Top 10 Wildest Moments of the World Cup 2010 2nd Round

Top 10 Wildest Moments of World Cup 2010 2nd Round

This year, the World Cup got Wilder than an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians. Now that the fun is over, and we return to the drama of Kim and Chloe for summertime entertainment, here is one final look at the Top 10 Wildest Moments of the World Cup 2010 2nd Round.

(#10) Argentina – Mexico Fight with Each Other and Camera

Pit two passionate Latin American countries against each other, and is it really a surprise there will be emotions and arms flaring? After Mexico got shafted by an offsides call against Argentina, Mexico soon found themselves down 2-0. They couldn’t get it done on the field, so they took to the sidelines, with pushing and shoving going on between the two teams before the half until Maradona jumped in and actually made a proper use of his hands, in breaking up the fight. Although Argentina didn’t do much pushing with the Mexican players, they certainly did a lot with the World Cup camera man after scoring a goal.

Argentina head-butts camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOQy4R3eKsA&feature=related

(#9) Momentum Turners – 3rd Place Game

The 3rd place game was intense and crazy. Germany went up 1-0. Early in second half, they were down 2-1 with an amazing goal by Diego Forlan. But the Germans rebounded with another two goals to win 3-2. Forlan, winner of the Golden ball and armed with one of the most dangerous legs in the game, nearly tied the game again with a free kick that barely bounced off the top cross bar. Crazy intense.

Awesome Forlan Goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHP0hSyEQTM

(#8) Uruguay’s Bicycle Kicker

When I say the word ‘bicycle,’ an image of you in your younger childhood might pop up, riding your bicycle around the streets of your home, stopping to buy the heavily-sugared 25 cent lemonade from the neighbors selling down the block. Or you might start humming, “I like to ride my bicycle,” by Queen. But rarely will you associate bicycle with the brutal bicycle kick Dutch player Demy De Zeeuw took to the face from Martin Caceres of Uruguay. He ultimately got a yellow card, and we got a moment we won’t forget, reminding us, amidst all the flopping and acting, that soccer actually can be brutal.






(#7) Japan’s Penalty Kicks

Japan was a Cinderella story and almost pulled off a shocking upset when it nearly knocked out South America’s Paraguay. After going into overtime, penalty kicks became the deciding factor. Japan hit all of theirs with the exception of one from Yuichi Komano. We’re not sure what was more wild – the way the game finished, or the fact that the Japanese government awarded Komano with a special 'inspiring hopes and dreams' award (similar to an “A for Effort” award).

(#6) Germany ends Argentinian Dance

Many people had been dancing in step with the Argentinians, who had been the most dominant team until the quarter finals. The Argentinians aren’t normally used to outsiders keeping in step with them on the dance floor, but the Germans showed some fancy footwork and dominance, writing their own rules and sending Maradona, one of the most passionate and fun to watch, out in tears. He later claimed it was the ‘worst day of my life.’ Certainly the vivacious, passionate, former drug-addict has seen worse days before.

Some great Maradona moments:

Maradona’s “Hand of God”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbsytHDp2o

Maradona’s “Goal of Century”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYet49BToLw&feature=related

(#5) No Goal for You!

The English striker shot a ball that bounced off the top post and about a foot and a half behind the goal-line against the Germans. But, the referee put up his finger shouting, “No Goal for You!” in perhaps, the worst call of the World Cup. The goal would have tied the score 2-2 after England trailed 2-0 earlier. Instead the Germans ran the blitzkrieg winning 4-1, forcing English fans to turn from futbol watching to online dating (British online dating numbers increased significantly after the loss), and forcing FIFA to bring out armed security to protect the referees from crazy British fans high strung on caffeinated tea.

(#4) Running of the Fans

Spain seemed to attract all kinds of crazy runners this July. Whether it’s during the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona or World Cup soccer in South Africa, both during the Germany-Spain semifinal and the Holland-Spain final, fans ran onto the field. The fan in the final was about inches away from getting his hand on the World Cup trophy, meaning he got even closer than the Dutch to touching it.

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsuj3GMlnr0

(#3) Iniiiiieeeeestaaaaaa Goooooaaaalllll in the Final!

Tension, tension, tension! Although both Dutch and Spanish games had been mostly very low scoring, both teams carried Golden boot (whoever scores most goals) candidates in Danish Robben and Spanish Villa. There were fantastic keeper stops in one-on-one situations, misjudgments of the ball, near goals, Spanish players getting kicked in the chest, and the most yellow cards in World Cup Final history. Who would have thought the game would finally end on an Iniesta goal in the second overtime, just minutes before penalty kicks would have ensued. The calm and tension before, and the riot and celebration after…incredible.

Video here: ohwaitfifaaskedyoutubetotakedownallvideosofthegoal.com

(#2) Spain – Paraguay PK Misses

Generally, there is an 80% chance a penalty kick shot has of scoring. But in the Spain-Paraguay game, we saw something that hadn’t happened in 80 years, two missed penalty kicks in one game! In an intense game, the Spanish defender obviously and deliberately pulled down the Paraguay player on a free kick, sending Paraguay to the line, shooting one. What should have been a gimme and may have knocked Spain out of the tournament, instead turned into a remarkable save by the Spanish keeper. Paraguay returned the favor a minute later by tackling David Villa in the box. Spain actually did make the PK, but the referee called it back for encroachment (is that what it’s called? Or is it a line violation?) Basically, the Spanish players entered the box before the shot was taken…a big no-no (only if the ref is actually looking). Spain missed its second attempt, but good thing they had David Villa who scored later in the game.

(#1) Hand of God Returns

The Uruguay – Ghana game may not only have had one of the wildest moments in the World Cup, but in all of sports! After a 1-1 tie that went into the final minute of overtime, Ghana finally broke through the Uruguay lines to take not one, not two, but three shots that were all narrowly blocked by the goalie and defenders. The third block sparked a huge controversy when the Uruguay player Luis Suarez used his own version of the “Hand of God” to block a ball that was clearly going into the net, giving Ghana a Penalty Kick with no time left on the clock. For you non-saavy soccer watchers, having a penalty kick opportunity to win it is like asking Vinatieri to hit a 20-yard chip shot or Kobe to hit one from the free throw line. Unfortunately for Ghana, Asamoah Gyan isn’t exactly Kobe. He shanked the kick off the top post, forcing Penalty Kicks where Ghana eventually lost, making Suarez a national hero in Uruguay, and Ghana missing the opportunity to be the first African nation to ever get into the semifinals.

Can’t wait to do it all over again in Brazil 2014!