Within the 2015 FIFA corruption case, it emerged that the bidding course of was corrupted by paying bribes to then-FIFA official Chuck Blazer.
Host: South Africa
Groups: 32
Format: Group stage, knockouts
Matches: 64
Objectives: 145
Winner: Spain
Runners-up: Netherlands
Golden Boot: Thomas Muller (Germany)
Background
The World Cup lastly made its technique to Africa after FIFA’s determination to maneuver the event.
Bids for the 2010 version had been open solely to African international locations and got here from Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, and a joint bid from Libya and Tunisia.
Morocco, which has been bidding for a while, was to overlook out by 4 votes as Nelson Mandela famously hoisted the trophy when South Africa was introduced the winner of the bidding course of.
Within the 2015 FIFA corruption case, it emerged that the bidding course of was corrupted by paying bribes to then-FIFA official Chuck Blazer.
France and Italy, finalists from the earlier World Cup, didn’t progress to the knockouts. It left Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Spain because the favourites.
Argentina, coached by Diego Maradona, had been overwhelmed 4-0 by Germany, whereas Brazil had been knocked out Netherlands within the quarter-finals.
The ultimate between Netherlands and Spain noticed 14 yellow playing cards handed out amid some bodily aggressive motion, particularly from the Dutch.
The match went into additional time after goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved a one-on-one try by Netherlands’ Arjen Robben.
Andres Iniesta, one of many a number of proponents of tiki-taka type of play, scored within the one hundred and fifteenth minute to finish Spain’s lengthy anticipate a World Cup.
The event noticed the widespread use of vuvuzelas inside stadiums, and the pattern caught on in different sports activities.
Highs
Africa hosted its first World Cup.
Mandela made an look through the closing ceremony.
Paul the octopus turned a sensation after appropriately predicting all matches involving Germany, and the ultimate.
Colombian singer Shakira’s tune Waka Waka (It’s Time for Africa) turned one of the vital well-known World Cup songs.
Lows
The bidding course of was discovered to be corrupt.
South Africa was eradicated after the group stage.
The World Cup ball Jabulani got here underneath criticism from the gamers for its texture, which made its aerial path unpredictable.
