World Cup final referee Howard Webb says he is very proud to have been given the honour of taking charge of the showpiece match.
The Yorkshireman, supported by his assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey, will become the first English referee of a World Cup final (Spain 8/15, Holland 6/4 to win) since Jack Taylor in 1974.
Webb, 38, said: “We are delighted to have been selected for the game, it is a wonderful honour and a privilege. It is the ultimate honour for a referee.
“We are proud to be representing the English FA as well as FIFA and all the other officials here at the World Cup.
“We will be proud to be able to show the ability and quality of match officials in England when we take to the field tomorrow evening.
“This is the World Cup, and it’s massively important for the world. We understand the importance of the game and we will need total focus and concentration.
“We will try to be a calming influence where we can and use all our experience of being involved in big games.”
The three fathers of Webb, from Rotherham, Cann, from Norfolk, and Mullarkey, from Exeter, will be at the Soccer City stadium on Sunday to watch the game. The trio of dads, all former refs, have been at all of their sons’ three matches of the World Cup so far.
Mullarkey said all three officials were close to tears when they were told they had been chosen for the final.
He said: “We had not been chosen for any of the quarter-finals or the semi-finals so you do start to wonder about things.
“When we were actually told it was an incredible moment. When I was sitting at home watching the 2006 World Cup on television I never envisaged that I would be here doing the final.
Cann added: “This is the culmination of 20 years’ hard work and is the greatest honour we can receive as match officials.
“It was a very emotional moment in truth when we were told. When match number 64 was read out and the name Webb that was what we were waiting for. Everything became a blur for a few seconds and neither Mike nor I can remember hearing our names read out afterwards.”
Taylor, the last Englishman to referee a World Cup final, will be in the stadium to watch Webb follow in his footsteps.
The 80-year-old has been flown to South Africa as a guest of the Premier League along with referees’ chief Mike Riley.
Taylor said: “It’s a wonderful feeling to have come to South Africa to watch the final. It all happened so quickly. I got the call from Mike Riley on Thursday night asking if the Premier League could arrange it would I like to go. I jumped at the chance.”
Taylor said he always knew Webb had it in him to reach the very top.
He added: “I remember speaking to Richard Scudamore shortly after Howard received the call that he was to start officiating Premier League games and I told him he had someone special, someone who would go all the way to the top, and he has.
“I believe he’s the best referee this country has ever produced and I couldn’t be more pleased for him.”
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