top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments - 01. paul the octopus: the octopi that told the future. paul the octopus lived in a tank in germany who many believed foretold the outcome of football matches. paul had never been wrong once in his two years of life; he correctly predicted the UEFA euro 2008 matches as well as the FIFA world cup 2010 in south africa. at first, germans used him to predict the matches of germany, but later on extended to the final of spain versus netherlands; paul correctly predicted spain. in his predictions, he chose a mussel from a box that had each country’s flag displayed. although paul died on the 26th of october 2010, this octopus will forever remain in our hearts. he was that little something that made the world cup special and none of us will ever forget him. we may never eat paella or calamari the same way again.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments -

01. paul the octopus: the octopi that told the future.

paul the octopus lived in a tank in germany who many believed foretold the outcome of football matches. paul had never been wrong once in his two years of life; he correctly predicted the UEFA euro 2008 matches as well as the FIFA world cup 2010 in south africa. at first, germans used him to predict the matches of germany, but later on extended to the final of spain versus netherlands; paul correctly predicted spain. in his predictions, he chose a mussel from a box that had each country’s flag displayed. although paul died on the 26th of october 2010, this octopus will forever remain in our hearts. he was that little something that made the world cup special and none of us will ever forget him. we may never eat paella or calamari the same way again.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments - 02. spain raises the cup: campeones del mundo. in 2002, brazil captain cafu raised the world cup to a million supporters as the country won their fifth world cup. in 2006, italy captain fabio cannavaro raised the cup as well. in 2010, it was spain who raised it up in the air. there is no other feeling in the world then seeing your national team raise the world cup; it stays with you for the rest of your life, and it is something no one will ever forget. 2010 was spain’s year; their chance to be campeones del mundo.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments -

02. spain raises the cup: campeones del mundo.

in 2002, brazil captain cafu raised the world cup to a million supporters as the country won their fifth world cup. in 2006, italy captain fabio cannavaro raised the cup as well. in 2010, it was spain who raised it up in the air. there is no other feeling in the world then seeing your national team raise the world cup; it stays with you for the rest of your life, and it is something no one will ever forget. 2010 was spain’s year; their chance to be campeones del mundo.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments - 03. iniesta’s winning goal: the goal that changed everything. andres iniesta scored the game-winning goal in the 116th minute to give spain it’s first world cup, in a 1-0 defeat of netherlands. dedicating the goal to former defender dani jarque, it will be regarded as one of spain’s most beautiful moments in sporting history. for many, this is a moment filled with pride and tears and no one will ever forget it.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments -

03. iniesta’s winning goal: the goal that changed everything.

andres iniesta scored the game-winning goal in the 116th minute to give spain it’s first world cup, in a 1-0 defeat of netherlands. dedicating the goal to former defender dani jarque, it will be regarded as one of spain’s most beautiful moments in sporting history. for many, this is a moment filled with pride and tears and no one will ever forget it.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments - 04. the knockout of brazil: an elimination everyone felt. the brazil national team has always been a world cup favorite. the nation has played in every single world cup since it has started, and is the only country to have won five world cups in history. fans cheer them on, as every player gets a special place in their heart. however, the elimination from the 2010 world cup on july 2nd was something no one would ever expect. the first forty five minutes were in brazil’s favor, with robinho making a beautiful goal on the 10 minute mark. the team got cocky and thought this would be an easy win as instructed by coach dunga, and the second half was a disaster. wesley sneijder made two goals in the second half (although many say luis fabiano was to blame for an own-goal), and in the end netherlands were the ones playing with focus and control. brazil was eliminated and sent home packing. personally, i felt like my own heart broke that day, but i know we’ll have a comeback. the 2014 world cup is in brazil,  and god knows if the world’s favorite team will let another victory on their own turf. forca brasil.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments -

04. the knockout of brazil: an elimination everyone felt.

the brazil national team has always been a world cup favorite. the nation has played in every single world cup since it has started, and is the only country to have won five world cups in history. fans cheer them on, as every player gets a special place in their heart. however, the elimination from the 2010 world cup on july 2nd was something no one would ever expect. the first forty five minutes were in brazil’s favor, with robinho making a beautiful goal on the 10 minute mark. the team got cocky and thought this would be an easy win as instructed by coach dunga, and the second half was a disaster. wesley sneijder made two goals in the second half (although many say luis fabiano was to blame for an own-goal), and in the end netherlands were the ones playing with focus and control. brazil was eliminated and sent home packing. personally, i felt like my own heart broke that day, but i know we’ll have a comeback. the 2014 world cup is in brazil,  and god knows if the world’s favorite team will let another victory on their own turf. forca brasil.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments - 05. uruguay vs ghana error: el segundo mano de dios de luis suarez. there’s nothing much to say about this because it’s so controversial everyone already knows about it. it’s the rule violation that got the uruguay striker luis suarez sent off but rescued his team from elimination from the world cup. some argue it was what you have to do for your country; however, it is a complete disregard for futebol and the rules that follow it. the last african team was eliminated from the world cup, and ghana fans were left furious and upset. one thing’s for sure; luis suarez should never visit ghana for the rest of his life.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments -

05. uruguay vs ghana error: el segundo mano de dios de luis suarez.

there’s nothing much to say about this because it’s so controversial everyone already knows about it. it’s the rule violation that got the uruguay striker luis suarez sent off but rescued his team from elimination from the world cup. some argue it was what you have to do for your country; however, it is a complete disregard for futebol and the rules that follow it. the last african team was eliminated from the world cup, and ghana fans were left furious and upset. one thing’s for sure; luis suarez should never visit ghana for the rest of his life.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments - 08. jabulani ball: the official 2010 south africa match ball. the jabulani ball was the official match ball for the 2010 world cup manufactured by adidas; the ball was made and textured to improve aerodynamics. controversy arose over this ball as players complained it often went in a direction it was not directed to go. it felt more like a beach ball, favoring strikers and working against goalkeepers. brazilian striker robinho said, “for sure the guy who designed the ball never played football. but there is nothing we can do; we must play with it.” many have asked the ball to be abandoned by FIFA. nonetheless, the jabulani ball created many beautiful goals as well as many beautiful saves in the 2010 world cup. it is a ball, much like fevernova and teamgeist from the previous world cups, that will never be forgotten.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments -

08. jabulani ball: the official 2010 south africa match ball.

the jabulani ball was the official match ball for the 2010 world cup manufactured by adidas; the ball was made and textured to improve aerodynamics. controversy arose over this ball as players complained it often went in a direction it was not directed to go. it felt more like a beach ball, favoring strikers and working against goalkeepers. brazilian striker robinho said, “for sure the guy who designed the ball never played football. but there is nothing we can do; we must play with it.” many have asked the ball to be abandoned by FIFA. nonetheless, the jabulani ball created many beautiful goals as well as many beautiful saves in the 2010 world cup. it is a ball, much like fevernova and teamgeist from the previous world cups, that will never be forgotten.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments - 09. vuvuzelas: the on-field distraction. as catchy as they were kind of annoying, vuvuzelas were definitely the highlight of the summer and the world cup. when they were first introduced, players and watchers alike found it hard to concentrate on the game because of the noise many people described as a “constant bee buzz”. the players complained that they were a distraction on the field and found it hard to focus with the constant blowing of the vuvuzelas. however, the sound grew and many got used to it as time went on, and people gracefully accepted it as a symbol of the world cup. it was a tradition in south african futebol, and then vuvuzelas started appearing all over the united states alike. after the world cup was over, it was disorientating to watch a club game without the buzz in the background we all grew to love so much. vuvuzelas were and always will be a part of futebol now and forever.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments -

09. vuvuzelas: the on-field distraction.

as catchy as they were kind of annoying, vuvuzelas were definitely the highlight of the summer and the world cup. when they were first introduced, players and watchers alike found it hard to concentrate on the game because of the noise many people described as a “constant bee buzz”. the players complained that they were a distraction on the field and found it hard to focus with the constant blowing of the vuvuzelas. however, the sound grew and many got used to it as time went on, and people gracefully accepted it as a symbol of the world cup. it was a tradition in south african futebol, and then vuvuzelas started appearing all over the united states alike. after the world cup was over, it was disorientating to watch a club game without the buzz in the background we all grew to love so much. vuvuzelas were and always will be a part of futebol now and forever.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments - 10. world cup south africa kick-off concert | june 10th, 2010. you know that feeling you get, almost like excitement, when something really big is going to happen and you just can’t wait for it to start? something you’ve been waiting for the past four years? that’s what more than a million people in the world were feeling during the world cup kick-off concert in south africa. clad with an international cast of high-profile musicians such as shakira, black eyed peas, alicia keys, john legend, as well as numerous others who partook in the celeberation on june 10th. the president of FIFA was also present, telling south africa “football is not only a game. football is connecting people.” south africa was very proud to host the world cup, and you could tell from the crowd that not a single soul was anywhere but in front of the arena. waka waka became the night as well as the year’s anthem, and it was surely a night no one will ever forget. the night was over, but the world cup had just begun.

top ten world cup 2010 south africa moments -

10. world cup south africa kick-off concert | june 10th, 2010.

you know that feeling you get, almost like excitement, when something really big is going to happen and you just can’t wait for it to start? something you’ve been waiting for the past four years? that’s what more than a million people in the world were feeling during the world cup kick-off concert in south africa. clad with an international cast of high-profile musicians such as shakira, black eyed peas, alicia keys, john legend, as well as numerous others who partook in the celeberation on june 10th. the president of FIFA was also present, telling south africa “football is not only a game. football is connecting people.”

south africa was very proud to host the world cup, and you could tell from the crowd that not a single soul was anywhere but in front of the arena. waka waka became the night as well as the year’s anthem, and it was surely a night no one will ever forget. the night was over, but the world cup had just begun.