Holland 2 Argentina 3 (After Extra Time Golden Goal)
A see-saw final brought the 2006 World Cup to a close. The electronic scoreboard said it all. 1978 World Cup Final - Holland V Argentina. Parallels were bursting at the seams. The game started with Mark continuing his great form and Holland on the attack, but the Argentine goal held firm with some excellent saves until the ball somehow found its way into the back of the Argentinean net following at least one cruel deflection. Shortly afterwards, a superb goal, following a flowing move and chipped into the far corner by Holland made the scoreline 2-0 at the half way stage and there looked little possibility of an upset.

As time elapsed, Argentina looked for a way back into the game and were handed a possible lifeline with a crashing foul inside the penalty area by a Dutch defender, moving swiftly from right to left but missing the ball by a couple of inches! The referee/president had no option but to point to the spot. The tension mounted as a photo-opportunity-based delay caused yet more Argentinean perspiration, but the ball finally nestled in the keeper's bottom left-hand of the net and it was game on at 2-1 to Holland.

With renewed confidence, Argentina began to play a little more freely and it was end to end stuff as time ran down. With only minutes to go before the final whistle, a late Argentinean attack proved decisive and the score was 2-2 (if anyone can remember how the equaliser was scored then let me know!). Injury time was played and was a tight affair following the late equaliser. Time ran out and an impromptu FIFA meeting decided on another five minutes of golden goal play. This time too went quickly without score, but with penalties looming a final Argentinean attack down the left wing at the Mirror End saw the goalkeeper parry a shot into his bottom right-hand corner and Argentina had prevailed 3-2 in a worthy final.

Simon had won his first Subbuteo title and was awarded the Jules Rimet trophy, as tradition dictates, by the president. Requested to pose with the trophy aloft, Simon had to decline in order to avoid another 'Sandy Lyle' moment following the tension of the previous half an hour. So it was off to the 'Old King Something' for drinks and reminiscences, with the promise that it wouldn't be as long before we did it all again.

The Trophy
No-one else has won the trophy more than Mark. And so the question was, would Mark let the trophy out of his house? Well the initial answer was no - he packed it up tightly in its box as soon as the tournament was over.

But, after several pints that night, he neglected to lock his front door and we have evidence of a daring heist later that evening by a mystery liberator! The cup has now left the country and is thought to be somewhere in Argentina.