Wow what a world Cup. The first world cup on the African continent and arguably the best ever. The 19th FIFA world Cup saw over 200 teams try to qualify for the Greatest showpiece on earth from which 32 won the right to represent their nation at the worlds biggest stage. For 31 days the world’s eyes fell on the most southerly country in the Dark continent of Africa. The 2010 FIFA world cup truly exceeded our expectations.
One word to describe the world cup is “Drama”. For 31 days the 19th World cup was just like a soap opera. There were fairytales and tragedies, smiles and tears. We witnessed history unravel in front of our eyes. We saw the hosts become the first host nation not to make it to the 2nd round of the world cup. We witnessed les bleus also known as les miserables implode in front of the world. All were shocked when the former world Champions the azzurri failed on the first hurdle and left with their heads their legs after defeat to Slovakia. African teams seemed out of their league like in all previous tournaments with the exception of Ghana. Many were entertained by the previously underrated Mannschaft as they ran riot against the imperial England and Argentina. We watched dreams end in tears, handballs and disallowed goals.
This was a world cup for the minnows, the smaller underrated teams that weren’t expected to hoist the Jules Rimet. These minnows were expected to just lie down and allow the bigger nations to stamp all over them but they did the opposite. One such team is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea which managed to score a goal against the then World number one’s Brazil which was amazing . their country is ostricised from the world but they came to South Africa and touched all our hearts with their passion and pride for their nation. One was humbled watching Jong Tae se in tears during the Korean national anthem in that game. Other unknown teams like Slovakia, New Zealand, Algeria, South Korea, Greece, Chile and Slovenia all knew that it wasn’t going to be easy but they fought and bled for their country’s. They all left South Africa as heroes.
South Africa 2010 gave us memories that we will never forget. We saw Ghana stand up and be counted and unite a continent. We saw Uruguay show the world that they would do anything for their country and deservedly reach the last four and also have the winner of the Ballon d’or, the best player of the world cup, in Diego Forlan. We will never forget the Germans amazing run to third place they were truly a joy to watch, Maradona’s antics on the side of the field, Luis Suarez’s amazing save and Portugal’s 7.
The world cup ended in history as spain won their first world cup and became the first team to win the trophy after losing their first game. We also saw the dutch reclaim their tag as the greatest nation not to win the world cup. The Spanish and the dutch gave us amazing football and deserved to play in the final and congratulations to Spain.
This world cup didn’t go as the scientists predicted. They claimed that in order to win the world cup a team must master the intercept, passing, score a lot of goals, defend like Gods and know how to take penalties. However they also said that it is football and their research does not include moments of madness, misfortune and pure luck. This world cup had all of that and more and I can safely say it was the best ever. South Africa really came to the party on this one.
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