... Read More

South Africa was the first African nation ever to host the World's largest single sports event. It is bigger than the Super Bowl, bigger than the World Series, bigger than the Tour de France, bigger than the F.A. Cup, and bigger than the Premier League. Just to put it into perspective, the last World Cup in Germany in 2006 was watched by approximately 716 million viewers for the tournament and 260 million viewers alone for the final between Italy and France. The Super Bowl in comparison can only claim 98 million viewers. No mean feat for America's most popular sporting spectacle, but in comparison the World's favorite game overshadows it by a country mile.

World Cup 2010 Fact File

The 2010 World Cup is hosted by South Africa, the first time an African nation has hosted the event. 32 teams will compete to lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy including the defending champions of 2006, Italy. All of the teams have appeared at previous World Cup's at some stage.

2010 World Cup Dates:

11-25th June - The group stage matches are played. The top 2 teams from each of the 8 groups progresses to the round of 16.
26-29th June - The round of 16 fixtures are played. This is followed by 2 rest days.
2-3rd July - Quarter final matches are played. Followed by 2 rest days.
6-7th July - Semi final fixtures are played. Followed by 2 rest days.
10th July - Match for 3rd place is played at Port Elizabeth Stadium, kick-off 19:30 (GMT)
11th July - World Cup Final is played at Johannesburg, kick-off 19:30 (GMT)

2010 World Cup Controversies

France = France qualified for the tournament in place of Ireland who they beat in the play-offs. Controversy surrounded Thiery Henry who assisted the winning goal using his hand. A replay was considered but ultimately discounted and the result stood.
Jabulani = The official World Cup match ball by Adidas has been widely criticised by players and coaches for having an unpredictable nature. The ball's unique qualities had the intention of increasing the goal tally for the tournament but this has not materialised in the group stages. Contractual deals by other brand sponsors with domestic leagues have prevented some teams, including the English having any exposure to the new ball until arriving at the World Cup. Countries with leagues that have been using the new ball in preparation include America, Argentina, France, Holland, Portugal and Switzerland. Certain clubs in Germany have also been preparing using the new ball since February.
Vuvuzela = The 2010 World Cup will be remembered largely for the spectacular sounds created by the Vuvuzela horns that the crowds play in their thousands, a sound not previously recorded on this scale. The constant drone or hum, likened to a swarm of angry bees, has not been well received by spectators, columnists and players alike, given the noise is great enough to drown out natural crowd dynamics that reflect the activity on the pitch. Such has been the outcry over the use of the horns that FIFA is considering a ban possibly prior to the end of the tournament.
Red cards = 2010 still has a way to go to surpass the record number of cards shown in the 2006 World Cup (345 Yellow & 28 Red), referees were in fact heaped with praise in the early stages for the evenhandedness displayed in 2010. However, certain descisions have caused controversy. Australia's Tim Cahill was the first noteworthy suspension whereby an innocuous challenge on Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, resulted in a surprise sending off for Cahill. In the 2nd round Germany we're similarly aggreived when losing Miroslav Close against Serbia after 2 yellow cards for little more than robust challenges, the damage was compounded by losing the match. Most controversial sending off so far, however, goes to Brazil's Kaka who was cheated off the field when the Ivory Coast's Kader Keita ran into the Brazil man and collapsed theatrically. It was shown after the event that the referee had not seen the incident and had guessed at the events guaging the players reaction. Current red card count stands at 16.
Goal-line technology = Sunday 27th June saw 2 crucial World Cup matches where controversy surrounded goals that should or shouldn't have been awarded. First, England took on Germany in a classic international football grudge match. Shortly before half time Frank Lampard drove a ball from distance that bounced inside the German goal, a goal that would have restored parity in a game they trailed 2-1 and possibly would have led to a better result for the English who eventually crashed out. The margin by which the ball had crossed the line left no doubt to the players, commentators and viewers, but the linesman and referee were unable to verify the goal and it was not allowed. FIFA president Sepp Blatter was in the stands, to quote Alan Shearer: "the only man in World Football that doesn't want goal-line technology". The second match of the day saw Argentina play Mexico. The Argentinians went ahead by virtue of a goal which was clearly off-side, another linesman error compounded when a replay of the event was shown immediately afterwards on the big screen inside the stadium seen by the players, fans and no doubt the officials themselves.

2010 World Cup Group Winners

	Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D	Group E	Group F	Group G	Group H
Winner:	Uruguay	Argentina	USA	Germany	Netherlands	Paraguay	Brazil	Spain
Runner Up:	Mexico	South Korea	England	Ghana	Japan	Slovakia	Portugal	Chile

The major shocks from the group stages have been the failure to progress of France from Group A and Italy from Group F. France capitulated in a nightmare of infighting and unease in the camp while former champions Italy failed to provide enough in attack, only managing to score in the deciding group game once they were already chasing the result.
Conclusion:
Winner – Spain
Runners-up – Netherland
Dark Horses – Germany, surprised the world by taking on the big guns at ease.

Spain emerged as the winner of FIFA World Cup Final 2010 after defeating the Netherlands by 1-0. The match was certainly not the most interestinggame with both the teams unable to score a goal in the given one hour and thirty minutes. However, when they were given extra time of 30 minutes, Andres Iniesta scored a goal at the 116th minute which sealed the fate of the Dutch players. Thus, Spain went on to win their first ever World Cup title.

The FIFA World Cup Final 2010 has been a much anticipated one with all European team showdown this time. Both Netherlands and Spain have never won the World Cup before. In fact, for winner Spain, this is the first time, they have ever reach the finals of the World Cup. Netherlands have previously reached the finals of the World Cup twice. Spain is currently ranked at no.2 while Netherlands is at no.4. But finally, the European champion, Spain, overpowered the opponent and won the coveted title.