Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

O&N HOME | NFL MLB NBA NHL NCAAF NCAABk Nascar Golf Soccer Tennis Boxing Horse Racing All Sports

Spain triumph caps tournament of firsts

Sun 11th, July 2010

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - When the 2010 FIFA World Cup was awarded to South Africa on May 15, 2004, the tournament promised to be a history- making event.

The 19th edition of the competition would be the first to be played on the African continent, but the location wasn't the only first that we witnessed.

South Africa proved to be a gracious host, but it was maybe a bit too kind as Bafana Bafana became the first host nation to be eliminated from the tournament at the group stage.

Spain's 1-0 win over the Netherlands in Sunday's final allowed the Spanish to call themselves world champions for the first time, and they also became the first team to lose their opening match at a World Cup and still win the tournament.

South America was on its way to unprecedented success in South Africa, as they put four teams in the quarterfinals for the first time ever, but only Uruguay emerged to reach the last four.

The final itself made history as it was the first time that two European teams met in a World Cup final played outside of Europe, while Africa almost got a huge first of its own with Ghana's run to the quarterfinals.

The Black Stars became the third African nation to reach the quarterfinal stage - joining Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002 - and the only things that kept them from making history were the hand of Uruguay's Luis Suarez and a wayward penalty kick from Asamoah Gyan.

Each of those events was memorable in its own way, and here were a few more moments to be savored from South Africa.

Best Goal: Giovanni Van Bronckhorst (Netherlands vs. Uruguay)

The Dutch captain provided his team with a huge lift in the semifinal win over Uruguay, as he scored a fantastic goal out of nowhere. The goal arrived in the 18th minute, when Van Bronckhorst surprisingly unleashed a rocket from almost 40 yards out that found its way perfectly inside the right post. It was a stunning goal that helped to open up a tight Uruguay defense and put the Dutch on a path to the final.

Honorable Mention: Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa vs. Mexico)

Tshabalala provided the tournament with its first goal in the second half of a 1-1 draw against Mexico, and what a goal it was. He couldn't have placed the ball any more perfectly into the upper-right corner with a left-footed laser.

Best Save: Maarten Stekelenburg (Netherlands vs. Brazil)

With the Dutch seemingly on the ropes in the first half of their quarterfinal match with Brazil, Stekelenburg came up with a huge save on Kaka shortly before halftime to keep his team within a goal. Following a wonderful build-up, Kaka fired a shot that appeared to be headed for the upper-right corner of the net that would have given Brazil a two-goal lead and all but spelled the end of the Dutch. But Stekelenburg got a hand to it, tipping it past the post and sparking a second-half rally to help the Oranje advance.

Honorable Mention: Luis Suarez (Uruguay vs. Ghana)

It isn't often that a striker finds himself in this position, but with Uruguay and Ghana locked in a 1-1 draw in the dying moments of extra time, Suarez swatted a header from Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah off his own goal line, eventually leading to a Uruguay win on penalty kicks and making Suarez public enemy number one in Africa.

Player of the Tournament: David Villa (Spain)

Villa finished the tournament with five of Spain's eight goals and his contribution was even more important because of the poor form of strike partner Fernando Torres. Spain didn't score a lot of goals, but Villa scored them when it mattered most and he played a major role in Spain's first-ever World Cup title.

Honorable Mention: Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

Sneijder scored one goal in the first three group-stage games for the Netherlands, but he saved his best for the knockout round, scoring four goals and assisting on another as the Dutch got past Slovakia, Brazil and Uruguay, respectively, to reach the final.

Young Player of the Tournament: Thomas Muller (Germany)

Muller has set the bar very high for future World Cups as the 20-year-old scored five goals and assisted on three more as Germany stormed to the semifinals. The Bayern Munich youngster was a constant threat on the right wing and was particularly dangerous on the counter attack. He was wrongfully suspended for the match against Spain in the semifinals because of yellow card accumulation, and his absence was clearly felt.

Game of the Tournament: Uruguay vs. Ghana

It wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing game of the competition, but there was nothing close to the drama that took place in the final minutes of extra time between the two teams. With the game locked at 1-1, Ghana had a chance to win the game when they were awarded a penalty kick after Uruguay's Luis Suarez handled the ball on his own goal line to prevent a goal. However, Asamoah Gyan saw his kick smack off the crossbar, and Uruguay went on to win in the shootout.

Most Disappointing Team: France

There are a number of other teams that could easily slip into this spot, but France was the biggest disgrace of all in South Africa. Not only did they finish last in Group A with just one point, but they also refused to practice after striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home by lame-duck manager Raymond Domenech. Television footage of a French trainer throwing his credential in disgust on the practice field pretty much summed up how things went for Les Bleus this summer.

Biggest Surprise: Uruguay

They needed to beat Costa Rica in a two-legged playoff just to reach South Africa, after finishing fifth in South American qualifying. But once they got to the African continent, Oscar Tabarez and his team won Group A and then proceeded to beat South Korea in the round of 16 before a dramatic penalty-kick victory over Ghana. Uruguay's luck ran out in the semifinals against the favored Dutch, but they reached the last four of the World Cup for the first time in 40 years and have something to build on for when the tournament comes to Brazil in 2014.

Team to Watch in 2014: Germany

The Germans have finished third in each of the last two World Cups but they will be eyeing a place in the final when the tournament shifts to Brazil four years from now. The hosts will obviously be overwhelming favorites, but the Germans will be bringing almost the same team from this years tournament, including star players like Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil, who will each be in or entering their prime.