Best And Worst World Cup 2010 Moments (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

We have now reached that moment in time where one must face up to the cruelest aspect of the World Cup, which is that it will be another four years before one glorious month of summer is given over to being captivated by the greatest sports tournament in the world. As the writer Aleksandar Hemon remarked last month: "A sad fact of human existence is that an average life seldom contains more than 20 World Cups--our games are tragically numbered." Alas, all there is left to do now is look back on what was,

Overall, the 2010 World Cup provided its share of memorable moments: a first-time champion in Spain; a national disgrace in France; a psychic octopus in Paul, and a historic setting in South Africa. The South American teams looked invincible during the group stage but all fell apart by the quarterfinals, with the exception of Uruguay. For the second tournament in a row it was an all-European final. Netherlands-Spain wasn't a great game in the end, but that's pretty much par for the course. At least the best squad won.

As for U.S.A. fans, they were treated to their share ecstasy and agony as the national team both mounted amazing comebacks and also squandered a great opportunity to go deep into the tournament. Such are the joys and sorrows of the World Cup. Better luck in four years.

And so before we completely say goodbye to the 2010 World Cup, here are 30 of the best and worst moments from this year's tournament.

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Best Predictor Of Success: Paul The Octopus

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Everyone's favorite prognosticating German cephalopod mollusk was the undisputed media darling of the 2010 tournament for good reason: Paul was a perfect 8 for 8 in his World Cup picks. The bookies in Vegas had nothing on this guy. Unswayed by appeals to nationalist sentiment, Paul made the tough calls that are the psychic's fate, picking Spain to beat his fellow Germans in the semifinals. Octopuses everywhere have Paul to thank for elevating the species and hopefully sparing at least some of them from appearing on menus in the immediate future.

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Everyone's favorite prognosticating German cephalopod mollusk was the undisputed media darling of the 2010 tournament for good reason: Paul was a perfect 8 for 8 in his World Cup picks. The bookies in Vegas had nothing on this guy. Unswayed by appeals to nationalist sentiment, Paul made the tough calls that are the psychic's fate, picking Spain to beat his fellow Germans in the semifinals. Octopuses everywhere have Paul to thank for elevating the species and hopefully sparing at least some of them from appearing on menus in the immediate future.

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Comments

[Spain10]

06:30 AM on 07/20/2010

After reading all the comments on here i had to make my point.. the best parts of the WC in SA has to be obviously for me Spain winning the 1st title.. So many people disregard the quality of Spainish football, how they keep possession and play their beautiful game.. for the ignorant comments posted saying Spain are a boring team winning the title with just 8 goals scored the simple truth is not how many goals get put behind the GK but how the they masterminded their play, to keep it simple it's like a game of chess, read your moves, keep possession and break the other team down, not lobbing the ball forward, losing possession and giving the opponet chance to score, maybe these ignaranuses should stick to a sport they understand.. Holland has to be the most thuggish team ever to enter a tournament, disgraceful especially Van Bommel and De Jong who fouled Alonso, defo a red card, cheating W******, Spain are Kings of football, total dominance from the matadors, holding both titles, so answer me this.. how can they be boring??? jealousy and hatred nothing more, which neither has room in sport, and Italy going out in group stages ending bottom of group best aswell HAHA, now the worst part in my opinion has to be the disallowed goal from Lampard, worst ref decision by far and all biased refs throughout this WC was a disgrace also

[Spain10]

07:18 AM on 07/20/2010

forget to mention the genius of Octodamus being one of the best moments... very intelligent these creatures... FACT!!! so just goes to show.. like a wise gallego once put it.. el pulpo aint stoopid, give him a choice of german sausage or spanish jamon serrano which will he choose, obviously the spanish jamon cus you eat better lol.. when predicted the semi final result.. just too funny
in my opinion :))) way to go Paul, may you live long and prosper even though your already in retirement :)))))

[CPAwADD]

07:47 AM on 07/23/2010

I started out rooting for The Netherlands as the underdog, but the De Jong Foul and Spain's passing won me over.

[Layman23]

03:48 AM on 07/16/2010

The world cup is over and the missing buzzing noise of the vuvuzela's in my TV is driving me nuts. The silence is deafening.

Watched MLS the other day. It was like watching World Cup in slow motion in 10 minutes.

I just need to figure out the best team and players in MLS.

[ruth606]

05:47 AM on 07/16/2010

try watching foreign football.

[masha2009]

01:50 PM on 07/16/2010

watch la liga.

real madrid alone has

cristiano ronaldo
robinho
kaka
iker casillas
sergio ramos
xabi alonso
wesley sneijder
arjen robben

diego forlan plays for another team, atletico madrid, i think. the rest of the spanish team plays for barca.

or you can watch the premier league where fernando torres plays for liverpool. he even has an "official" song.

[k1k2lee]

05:35 PM on 07/16/2010

Except Cesc Fabregas, who curently plays for Arsenal in the premier league, but is in talks to go back to Barca & was laughingly forced into a barcelona jersey during Spain's celebration concert.

[masha2009]

01:39 AM on 07/16/2010

Sergio RAMOS

per Castrol Index, an innovative system utilizing advanced technology to objectively analyse and evaluate every single player movement,

is crowned as FIFA World Cup king.

Spain’s daring and energetic right-back, has been the most influential and effective player on show over the past month

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statistics/castrolindex/news/newsid=1272368/index.html#ramos+crowned+la+roja+conquer

[masha2009]

01:35 AM on 07/16/2010

FIFA World Cup 2010 All Star Selection

Iker CASILLAS
Philip LAHM
Carles PUYOL
Maicon
Sergio RAMOS
Wesley SNEIJDER
Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER
Andres INIESTA
Xavi
David VILLA
Diego FORLAN

Coach Vicente del BOSQUE

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1274177/index.html#spaniards+dominate+all+star+team

[djnc]

05:27 PM on 07/15/2010

i hope kader kieta dies in a fire for that flop

[Pov Am]

04:07 AM on 07/15/2010

The independent analyst is Dr. Ray

[Pov Am]

03:51 AM on 07/16/2010

Dr. Ray teaches me how to independent thinking but i don't understand what Ray talk about Free sex...kiss.. and cannibis using in the medical treatment.

[Pov Am]

03:52 AM on 07/16/2010

Dr. Ray teaches me how to independent thinking but i don't understand what Ray talk about Free sex...kiss.. and cannabis using in the medical treatment.

[Pov Am]

04:05 AM on 07/15/2010

Dr Ray like talking about Drug. May be he wants drug to be legal

[Pov Am]

04:01 AM on 07/15/2010

oh! In Cambodia now the gasoline is going up, no one Care! Why tell me! Ray

[Pov Am]

03:59 AM on 07/15/2010

In the World Cup event, most people expect Germany, Brazil, Argentina.... to win the Champion
But Spain few people expect. Now the best is Spain. Spain got the double Champion after wining Euro

[thegrouch]

09:05 PM on 07/14/2010

The David Beckham mascot bit made my day.

[rottenjohnny]

06:02 PM on 07/14/2010

What about the worst player reaction? Algerian Rafik Saifi took out his aggression after losing 1-0 to USA by slapping a female reporter across the face.

[76United]

12:21 PM on 07/14/2010

As a soccer fan, it will now be my duty to belittle all the sports that Americans hold oh so dear. For some reason, Americans who don't like soccer feel obligated to comment how soccer is "gay", "boring" or "stupid". So, now every time there is an article about whatever sport (NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR) I will make a comment about how "gay", "boring" and "stupid" it is. This way you will know how big of a dousche you all haters are being. So you haters and Jim Rome can suck it!

[Christophe]

04:15 AM on 07/15/2010

Good observation.
I like Soccer AND American Football.
Haters are just jealous of a sport they don't understand, appreciate and/or dominate.

[masha2009]

08:08 PM on 07/15/2010

dont stoop to their level. they cant help it. SOME americans cling to the notion that they are the best and that the rest of the world doesnt matter.

[Honulani]

11:44 AM on 07/14/2010

FIFA has once again screwed soccer fans around the world with their bad officiating, lack of technology, weird jambulani balls, untrained personnel on the field and sidelines.....Why is this organization allowed to get away with these third world tactics and mentality. Blatter says technology will "slow down" the game...come on' how much more slow can it get waiting for goals??? What I would like to see is the offside rule change so that there would be no offsides within the box in front of the goal. That is only 10 yds wide and can be easily defended by the players. This would allow for more high scoring and exciting games. But I am sure FIFA is not open to any new ideas about futbol.

[NonPrawf]

01:41 AM on 07/14/2010

I miss the World Cup....

*sniffles*

[76United]

11:33 AM on 07/14/2010

Concerning the Nike ad. All of those players can't win the Cup. But three players in that ad did win the Cup: Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta. In fact, Cesc had the assist on Iniesta's goal. It's not Paul the Octopus good, but pretty good nonetheless.
Plus, it's best sports ad ever!
That's the difference between soccer and let's say baseball. Baseball promotes their sport with Bon Jovi and crap like that, whereas soccer utilizes The Eagles of Death Metal and "Hocus Pocus" by Focus. That rocks!
Viva Espana!

[Just walkin the dog here]

02:15 PM on 07/13/2010

Where were these places? I couldn't find any of them, watched at home with my wife who pretended to like the game. I love her for that alone, even if she doesn't like it.