South Africa 2010: Spain's First Title — and the Shot Robben Should Have Scored
The first World Cup on African soil. Italy and France, the finalists from four years earlier, both eliminated in the group stage. And a moment of hesitation from Arjen Robben that handed Spain the trophy. South Africa 2010 was unlike any World Cup before it.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was held in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July — the first edition ever staged on African soil, and a tournament that will be remembered for the constant hum of the vuvuzela, an extraordinary pair of early exits, and Spain's coronation as world champions for the first time in their history.
The group stage delivered one of the tournament's most remarkable double shocks. Italy and France — the two finalists from Germany 2006, managed by the same coaches who had led them to Berlin four years earlier — both finished bottom of their respective groups and went home early. The defending champions Italy failed to win a match. France were engulfed by internal chaos, their players refusing to train in a public act of mutiny that became one of the most talked-about stories of the tournament.
Spain, under Vicente del Bosque, were the dominant force from first round to last. Their tiki-taka style — patient, precise, suffocating — was at its peak. In the knockout rounds they won every match 1-0, grinding out results that were never pretty but were always effective. The Netherlands were their worthy opponents on the other side of the bracket, Wesley Sneijder the driving force as the Dutch eliminated Brazil and Uruguay to reach their third World Cup final.
The final in Johannesburg was tense, bruising and occasionally ugly — the Netherlands' physical approach earning them a record number of bookings. The decisive moment arrived in extra time. Earlier in the match, Arjen Robben had found himself clean through on goal with only Iker Casillas to beat — and hesitated. Then it happened again. Both times, Casillas saved. In the 116th minute, the ball fell to Andrés Iniesta on the edge of the area. Unlike Robben, he didn't hesitate. The finish was clean and precise, and Spain were world champions. The Netherlands lost a World Cup final for the third time.
Top scorer: Thomas Müller (Germany) — 5 goals
Champions squad: Casillas, Albiol, Piqué, Marchena, Puyol, Iniesta, Villa, Xavi, Torres, Fàbregas, Capdevila, Valdés, Mata, Alonso, Ramos, Busquets, Arbeloa, Pedro, Llorente, Martínez, Silva, Navas, Reina
Coach: Vicente del Bosque
Highest-scoring match: Portugal v North Korea 7-0
Total goals scored: 145 | Average per match: 2.27
Best-attended match: 84,490 — Spain v Netherlands (final) | Average attendance: 49,670