Dutch coach van Marwijk: The best team won

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk admitted the better team won after Andres Iniesta’s late strike ensured the Dutch received only runners-up medals in Johannesburg last night.

Van Marwijk also added to the criticism of English referee Howard Webb who dished out 14 yellow cards and dismissed Everton centre-back John Heitinga.

Webb was consistently berated by both sets of players as football’s biggest showcase frequently descended into violence.

But despite criticising Webb, van Warwijk also admitted some of his side’s challenges were ‘terrible’.

“I don’t think the referee controlled the match well. But let me be clear about this: the best team won the match,” he said.

“I’m trying to analyse the match as best as possible. But I read a few things today about how angry Spain were at the refereeing in the first match against Switzerland.

“If you view the performance (of the referee) today, you’d almost think now that that first match had an influence on this game now.

“It’s not our style. Let me put it this way, it’s not our style to commit horrible fouls. It’s not our kind of football.

“It was a World Cup final and people were tense. Look at the rest of the tournament. I think both sides, also the Spaniards, committed terrible fouls.”