My memory of that is so different. I remember an outclassed Dutch team basically trying to cheat their way to victory through dirty play. It would have been a massive injustice had Spain not won.
Webb gave the players the game they wanted as good referees do. He avoided an officiating fiasco like the 2006 final.
Fouls are part of the game. They are not cheating.
The game is won by the number of balls in the back of the nets, not by time of possession or completed passes. As they say, "The ball is round. The game is ninety minutes. Everything else is just theory."
The referee allowed the game to get out of control which is almost as bad as over officiating. But at least it’s impossible to make the argument that Spain won because of bad officiating.
I can sympathise somewhat with the perspective of the Dutch team. It was their third final and they knew they were outmatched by Spain’s tiki-taka. Still even considering that I think their actions on the pitch were disgraceful.
I did always wonder what Cruyff’s opinion of that game was and I managed to find an article from the time.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/12/world-cup-f...
edit: Who do you think is going to win Champions League this year?