World Cup 2010 paper view: Holland take a pounding

"Beasts 0-1 Beauty!" hurrahs the Daily Mail in the wake of Spain's victory over Holland. Wise of the Mail to stick the score in their headline, since there's a strong chance that most readers didn't bother watching yesterday's irritating World Cup final till the end. Folks of a ghoulish disposition, however, will have stayed tuned and, apparently, were rewarded with scenes of live death. " They were the finalists who died of shame ," laments Steven Howard in the Sun. "This was not how we want our Holland to play," fumed the Daily Telegraph. "This, sadly, was the Oranje of the appalling MVB — Mark van Bommel –not the wonderful MVB – Marco van Basten." Seems the Telegraph has expunged from its memory the anarchic Holland-Portugal match from the last World Cup, when a Dutch team managed by none other than Marco van Basten booted, chopped and dived their way to ignominious defeat. There were 16 yellow cards in that game and four reds – compared to 14 and one yesterday. Bert van Marwijk didn't betray Holland's football tradition, he built on the one spawned by Van Basten. Before we forget about this tawdry tournament and move on to the transfer chitchat, a quick word on Howard Webb. Bottler. Now for the transfer chitchat. We must begin with Manchester City because that's the surest way of reaching our word count. Today the club that must surely have Europe's biggest dressing room is being linked with Fernando Torres – whose latest injury has scared off Chelsea but not City – Wolfsburg's Edin Džeko , German wunderkind Mesut Ozil , Golden Ball brandisher Diego Forlán , Barcelona superfluity Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah . Among others. Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, is being linked with Asamoah Gyan , who might best be described as the Ghanaian Bobby Zamora – a tireless worker, powerful targetman and erratic finisher who has recently hit a hot streak. And, of course, a crossbar. Hodgson also has his eye on Clint Dempsey , who may be called the American Yossi Benayoun. Liverpool's new manager also fancies Maynor Figueroa , who is the Honduran, um, Maynor Figueroa. Stoke want him too, primarily because Tony Pulis was impressed with the free-kick he scored for Wigan against the Potters from his own half last season – anyone who can bypass not only midfield but also the forward line will always have a special place in Pulis's heart. Meanwhile, Hodgson's former club, Fulham, are attempting to lure Joe Hart from City to replace Mark Schwarzer , who's on his way to Arsenal. There are also suggestions, possibly groundless ones, that Arsène Wenger wants to sign Rangers' Algerian centre-back Madjid Bougherra . Regular Premier League tourists West Bromwich Albion want to invite Hamburg's young Swedish striker Marcus Berg on a trip to England's top flight in a season-long loan deal. The Baggies are also keen on Liverpool's David Ngog . West Ham and Tottenham are going to duke it out for the signature of Japan star Keisuke Honda . Or rather, just for the fun of it, because in reality both teams know Honda is likely to go not to London but to Milan. Finally, Forlán's form since leaving Old Trafford has convinced Sir Alex Ferguson to have another crack at a Uruguayan striker: so Luis Suárez is on his way to Manchester United . Unless Chelsea get to him first.