Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk on Sunday defended the tough tactics his side deployed in their unsuccessful attempt to beat Spain in the World Cup final.

The Dutch had Johnny Heitinga sent off and seven other players booked, most of them for challenges that appeared designed to upset the rhythm of Spain's silky passing game.

The approach ultimately failed with Andres Iniesta claiming a 116th-minute winner for Spain after Heitinga's dismissal, leaving van Marwijk to face accusations that he had betrayed the legacy of the great, free-flowing Dutch sides of the past.

"It is still our intention to play beautiful football," van Marwijk insisted.

"We were facing a very good opponent - I've said several times Spain have been the best team in the world in recent years.

"We knew that we would really have to have a top day to beat them and tactically we did a good job. For the major part of the match we were in a good position."

Marwijk described the high card count - Spain also had five players booked - as "regrettable for a final."

But he added: "It is not our style but then again you play a match to win.

"It is a World Cup final and there is a lot of emotion - you saw that at the end of the match.

"I would have loved to win the match, even with not so beautiful football."

Marwijk admitted that Spain had deserved their victory over the 120 minutes, but he still lamented Arjen Robben's failure to take two great chances in the second half of regulation time.

On the first, the Bayern Munich winger was denied by the boot of goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

On the second he was impeded by Carles Puyol, who had already been booked, and might easily have resulted in a red card if referee Howard Webb had had a better view of his challenge.

"To lose a final with four minutes to go, it leaves you with a very bitter feeling," van Marwijk added. "Even with ten men I thought it would be possible to get to penalties.

"Early on we gave chances away, we were not good enough in possession of the ball. But then we turned it around. We made a real game out of it and we had two great chances through Arjen.

"I'm not someone to look back on the what the referee did. I think the best team usually wins the match.

"But if you look at the second chance of Robben, the referee should give Puyol a second yellow card, which would have meant him being sent off.

"It was a crucial moment just before the end of the 90 minutes. It is very bitter, but that is sport. It is harsh. And as I said, Spain were the better team."

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