So the 2010 South Africa World Cup is finally over and Spain is rightfully crowned the best football nation in the world. Considering the on-going pre-tournament concerns as to whether the stadiums would be finished and whether South Africa’s infrastructure could cope, the tournament was a great success. South Africa delivered though it must be said some of the best players in the world forgot to read the script.
The likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Fernando Torres and Lionel Messi failed to deliver on the biggest stage of all, though it’s worth noting the close attention Messi received that stopped him and that Torres was not match fit. France, Italy and England above all other nations had a shocking World Cup and should all learn from Germany who gambled with a more youthful team.
The final was not a goal fest but I personally really enjoyed it. Yes 4-3 would have been more exciting but apart from Holland’s bully-boy tactics, the match was brimming with attacking world class talent. Snyder, Robben and Van Persie for the Netherlands and Iniesta, Xavi and Villa for Spain. The match was like a game of chess, each team attempting to outwit the opponent and building up play rather than toe-punting the ball around like headless English chickens.
As with each major football tournament where some players fail to deliver, a star or two are born. Mezut Ouzil who apparently was courted by Manchester United before he signed to German club Werder Bremen in 2008 was as good as anyone in the 2010 World Cup and was unheard of outside Germany before the tournament began. They will be lucky to hold on to him and resist the big money offers. By contrast, David Villa had been touted as a world class striker for the past few seasons but he chose the World Cup stage to deliver. No doubt Barcelona was very pleased to complete the signing before he scored five goals to share the Golden Boot.
I was surprised to see both Argentina and Brazil lose to Germany and Holland respectively at the quarter-final stage and am sure both countries will do better and be led by new managers at the next World Cup which is to be held in Brazil.
So by way of a 2010 South Africa World Cup roundup, here are a few awards:
My favourite goal of the World Cup was Giovanni Van Bronckhorst long range thunderbolt for Holland against Uruguay.
Best players of the tournament: David Villa, Diego Forlan, Wes Snyder, Mezut Ouzil & Andres Iniesta
Most surprising team performance: Ghana & Germany
Most underused commentary: “that was a great touch by Wayne Rooney”
Best team: Spain
And finally, here’s my 2010 World Cup XI
Goalkeeper: Castillas (Spain)
Defenders: Lahm (Germany), Lucio (Brazil), Puyol (Spain), Van Bronckhorst (Holland)
Midfield: Van Bommel (Holland), Ouzil (Germany), Iniesta (Spain), Snyder (Holland)
Forwards: Villa (Spain), Suarez (Uruguay), Robben (Holland)
3 comments so far
1 Galvin Green // Jul 12, 2010 at 12:41 pm
I think that the 2010 World Cup was an average World Cup but not the greatest, alot of games were very boring and there wasn’t that many outstanding games. The final last night I thought was poor espescially if you think about the class players in the game. I think Lionel Messi was a good player at the World Cup but people didn’t realise this because he wasn’t top goalscorer but he did still set up goals and take people on. My personal 11 would be Casillas in goal, then Sergio Ramos(Spain), Lucio(Brazil), Pique(Spain) and Van Bronkhorst(Netherlands). My midfield would be Ozil(Germany), Xavi(Spain) and Sneijder(Netherlands). My three forwards would be Villa(Spain), Forlan(Uruguay) and Higuain(Argentina).
2 Galvin Green // Jul 13, 2010 at 2:33 pm
I think that if Wayne Rooney had the players around im to give him the right opportunities to change games he would have scored goals. But he didnt so he tracked back into midfield to try and get the ball so that when England did go forward Rooney wasnt in the right places to get the ball and score. I think that the same was for Cristiano Ronaldo, if he had the team around him to set him up or support him up front then he would have done better and maybe took Portugal futrther in the competition
3 BARCATIZZY // Aug 8, 2010 at 9:20 pm
hi guys, as football is a part of my life – professionally and personally, i felt very happy for the Spain win in the fifa football world cup! personally as i live in spain, i must say the ambient was great, people were happy to tears and the excitement was thick! professionally as i work at hhtp://www.bestbarcelonafootballtickets.com we have noted a rise in reservations – so let me hope that spain repeats in brazil!!!