The lesson is not to jump to conclusions. A World Cup campaign which began with a goalless draw against Cape Verde ended with a second star on the badge for Spain, who summoned the spirt of 2010 in their approach to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Spain won the 2010 World Cup final 1-0 by scoring in the second half of extra time to beat a ten-man Netherlands side that had taken chunks out of them all game, yet Spain’s superiority endured and showed through in the end.
