A statement read: "It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy. "As agreed with the baby's mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship. "No further information will be provided on this subject and I request everyone to fully respect my right to privacy (and that of the child) at least on issues as personal as these are." If the story is indeed true, you've got to say "ouch" for Ronaldo, who's been linked with a string of models and celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. Even though the "player" currently earns about S$440,000 per week in wages, paying S$21 million for one night's fun, is, er, no fun.

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Rhomboid Fairy Wrasse aka Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis Overview This is a highly coveted reef aquarium species, among the rarest of the rare wrasses, in the past often fetching a King's Ransom from aquarists who could handle the price tag. The Rhomboid Fairy Wrasse was once a very difficult fish to obtain, being most common in deeper water (125-ft. or more) beyond the reach of most collectors and with a limited distribution—exports generally come from the Marshall Islands (especially Kwajalein Atoll). While not common, it is now more readily available. It is more secretive than other more commonly seen Cirrhilabrus sp. It will tend to hide in brightly lit, shallow reef systems, and a deeper tank with more subdued lighting is much more appropriate. Most aquarium specimens grow no larger than 4.7 inches. Larger specimens sometimes ship poorly and are best shipped in large shipping bags with ample amounts of water. The Rhomboid Fairy Wrasse is typically considered to be one of the less aggressive members of the genus. Family: Labridae Other common name(s): Rhomboid Golden Fairy Wrasse, Diamondtail Wrasse Native range: Marshall Islands, Palau, Yap Habitat: The Rhomboid Fairy Wrasse occurs on steep outer reef slopes, over sand and dead coral, where it has been reported to occur at depths from 38 to 40 m (125 to 132 ft.). It stays closer to the substrate than most of the other fairy wrasses from the Marshall Islands. Maximum length: 15 cm (6 in) Minimum aquarium size: 208 L (55 gal) Lighting: Subdued Water: Marine 23 °C (296 K, 73 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F) General swimming level: All levels, of close to substrate Feeding If you obtain a healthy individual, you should have no problem getting this fish to eat. Offer meaty foods for zooplanktivores: mysid shrimp, enriched adult brine shrimp, reef plankton, and color-enhancing rations. Aquarium Compatibility It is likely to be picked on by more pugnacious members of its own genus. However, it has been known to pick on other, smaller fairy wrasses, especially if they are introduced after it is well established and tank space is limited. If you are going to keep a C. rhomboidalis with more bellicose species, be sure it is added to the tank first. A male can be housed with one or more females, but do not keep two males together. Males tend to be shyer than females and will hide more, and may lose color in a brightly lit reef tank. The females will often scull about the tank, paying little notice to the human observers. A male, in contrast, may be reluctant to spend much time in the open if there is activity near the tank. Instead, he will slink from one crevice to another. Special Care Make sure the tank is always covered. It is not uncommon for these fish to engage in dramatic displays along the front or sides of the tank when the room is dark. Apparently, they see their reflection in the glass, which releases these aggressive displays. You can encourage this behavior by attaching black black acrylic to the exterior of the tank. This enhances the reflective qualities of the glass.

Blue Assessor aka Assessor macneilli The Macneill's Assessor Basslet, also referred to as MacNeill's Mini Grouper or Blue Assessor Basslet, is entirely dusky dark blue. This is an excellent choice for reef aquariums. For a single Macneill's Assessor Basslet, provide at least a 30 gallon tank - larger for more individuals and plenty of rock caves for hiding. As a carnivore, the Macneill's Assessor Basslet will thrive on a diet of meaty foods such as finely chopped fresh or frozen marine fish, squid, mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and frozen carnivore preparations. Feed at least twice a day. QUICK STATS Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025 Max. Size: 3" Diet: Carnivore Origin: Coral Sea Family: Grammidae

Sore Losers ! Dutch team angry over referee Webb's performance GRAHAM DUNBAR, AP - 13 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- Referee Howard Webb hoped to be a calming influence on the World Cup final. It didn't work out that way. Webb handed out yellow cards to 13 different players and ejected John Heitinga after showing the Netherlands defender a second yellow in extra time of its 1-0 loss to Spain on Sunday. All the yellows were a record for the tournament, far surpassing the six collected by Argentina and West Germany in 1986. Eight Dutchmen were shown the yellow card and five Spaniards. Before the game, Webb said his perfect match was when "nobody is speaking about the officials, and they are speaking about the excellent game of football." But Dutch players had to be pulled away from Webb at the end of the game, among them Arjen Robben. Among his grievances was a no call; Webb did not give a second yellow to defender Carles Puyol in the 82nd minute when he appeared to impede Robben. "He has to send him (Puyol) off and give a free kick," Robben said. "For me, it is very clear -- that after such a game when you sit in the dressing room there is only talking about the referee, and I think that's a bad point. "If you play a World Cup final, you need a world-class referee. I don't know if today was a world-class performance from the referee." At the end of the game, Netherlands midfielders Mark van Bommel and Wesley Sneijder headed directly toward Webb. Robben, who was given a yellow for protesting that he was fouled by Puyol, joined in as defender Joris Mathijsen rushed over to gesticulate angrily. Webb was not made available after the game. All the Dutch players were upset at a decision which indirectly led to Spain's winning goal. From a Dutch free kick, Sneijder's shot was deflected wide -- but Webb awarded a goal kick, Spain broke forward and Andres Iniesta scored. "We don't have the cup and that's the reason why we're here," Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg said. "You can blame the referee. Everybody outside the stadium can see it was a corner, but he didn't and the assistant also (missed it)." At the end of the game, a chorus of jeers and whistles rained down from the Dutch fans at Soccer City when Webb led his assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey to receive their gifts from South Africa President Jacob Zuma and FIFA president Sepp Blatter. The 38-year-old Webb is one of the few full-time referees in world soccer, after taking a lengthy leave of absence from the South Yorkshire police force. He worked his way back to the top of his profession after being sent home early from the 2008 European Championship when he missed an offside call in a group match which is remembered for a penalty kick call that earned him death threats from Polish fans. He was awarded control of the World Cup final after near-faultless handling of three previous games at the tournament, in which he showed 17 yellow cards. Webb was widely praised for his player-management skills while showing four yellows to each team in a tense group match when Slovakia eliminated defending champion Italy with a 3-2 victory.

Presidential seal of approval for Brazil 2014 2 hours, 8 minutes ago RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - World Cup 2014 hosts Brazil will put on a spectacular show as the event comes to South America for the first time in almost 40 years, organisers and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva insist. Keen fan Lula had been hoping to see a sixth title achieved in South Africa this summer but a quarter-final loss to Holland put paid to that. Now the focus switches instead to what will be the first tournament hosted by the most successful nation in the history of the competition since 1950 - memories of which Brazilian fans would like to forget as that edition culminated in a shock final loss to Uruguay. On that occasion, 200,000 people crammed into Rio's mythical Maracana stadium to watch the final. "To lose in 2010 could be understood, but to lose in 2014 would be a repeat of 1950 and this is something nobody can imagine," said Ricardo Teixeira, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) who is also head of the 2014 organising committee. That sentiment is driving organisers on - although Teixeira said during a presentation in Johannesburg last week that much work remained to be done. "The problem for 2014 is the airports, the airports and the airports," Teixeira admitted. That brought a strong riposte Saturday from Lula, himself a big fan of the sport, even as he headed back after cutting short his visit to South Africa to deal with severe flooding in the northeast of the country. Lula says that Brazil may expect to face the same doubts as to its capacity to host the event as South Africa did before the tournament came to Africa for the first time. But with 2010 having passed off without major organisational mishap Lula insists Brazil will be ready to host "the best World Cup ever seen on the planet." According to the president, "Brazil will invest in infrastructure by 2014 more than it has invested in the past 30 years," citing forecasts of 624 billion dollars in infrastructural projects ahead of the big kick-off. "We don't want to organise a Cup of which people go home saying the plane was unable to land because of a hole on the runway," A Folha daily quoted him as saying. Already, the bill to renovate 16 airport terminals has shot up to seven billion dollars in order to boost capacity of 66 percent. Brazil, still getting over its loss to the Dutch, now enter an entirely new cycle and are determined to deliver a memorable World Cup to showcase the country ahead of the additional challenge of hosting the 2016 Olympics. Work on stadia has progressed fitfully with the planned arena of Morumbi in Sao Paulo, a teeming city of 17 million and the country's largest, being cut from the programme by world governing body FIFA for failing to deliver on financial guarantees. The refurbishment of the Maracana is also causing headaches with tenders for the work estimated at costing 400 million dollars already postponed once. So far, FIFA had approved six of the 12 host cities - Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Manaus and Porto Alegre. The construction or renovation of stadia form part of a list of 86 government-backed projects which will cost a total of 13.2 billion dollars. Organisers expect around three million extra tourists during the tournament, an increase of 79 percent on the traditional annual figure, adding to the problems of choked airports, some of which are close to "operational collapse", according to one study. "But contracts have been agreed and this question will receive the utmost priority. We have developed a communal transport system." Former Brazil star Romario, a world champion in 1994, is doing his bit for the 2014 organisers and said: "I hope it will be a chance to show you the true face of Brazil. You will see what football means to Brazilians. I am sure the atmosphere will be unprecedented."

Germany Boss Joachim Loew: I Had To Drop Miroslav Klose For The Uruguay Match Goal.com 1 hour, 55 minutes ago Germany manager Joachim Loew insists that he has no choice but to drop injured Miroslav Klose against Uruguay, ending his chance to become the leading scorer in World Cup history. The Bayern Munich hitman was one goal behind Brazil star Ronaldo’s record of 15, but fell ill with the flu after Germany’s 1-0 loss against Spain and was not able to play against Uruguay. Without Klose up front Germany went on to win an exciting match 3-2 and earn third place for the second consecutive World Cup. The 32-year-old striker was also in contention for the Golden Boot having scored four goals, but Loew acknowledged that he had to leave Klose out of the line-up to field the strongest team in the attempt to finish third. “We needed 100 per cent from everyone so couldn’t afford players who weren’t fit,” Loew told The Mirror. “That’s why we didn’t field injured or ill players. It would have been irresponsible. He simply couldn’t play, he failed the fitness test, he could hardly walk. “He was absolutely devastated but knew it was the team that was important.” Thomas Mueller’s fifth goal of the tournament gave Germany the lead but goals from Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan gave the South Americans a 2-1 lead early in the second half. However, Marcell Jansen evened the score and Sami Khedira scored with eight minutes remaining to give the Germans the victory.

Spain’s touch overcomes brute Dutch force By PAUL LOGOTHETIS, AP Sports Writer 4 hours, 30 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AP)— Spain stuck to its delicate touch and it eventually paid off as it overcame the brute force of the Netherlands in a 1-0 victory on Sunday that secured the European champions their first World Cup. Andres Iniesta’s extra-time goal was enough for Spain to survive a bad-tempered game that saw the Netherlands mostly keep its attacking flair in check Sunday at Soccer City. Spain’s creative intentions were mostly stifled by strong Dutch resistance and tough challenges as referee Howard Webb handed out nine yellows and one red card to defender John Heitinga. “We all deserved it, especially after this game today which was so hard,” Iniesta said. “To finish off this way makes you so happy, it leaves a great taste.” With the teams facing a penalty shootout in a game of few clear chances, Iniesta collected a sliding pass into the area from substitute Cesc Fabregas and smashed the ball across goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and in at the far post. Iniesta, one of the archetypes of an attacking philosophy that has grown out of his club team Barcelona, allowed Spain to become only the third team after Germany and France to hold both the European Championship and World Cup together. Goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas was immediately moved to tears as the 116th-minute goal confirmed Spain’s superiority in the game and made up for so many poor performances in tournaments past. “The European Championship was the most important moment of our lives, but today is much bigger than anything else,” Casillas said. “The Netherlands played a war out there but in the end the talent of the Spanish players shone through.” While Spain is usually known for wearing its opponent down through possession, it was left with little open space on the night as its usual quick-touch passing was often stopped in its tracks. Nigel de Jong’s flying karate kick to the chest of Xabi Alonso in the 28th minute best exemplified the difference in styles as the Dutch looked to grind down the Spanish and earn a victory. The Dutch midfield tried its hardest to squeeze and foul the life out of Spain’s small, fast and talented midfield and almost succeeded, keeping the Spanish away from goal until almost two hours had been played. By the time of Heitinga’s 56th-minute yellow card, five Dutch players had been booked and the Spanish were showing frustration with the stop-start game. Even the normally demure Xavi Hernandez exchanged heated words with Mark van Bommel to start the second half. “The Netherlands closed down a lot at the back and didn’t let us get through,” said striker David Villa, who finished the tournament with five goals. “We had some chances that we didn’t put away, they had some chances, too.” But Jesus Navas’ introduction for Pedro Rodriguez in the 66th saw Spain slowly began to find its way and take better control as the speedy winger’s pace stretched the Dutch defense. Navas provided several opportunities for Villa soon after his introduction. Fabregas replaced Alonso in the 87th to breathe further air into the Spanish attack as it pushed forward for the winner, with Fabregas’ solo chance denied by Stekelenburg in the 95th. As the Dutch legs tired and Iniesta was given more room to dart forward, it was Heitinga who tugged the Barcelona playmaker down to be only the fifth player sent off in a World Cup final. After starting its tournament with a shock loss to Switzerland, Spain came good to live up to the hype of favorite, finally. “This stays with us forever,” Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets said. “Above all in our memories and we are left with a little star for our shirts which I think football owed us and which here in South Africa it has given us.”

Forlan gets Golden Ball, Mueller wins Golden Boot 6 hours, 53 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AP)— Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was awarded the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best player Sunday, and Germany forward Thomas Mueller won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals. Forlan was voted the most outstanding player of the tournament by accredited media after leading his team to the semifinals. Forlan narrowly beat Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder, receiving 23.4 percent of the votes to 21.8 percent for the Dutchman. Spain striker David Villa was third with 16.9 percent of the votes. The 20-year-old Mueller helped Germany take third place with his five goals and three assists, and also won the Best Young Player award. Forlan, Villa and Sneijder also scored five times but each had one assist. Villa and Sneijder both failed to score in Sunday’s final, won 1-0 by Spain. Villa got the Silver Boot because his combined goals and assists total was achieved in fewer playing minutes than Sneijder, who collects the Bronze Boot. Mueller wore the same No. 13 jersey as Gerd Mueller, the German great who was top scorer with 10 goals at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Spain’s Iker Casillas won the Golden Glove as the top goalkeeper.

Spain beats Netherlands 1-0 for World Cup By BARRY WILNER, AP Sports Writer 2 hours, 30 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AP)—Exhaustion etched on their faces, fatigued bodies ready to betray them, the players knew just one goal would be enough to win the elusive World Cup for their nation. As the clock ticked toward penalty kicks, the shivering crowd at Soccer City Stadium grew anxious. Spain or the Netherlands would win its first championship if only someone could find the net. Andres Iniesta did, and Spain rules the soccer world at long, long last. “We have all done an incredible job,” he said Sunday night, shortly after the 1-0 extra-time victory. “I don’t think we even realize what we have done.” They beat the Netherlands on Sunday to go one better than the European title Espana won in 2008. Spain won its last four games by a score of 1-0—a tight margin that characterized the month-long tournament. The World Cup featured a record 31 one-goal decisions out of 64 matches—four more than the previous high set in 2002, according to STATS LLC. This final was a physical test of attrition that sometimes turned dirty—a finals-record 14 yellow cards were handed out and the Dutch finished with 10 men. In the end, it was Iniesta breaking free in the penalty area, taking a pass from Cesc Fabregas and putting a right-footed shot from 8 yards just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg with about seven minutes left to play, including injury time. “When I struck it, it just had to go in,” Iniesta said. For the Dutch and their legions of orange-clad fans wearing everything from jerseys to jumpsuits to clown gear to pajamas, it was yet another disappointment. Even with their first World Cup title tantalizingly within reach, they failed in the final for the third time. This one might have been the most bitter because, unlike 1974 and 1978, the Netherlands was unbeaten not only in this tournament, but in qualifying for the first World Cup staged in South Africa. Soccer City was soaked in Oranje, from the seats painted in that hue throughout the stadium to pretty much everyone seated in them, including crown prince Willem-Alexander. It was different when they lost to hosts West Germany and Argentina in previous finals; this time, the Dutch were something of a home team. And the visitors won. Spain had pockets of supporters, too, with fans dressed in red and scattered throughout the stadium. Among those cheering were Queen Sofia, Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol. Spain’s fans might have been in the minority, but when the final whistle blew, they were tooting their vuvuzelas with a vengeance in tribute to their champions. A second straight World Cup final headed into extra time, with the goalkeepers unbeatable. Stekelenburg, relatively inexperienced on the international level, made a spectacular left leg save when Fabregas broke free early in overtime. The goal in the 116th minute came off a turnover by the Dutch defense that Fabregas controlled just outside the penalty area. Iniesta stayed on the right and sneaked in to grab the pass and put his shot to the far post. Stekelenburg barely brushed it with his fingertips as it soared into the net. And with that, Iniesta tore off his jersey and raced to the corner where he was mobbed by his teammates. Several Dutch players wiped away tears as they received their runners-up medals—yet again. They had won every qualifying match and all six previous games in South Africa before the bitter ending. The Netherlands now has more victories in World Cup games without a title than any nation: 19. Spain held that dubious record with 24. Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk took off his silver medal as soon as he left the podium, a look of disgust on his face. The winners struggled but managed to lift their coach, Vicente del Bosque, in the air in celebration. “This is immeasurable for Spain,” he said. Then they made a quick costume change from their sweat-soaked blue jerseys into their traditional red ones. Iker Casillas, the captain, accepted the trophy from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who was bundled in a scarf since temperatures dipped into the 40s on this chilly winter’s night in the Southern Hemisphere. Casillas, voted the World Cup’s top goalkeeper, kissed the distinctive gold award and raised it for all to see while cameras flashed and confetti flew throughout the still-full stadium. “This really is quite a cup,” Casillas said. “The European Championship was the most important moment of our lives, but today is much bigger than anything else.” Soon, the entire team and staff gathered at midfield for a group photo. The players bounced up and down to the World Cup theme song, then took a victory lap as the trophy was passed to each member of the squad. “It’s the most beautiful that there is. It’s spectacular,” Iniesta said. Aside from a European title in 1988, the Dutch have been classic underachievers on the pitch. Yet the Spaniards haven’t been much better. Other than Euro championships in 1964 and 2008, they rarely have contended in major tournaments. At least the Netherlands made those two World Cup finals and advanced to the semifinals in 1998. Spain joined West Germany and France as the only nations to simultaneously hold the world and European titles. West Germany followed the European title with the 1974 World Cup and France won the 1998 Cup before winning the Euros two years later. The Spaniards also won the championship with the fewest goals, eight. Second-ranked Spain started this World Cup in the worst way, losing to Switzerland. But Spain won every game after that, including a 1-0 victory over powerful Germany that was far more one-sided than the score indicated. No other nation has won the World Cup after losing its opener. “They made it very difficult for us to play comfortably,” Del Bosque said. “It was a very intense match.” Yet the most dangerous player Sunday was Netherlands forward Arjen Robben. He had a rare breakaway in the 62nd minute after a brilliant through pass from Wesley Sneijder. He had the ball on his preferred left foot, but a charging Casillas barely got his right leg on the shot to deflect it wide of the gaping net. Then it was Stekelenburg’s turn, holding his ground after a misplay in front of the net gave the ever-potent Villa an open shot. As play opened up, the crowd of 84,490 got quieter in nervous anticipation of the goal that would win the World Cup. Robben again looked as though he might get it with a burst of speed past the defense, but Casillas sprinted from his net and smothered the ball before Robben could take a shot. “You felt that the team that would score first would win,” Van Marwijk said. “We had two great chances through Arjen. We made a real game out of it.” Before the game, former South African president Nelson Mandela received a huge ovation when he was driven onto the field on a golf cart. A smiling Mandela waved to the fans as the vuvuzelas buzzed throughout Soccer City. And after the game, Iniesta took time to salute Paul the Octopus, who correctly picked the winner of eight matches. “As for the octopus, what can I say?” Iniesta said, smiling. “We won and I’m sure the octopus will be more popular in Spain.”

Netherlands Midfielder Wesley Sneijder Laments Not Winning Four Titles This Season Goal.com 55 minutes ago Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder is disappointed that he could not continue his impressive season, after failing to win the World Cup final against Spain. The Dutch midfielder won the Champions League, Scudetto and and Coppa Italia with Inter. "I won three titles this season, and now I lost the fourth title tonight," the 26-year-old said post-match to Reuters. "I think it is a pity, but we can be proud of our achievements. "At this moment, I cannot think very well. We just lost the World Cup final. Sneijder was angry towards referee Howard Webb, as the Englishman did not pay certain decisions in the Oranje's favour. The midfielder was particularly angry that Webb did not send off Andres Iniesta, for a late challenge on Mark van Bommel.

Netherlands Star Arjen Robben Not Pleased With Referee Howard Webb Goal.com 1 hour, 59 minutes ago An angry and frustrated Netherlands winger Arjen Robben says Spain defender Carles Puyol should have been sent off with 10 minutes from time, as the Oranje lost 1-0 in the final of the World Cup. The Barcelona stopper made a last-gasp tackle on the Bayern Munich striker, but Robben believes a penalty should have been awarded, and the defender sent off for a second bookable offence. "When I got my second chance, the referee should have given us a free kick and Puyol a [second] yellow card," Robben told Reuters." He gave the advantage, but there was none as I could hardly move and the goalkeeper [iker Casillas] was too close already. "As a player, you always want to go on and especially 10 minutes before time in a World Cup final when you are heading towards the goal. "When I missed my first chance it was simply my error. I was not patient enough and should have gone around him instead of a poor finish." The Oranje star was also highly critical of English referee Howard Webb. "When you play in a World Cup final, you also need a world-class referee," he added.

Netherlands plays ugly in title loss to Spain By RAF CASERT, AP Sports Writer 3 hours, 30 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AP)—Going into the World Cup, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said he didn’t mind winning ugly. In Sunday’s final, the Dutch only managed the ugly part. Eight Oranje players were shown yellow cards and John Heitinga got ejected when he picked up his second yellow in extra time. Even after the final whistle in their 1-0 loss to Spain, players from the Netherlands were yelling at the officials. “Our fouls may be a sad thing for a final, but it is not our style,” said Van Marwijk, who took his silver medal off as soon as he left the podium at the post-game news conference. Four years after France’s Zinedine Zidane was ejected in the final and the French lost to Italy on penalty kicks, the Dutch were a 10-man side when Andres Iniesta scored the game’s only goal. “I would have loved to win it with football that is not so beautiful,” Van Marwijk said. On a team flush with talent, only Arjen Robben stood out on Sunday and almost gave the Dutch a breakthrough goal twice on darting runs through the center. Each time, Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas was perfect in blocking his attempts. “You felt that the team that would score first would win,” Van Marwijk said. “We had two great chances through Arjen.” The Dutch twice went to the finals in the 1970s but lost both times—to West Germany and then Argentina—playing with flair in a style called “total football.” Two years ago, the coach moved the team toward a more efficient, less flashy style. Before Sunday, it was hard to argue with the results—the Netherlands came in riding a 10-game winning streak and a 25-match unbeaten streak. But when it counted, the Netherlands didn’t have enough creativity to counter Spain’s offensive attack. And after a foul-filled game, midfielder Mark van Bommel went straight over to referee Howard Webb to have his say. He was soon joined by Wesley Sneijder, Robben and a gesticulating Joris Mathijsen. “We are angry that we lost because we came so close,” Netherlands forward Dirk Kuyt said. “I know you cannot blame others, but the ref was more favorable to Spain.” “We had much more yellow cards than we deserved.” Netherlands forward Eljero Elia agreed. “If the referee made good decisions, then its a different game,” he said.

Mandela crowns South Africa's World Cup as Spain wins by Griffin Shea 36 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Nelson Mandela joined the football party for Spain's 1-0 World Cup victory over Netherlands with 700 million people watching, a smiling reminder that his country was in it for more than the game. "It's the most important thing to ever happen to this tournament," Nathaniel Nyika, a 32-year-old investor, said. "It's just a tear-shedding moment. That's an ecstatic moment." He was among the 84,490 fans packed into the stadium on the outskirts of Soweto, once a hotbed of resistance to white-minority apartheid goverment, where holding a major sporting event was unimagineable 20 years ago. For South Africans, the enormous national pride at hosting the continent's tournament has long shined brighter than the football stars. At an event that is more about marketing and television images, organisers speak earnestly and often about sport bringing together a country still divided, often by race but always by gaping chasm between rich and poor. President Jacob Zuma said the World Cup brought "priceless" benefits for bringing South Africans of all races into the stands. "To just present a new South Africa that we dreamt about when Mandela walked out of prison in 1990 becoming a reality in 2010, and that was special," said the top organiser Danny Jordaan, also a veteran of the struggle against the white-minority apartheid regime. "The contribution to this society is the new sense of pride, walking tall and being united," he said. "This World Cup created a platform for South Africans to sit together and discover their own sense of pride and their concerns and their hope for the future." The spirit of South Africa's first black president has loomed large over Africa's first World Cup, which has been repeatedly compared to the national euphoria that greeted his release from an apartheid prison 20 years ago. South Africa has delighted in proving wrong sceptics' fears about the host country's ability to pull it off. More than 40,000 police were deployed to allay fears about crime. In a nation busily overhauling its dated transport system, new high-speed rail, highways, buses and train stations greeted the hundreds of thousands of foreign fans—systems so new that many South Africans did not know how to use them. FIFA says overall attendance at all World Cup matches has topped three million, only the third tournament to do so, and predicts the television audience will top 700 million with live broadcasts in 215 countries and territories. Colombian superstar Shakira performed her World Cup anthem "Waka Waka" on the field, which was transformed into a giant screen used to project a highlights reel of the tournament's best moments. More than 700 performers showed off the nation's varied musical heritage, from jazz to urban hip-hop, while giant elephant puppets glided across the field. While South Africans braved their winter cold, Spaniards packed into plazas draped in red and gold in blistering summer heat to watch the game on massive screens, one of them 60 square metres (650 square feet) on the Plaza Cibeles. A thunderous roar erupted across Madrid, with fans dancing in the streets and chanting "Viva Espana!" as the country's first-ever World Cup trophy sparked a nationwide fiesta. The centre of the capital was a sea of the red and gold national colours as Spain celebrated its agonising 1-0 extra-time win with 150,000 fans watching on screens set up Madrid's main thoroughfare. The deafening sounds of cheering, klazons, firecrackers and cars horns rang out across the city as the World Cup's perennial underachievers won the trophy in their first appearance in the final. Amsterdam, which had to urge people away from screens in an overcrowded central plaza, fell silent as about 180,000 fans watched their loss in disbelief. As the final whistle blew, the earlier festive atmosphere turned somber and a cacophony of vuvuzelas suddenly died down. Some cried, others sank down to the ground; many started leaving the square in grim silence. But Spanish fans at the stadium in Johannesburg were exuberant. "I feel so fortunate not only for Spain to win the World Cup but to be here to see them," said Sergio Gonzalez from Madrid.

Spanish set for 36-hour, $2 million party By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports 4 hours, 33 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG – Spain’s victorious World Cup squad will be treated to a lavish celebration party that will last for 36 hours and will cost more than $2 million. The Spanish team’s victory tour, which involves a parade through the streets of Madrid and celebrations with family, government ministers and members of Spain’s soccer federation, was planned in advance of the team’s 1-0 extra-time victory over the Netherlands on Sunday night. Head coach Vicente Del Bosque and his jubilant players will land at Madrid’s Barajas airport late Monday afternoon. After being greeted by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, the Spaniards will embark on an extraordinary series of parties and tribute events that will last all the way until late Tuesday night. “No one is going to want to sleep for a long time,” goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas said. “It is special, magical. We will enjoy it, don’t worry.” The team’s first port of call is the Moncloa Palace, the official residence of Zapatero. They will meet senior figures in Spanish society and members of the government and be entertained with champagne. From there, an open-top bus will parade the team through the streets of Madrid, which is expected to be packed with 200,000 joyous fans desperate to cheer on their heroes. Spain had previously never won the World Cup and the government immediately endorsed the festivities. Details were released to the public so that fans could get the best possible view of the bus tour. Much of the $2 million bill will go to extra policing and security, although the occasion is expected to be purely celebratory and relatively trouble-free. However, economists have already predicted the positive economic effect of the Spanish win will far outstrip that figure. “It is a special moment in the history of Spain and Spanish sport,” Zapatero said. “The whole country deserves to enjoy this and take pride in this group of men.” The highlight of the bus ride will be a stop at the Principe Pio, a famous hill on the west side of Madrid. That is where the biggest crowd is expected to congregate and where Casillas and each of the players will hoist the World Cup trophy. From there, a meal is planned at an upscale restaurant that specializes in traditional Spanish food to be shared with a select group of friends and family members. But after the players have been wined and dined, the festivities begin again in earnest with an invitation-only party at the New Garamond, Madrid’s swankiest nightclub. Yet even when the squad emerges in the early hours, there will be more fun to be had. After carefully selected appearances of morning television and sports shows, the team will head for breakfast and then to the house of Casillas. The team will watch a repeat of the game, with more celebrations and visits from various dignitaries and sponsors to follow. “The celebration is going to be fun,” defender Sergio Ramos said. “And it is going to be long.” Eventually, players will depart late on Tuesday night to head back to their respective homes and catch up on some much-needed rest.

Andres Iniesta wins World Cup, pays tribute to Dani Jarque Sun Jul 11 05:25pm EDT By Ryan Bailey As Andres Iniesta scored the 116th-minute goal that helped Spain to its first World Cup victory, he took the opportunity to pay tribute to a colleague who passed away before the start of last season. In front of a TV audience of more than 750 million, the Barca star removed his shirt to reveal the message "Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros," which translates to: Dani Jarque always with us Espanyol defender Jarque suffered a heart attack before a pre-season game in Italy in 2009. He never played club football with Iniesta, but they were the same age as they rose through the Spanish national team ranks. After the match, Iniesta explained his gesture: “I wanted to keep Dani with me and with the other teammates. We wanted to pay tribute to him and we thought this was the best opportunity to do so.” The diminutive midfielder may have earned a yellow card for the gesture, but what better way to pay tribute to a lost friend.

Sotong Power !!! Paul the Oracle Octopus goes eight for eight, is amazing Sun Jul 11 06:19pm EDT By Brooks Peck Eight picks, eight correct, eight tentacles. Paul the Oracle Octopus is clearly the biggest winner of the World Cup after recording a perfect prognostication record whether he knows it or not (he probably doesn't). The big question was whether Paul's predictive superpowers would translate to the final - the first match he was asked to predict that did not involve his native Germany. But such piddly concerns did not bother Paul. Mostly because he's an octopus. Just as he predicted, the European champions Spain became world champions for the first time with an Andres Iniesta goal in extra time. And as the Spanish celebrated, Paul floated in his tank, sure of his genius and probably craving a fresh clam. Since Paul is an international celebrity of the highest order now, everyone wants a piece of him - both literally and figuratively. Italy is trying to claim that he was caught in Italian waters, Spanish businessmen are trying to buy him for €30,000 ($38,000), and Dutch priests tried to dismiss him. But in Spain, Paul is an icon. The Spanish prime minister has already spoken of his desire to protect "Pulpo Paul" and the mock up of a new version of Spain's flag could be dangerously close to becoming real. So what becomes of Paul now? Well, he'll probably continue to live out the remainder of his days at the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, no longer forced to pick his food out of flag-covered boxes while surrounded by an obscene number of media types. He will swim at his leisure and continue to be oblivious to the existence of sports. He will retire a winner and a global sensation - what every other octopus (and even a few pundits) wishes they could be. All hail Paul.

Grandson: Nelson Mandela to greet WCup fans FISNIK ABRASHI, AP - 43 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- Nelson Mandela will greet fans ahead of Sunday's World Cup final at Soccer City, his grandson says. The 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon will then go home and watch the final between Spain and Netherlands, Mandla Mandela told The Associated Press. "He said that he wants to come out and greet fans at the stadium," Mandla said, adding that the former South African president was resting Sunday afternoon so he could be "fresh and energetic" for the appearance. The match between Spain and the Netherlands was to kick off at 8:30 p.m. local time. Mandela has kept a low profile during the monthlong tournament, having decided against attending the opening game on June 11 following the death of his great-granddaughter. Earlier, Mandla Mandela criticized FIFA for putting "extreme pressure" on the man who led South Africa out of apartheid to attend the World Cup final. He said FIFA was being "inconsiderate," given that the family is still in mourning. "My grandfather has recently lost a great-granddaughter and the family is in mourning," Mandela said. "They should be appraised of our customs and traditions." Mandela's 13-year-old great-granddaughter, Zenani Mandela, was killed in a car crash while returning from the World Cup opening concert. Mandela wants to attend World Cup final Reuters - 38 minutes ago By Stella Mapenzauswa JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Nelson Mandela wants to attend Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands for a while to greet soccer fans, his grandson said. FIFA has said it hopes Mandela will attend but the former South Africa president, who turns 92 on July 18, is increasingly frail and rarely appears in public. He missed the opening match of the tournament a month ago after his great-granddaughter died in a car accident. "He's going to rest and try and get some energy for tonight," his grandson Mandla Mandela told Reuters Sunday ahead of the match at Soccer City. "He wishes to go to the stadium but we know with his age he can change his mind later on but he has expressed that he is coming to the stadium to come and greet the fans and go back home." "He has made the decision that he wants to show up and greet the fans and we all respect that. We are looking forward (to it and hope) that he will come through." The presence of Mandela, revered globally for his role in fighting apartheid and leading his country to democracy, would cap South African joy at successfully hosting the first World Cup on the continent. Bafana Bafana bowed out of the tournament at the first round stage but President Jacob Zuma said Saturday the relatively smooth hosting of the finals made its people the champions. Skeptics had doubted Africa's economic powerhouse could organize the World Cup, including completing construction of stadiums on time. While some tourists have been robbed, the world's biggest sporting event has taken place largely peacefully, dousing fears of attacks on foreigners in a country with one of the world's highest rates of violent crime outside a war zone. (Editing by Ken Ferris)

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True humility is intelligent self respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.

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World Cup final fever grips Netherlands, Spain MIKE CORDER, AP - 1 hour ago THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- In Paul Vlaar's rural church, the candles, the piano, even the pastor's robes were orange for a day. Vlaar kicked off his sermon to about 300 orange-clad worshippers by praying for Dutch teamwork to lead to victory in the World Cup final against Spain in Johannesburg on Sunday. During the service, Vlaar kicked a football down the aisle and "You'll never walk alone" was played on the orange piano. Vlaar's orange-colored corner of the Netherlands was one small snapshot from a nation gripped by a football frenzy triggered by the country's first final appearance since losing back-to-back finals in 1974 and '78 to hosts West Germany and Argentina. Vlaar said the football-themed mass was not out of place in his small Roman Catholic church north of Amsterdam. "All the things come together," he said. "There was sport, there was faith, there was love. It was top!" The football fervor was just as strong in Spain, where newspaper ABC featured the country's flag and just one word on its front page: "Spain!" Spain, the reigning European champion, is in its first World Cup final. With a lineup of stars from Real Madrid and Barcelona, coach Vicente Del Bosque's team is favored to win. Downtown Madrid was festooned with flags and the central Cibeles fountain, often a scene of celebration after Real Madrid wins, was draped in a flag. A giant TV screen was set up next to Cibeles, facing northwards up the Paseo de la Castellana boulevard where up to 250,000 fans are expected to watch and cheer the match live. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero praised the national team in an article in leading newspaper El Pais on Sunday, saying it was an example to the nation of how teamwork can create a positive unity of purpose. "That's the Spain we want, a creative Spain, true to itself, innovative and inventive, that speaks to the world with a new language," Zapatero said. "The team has shown us how to go forward through effort and creativity." Eugenia Ribera, 16, who was sporting a Fernando Torres jersey, said she felt proud and anxious. "This is a day to remember, our team has made us so very proud," she said. "The whole country has woken up full of expectation." Jose Herrero, 18, who was riding a bicycle while wearing a red and yellow Spain jersey, was confident after Spain disposed of Germany in the semifinal. "We are going to win the World Cup, how amazing. It's the greatest thing that has happened in my lifetime," he said. Rafael Sorian, 24, said he thought Spain would win 2-1. "If we don't do it this time, I don't know when we'll be able to do it again at this level," he said. The Dutch capital, Amsterdam -- along with cities across the nation -- were being decked in orange. Giant footballs were suspended from orange garlands strung across streets. Orange balloons were strung across the cash registers in the Albert Heijn supermarket on the Koningsplein. Fans began arriving at a giant screen behind the Van Gogh Museum around noon -- more than eight hours before kickoff in South Africa. In The Hague, bar owners at a central square prepared for their busiest night of the year and fans, one wearing an orange cowboy hat and blowing an orange vuvuzela, milled around. At a souvenir shop on one of Amsterdam's canals, store owner John Dewit stocked up on sun glasses with orange frames, orange hats and orange T-shirts. "They are going like hot bread," Dewit said. "This is great extra business." At the Ovidius coffee shop and bar, barman Mark Heeren had orange fuzz on the cash register. Heeren said he had mixed feelings about the match. His father is Spanish from the Las Palmas on Grand Canary Island and his mother is Dutch. Both Spanish and Dutch are his native languages, in addition to German and English. "I don't know who I'm for," Heeren said. "If the Netherlands loses, I'll be happy for Spain. I'm in the middle." It was not only the streets that were abuzz with finals fever. Hup Holland Hup! -- a traditional chant when the national team plays -- was one of the top trending topics on Twitter as fans retweeted "huphollandhup" to bring their team luck. Back in Obdam, 52-year-old nurse Tinneke Vellird prayed for a little divine intervention. "Spain is very difficult, they have a good midfield," she said. "I hope that God will help us to win the game." Associated Press Writers Deborah Seward in Amsterdam and Harold Heckle in Madrid contributed to this report.