OK not England, but there will be at least one Englishman in the World Cup final on Sunday – Howard Webb has been chosen to ref the game.

The 38-year-old Rotherham ref has been chosen by Fifa’s referees committee to take charge of the Netherlands v Spain match.

It is the first time an Englishman has taken the reins of a World Cup final in almost 40 years. Jack Taylor was the last Briton to take charge, in 1974.

Webb will be joined in the final by his assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey. Webb has refereed three matches in this World Cup so far, starting off with Spain’s shock defeat by Switzerland.

Webb’s team were praised after the Italy v Slovakia match where Cann was spot on with a tight call to rule out a Fabio Quagliarella equaliser. In the first knock-out round match between Brazil and Chile, Mullarkey was praised for his decision to allow Luis Fabiano’s goal while Chile defenders were claiming offside.

Yorkshireman Webb has emerged as the Premier League’s leading referee following the retirement of Graham Poll, the last World Cup referee from England. Poll’s World Cup in 2006 ended in disaster when he booked the same player three times.

Webb is currently on a five-year break from South Yorkshire Police, where he was serving as a sergeant in the force.

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