2010 World Cup was the first held in Africa, a fact that marks it out as special.
South Africa were chosen as the hosts amid the now-standard FIFA controversy, and delivered
a tournament which might not have been the competitions most exciting, but was replete
with story and romance.
The choice of South Africa meant the tournament had now been held in South and North America,
Europe, Asia and Africa; an ever-more global event.
There were concerns about infrastructure, as there so often are, but in spite of a strike
among construction workers a year out from the tournament, everything was ready on time,
including the spectacular show-piece Soccer City stadium in Johanesburg.
When the football kicked off, the host nation had plenty to celebrate.
Siphiwe Tshabalala [Sii Pi Weh T-cha-ba-la-la I think] scored a screamer of a long-range
shot against Mexico.
The sound which accompanied the celebrations became the soundtrack to the tournament.
The droning vuvuzelas reportedly sounded much better in person than they did through most
people's televisions, but they added a distinctive touch that makes audio from the South Africa
world cup immediately recognisable.
Mexico's late equaliser in that game was one of the reasons South Africa eventually missed
out on qualification from the group stages, but they did finish the group with a win,
beating 2006 finalists France in the final group game.
Les Bleus were in a complete state.
Unlike the construction workers, their strike—over the treatment of star-striker Nicolas Anelka—did
not get resolved in time to save the world cup.
Anelka was subsequently banned for 18 international games by French football authorities, who
also handed captain Patrice Evra a five match ban for his participation in the affair.
Elsewhere, England were struggling badly.
They drew their opening game 1-1 with the U.S.A, then after an abject 0-0 draw with
Algeria were roundly booed by their supporters who had made the contintent-spanning trip.
Wayne Rooney, walking off the pitch near a stedicam looked straight down it and said
"nice to see your home fans booing ya.
That's loyal supporters."
A win in the final game against Slovenia saw them creep into the next round but they were
no match for a young, hungry German side who blew them away.
That set up a mouth-watering none-more-world-cup clash between Germany and Argentina in the
quarter finals.
Diego Maradona was on the touchline for Argentina, and had taken them further than many expected
he would, albeit his management style was, well, let's say unique.
As Amy Lawrence wrote in the Guardian at the time:
Ariel Garcé has become symbolic of Maradona's unconventional approach.
The story sounds apocryphal, but it has been reported that the defender who helped Colón
finish 14th in the Argentinian league was included because Maradona had a dream that
his team won the World Cup and the only face he could remember being there was Garcé's.
Maradona's luck ran out and Germany ran out 4-0 winners.
Elsewhere in the last eight, Uruguay beat Ghana on penalties in the tie of the round.
Perennial villain Luis Suarez was sent off for handballing a goal-bound shot off the
line in the final minute of extra time.
Asamoah Gyan [Assam-o-ah Jan] was unable to convert the penalty, and while he scored his
shootout spotkick, his side still went out.
There would be no African winner of the first African world cup.
In the semi-finals Uruguay fell to a Wesley Sneijder inspired Netherlands, while Germany
lost to Spain.
La Roja were in the middle of one of football history's most remarkable achievements.
They were highly fancied heading into the tournament thanks to their Euro 2008 victory,
which had been achieved in stunning style.
They were less thrilling in 2010, but no less effective.
After a long, gruelling 90 minutes, Andres Iniesta scored their extra-time winner, giving
the World Cup it's first first-time winner since 1998.
Spain became the first European side to win the tournament outside of Europe and the first
first-time winner to win outside of their own country since Brazil in 1958.
The World Cup in 2010 had its share of dull games, and the adidas jabulani ball became
infamous as long-range shot after long-range show flew over the bar.
But it had a very worthy winner, and the knock out stages proved once again that even when
world cups aren't that brilliant, they're absolutely brilliant.