Ten moments that marked the 2010 World Cup

Text by: David Kalfa Follow | Farid Achache Follow

Ten years ago began the first final phase of a World Cup organized on African soil. RFI invites you to come back to ten key moments from this 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

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Siphiwe Tshabalala's “missile” against Mexico

June 11, 2010, opening match of the World Cup in South Africa. Siphiwe Tshabalala is launched on his left wing by Kagisho Dikgacoi. The “Bafana Bafana” striker strikes a powerful shot that ends in the opposite skylight. It is the first goal of the tournament. Across the country, it's the explosion of joy. The vuvuzelas vibrate the stands of the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. The competition is launched.

The “Blues” strike in Knysna

Finalist of the 2006 World Cup, the French are the laughingstock of the football planet in South Africa . On June 20, after a 0-0 draw against Uruguay and a 2-0 defeat against Mexico, the "Blues" refuse to train at their base camp in Knysna. The players of the France team remain entrenched in their bus. They thus intend to protest against the eviction of their teammate Nicolas Anelka. The striker had to leave the group following the publication in the press of insults made against coach Raymond Domenech. The Habs will be eliminated on June 22, after a 2-1 loss to the South Africans.

Italy defending champion eliminated in first round

The winners of the 2006 World Cup also experienced a painful 2010 edition. Despite an experienced and talented workforce, the Italians are also eliminated in the first round of this World Cup. However, they faced affordable opponents like Paraguay (1-1), New Zealand (1-1) and Slovakia (2-3).

The hand of Luis Suarez and the elimination of Ghana

After the eliminations of South Africa, Algeria, Cameroon and Nigeria, all the hopes of the continent rest on Ghana. The "Black Stars" brought out the Americans 2-1 in the round of 16. In the quarters, the vice-champions of Africa and Uruguay neutralize 1-1 and go into overtime. When in the 120th minute, striker Luis Suarez stopped a shot from Dominic Adiyiah on his line, all of Africa was finally seen in the last four of the World Cup. But Asamoah Gyan misses his penalty. He sends the ball across the cross. Stupor. On penalties, the Uruguayans are then the best and qualify for the semi-finals.

An irresistible Diego Forlan

Facing Ghana, Diego Forlan scores his third goal during this 2010 World Cup. The striker will add two more: one in the semi-final against the Netherlands (2-3) and another against Germany (2 -3). Goalscorer, passer, the one nicknamed "Cachavacha" lights up the competition. So much so that he will be named the best player. A rare honor for an element whose team did not reach the final. Uruguay will indeed finish 4th in the competition.

Mannschaft humiliates Argentina from Maradona

Diego Maradona, winner as a player in 1986, dreamed of winning another World Cup, this time as coach. But in Cape Town, faced with an impressive Mannschaft of realism and talent, Argentina sank. The Albiceleste is even picked cold, from the 3rd minute! Defeated 4-0 after a meeting she never seemed able to win, Argentina is literally humiliated by Germany. In a post-match press conference, Diego Maradona gave the image of a coach disappointed and upset by the humiliation suffered against Miroslav Klose and his compatriots. “  There, I'm going to be 50 in October, it's the hardest moment of my life. It's like taking a punch in the face,  ”he said.

Impressive Dutch until the final

In South Africa, the Netherlands find the final after 32 years of absence. The Dutch have a third World Cup final after those of 1974 and 1978. After the first two days of the group, the Dutch already had six points. After eliminating Slovakia in the round of 16, Brazil pays the price for Batavian attacks in the quarterfinals. The Seleção, reduced to ten from the 73rd, leaves the competition (2-1) and loses all hope of hanging a sixth star on his jersey. The Netherlands thus take their revenge. They had been eliminated by Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup and in the semi-finals of the 1998 edition. In the semi-finals, another South American country is also eliminated by the Netherlands: Uruguay. In the final, Spain stopped the Dutch after extra time (1-0).

The appearance of Nelson Mandela in the final

Nelson Mandela appeared before the final between the Netherlands and Spain. In front of 85,000 supporters, his presence closed the sound and light show. Smiling, on the grass of Soccer City in Johannesburg, the anti-apartheid leader went around the stadium in a cart. Dressed in a long coat and a black hat to face the cold of the southern winter, Mandela was accompanied by his wife Graça Machel. The cheering crowd applauded the couple for several minutes, chanting "Madiba", their tribal name. His presence had long been uncertain due to his great age (almost 92 years) and the death of one of his great-granddaughters in a road accident a few hours before the start of the World Cup.

The duel lost by Arjen Robben to Iker Casillas in the final

The duel is decisive. Launched thanks to a deep pass from Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben escapes the vigilance of Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol. He's alone against goalkeeper Iker Casillas. In the 62nd minute, Spain and the Netherlands, still tied (0-0), compete for the world title. La Roja dominates his opponent, but everything can tip in favor of the Netherlands. Casillas goes out to his penalty spot and awaits Robben's decision. The Bayern Munich player tries to strike the goal with the flat of the left foot. Casillas folds on the wrong side. However, his right foot diverts the ball into a corner. "The  more Robben advanced, the more I thought that my chances of stopping his attempt were high. Even today, when I see this parade again, I am moved to tears,  ”said the porter a few years later.

The first world coronation of Spain

" 2010, odyssey of Spain " or " victory of the best collective ". The day after Spain's victory over the Netherlands, the French press widely praised La Roja's first world title. In their country, the Spaniards had been even more rave. El Mundo believed that this world had "  simply crowned one of the best teams of all time  ". The ABC newspaper spoke of "  a euphoria not ready to stop across the country, the world title in football was the only one missing in Spanish sport  ". Spain has become the first country to win, successively and in this order, the Euro and then the World Cup. After extra time, the Netherlands finally gave in on a resumption of the right of Iniesta, free from any marking at the far post (1-0, 116th). Spain is the first European country to win the World Cup outside its continent. However, never in history has a world champion scored so little with eight goals.

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