The Spanish Victory: A Larger Lesson?

Mike Hewitt – FIFA via Getty Images

The question is, does the World Cup victory of the Spanish team in the face of the thuggery of the Dutch convey a larger resonance in the world right now? (Does it further reinforce, for example, an Obama model of collaboration over the Bush model of macho retribution?)  And, more specifically for our purposes here, can certain images — such as the powerful photo of the egregious penalty by Nigel De Jong on Xabi Alonso — (especially the way sports images represent their times) help drive home the message that character, disciplined skill and toughness can perservere in the face of subterfuge and random violence?

(caption: Xabi Alonso of Spain (C) is fouled by Nigel De Jong of the Netherlands during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.)