2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP in pics

32 teams
64 matches
8 groups
6 African nations

South Africa (Group A) Mexico, France, Uruguay - Mexico, Uruguay (16) - Uruguay (QF)
Nigeria (Group B) Argentina, Greece, Korea Rep - Korea Rep, Argentina (16) Argentina (QF)
Algeria (Group C) England, USA, Slovenia - USA, England (16)
Ghana (Group D) Germany, Serbia, Australia - Ghana, Germany (16) Ghana (QF), Germany (QF)
Cameroon (Group E) Japan, Denmark, Netherlands - Japan, Netherlands (16)
Ivory Coast (Group G) Korea DPR, Brazil, Portugal - Portugal, Brazil (16)
Group F Italy, Slovakia, Paraguay, New Zealand - Slovakia, Paraguay (16)
Group H Honduras, Chile, switzerland, Spain - Spain, Chile (16)

The South African organised FIFA world cup kicked off without many glitches on 11 June 2010.
Thats if you're not counting the billions of rands spent on infrastructure and stadia in the space of 6years when not much was done with the available resources to uplift the lives of the citizens in the 16years of free rule.
Thats also if you dont count the thousands who lost their temporary employment during the world cup when they got paid less than what they were told by Stallion Security Consortium.

Other than those sore points, the opening match was between the hosts, South Africa -Bafana, and Central Americans, Mexico. Bafana Bafana drew the match with Mexico 1-1, Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a beauty of a goal for Bafana.
Mexico went through the round of 16, and lost to Argentina - another bad referee decision (allowed an offside as goal (Teves), which demoralised the Mexicans).

The number 17 Mexican forward set the TV screens ablaze, with his quick moves on the pitch and God given good looks, thank you God!
Feast your eyes on Giovani Dos Santos...






The next hurdle was the South American, Uruguay team. They clobbered us 3-0, thanks to a bad decision by referee Bussaca when he gave a red card to golden goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune. Whats even worse is that scoring opportunity by Suarez was an offside!



The blue eyed blonde, Diego Forlan, made no mistakes and buried the tricky Jobulani ball in the goal net. Bafana dropped their game and lost the match. Uruguay went through the round of 16, and progressed to the Quarter finals to face Ghana.





The final group A match was with 1998 champions and 2006 winners France. France just barely made it to South Africa with the alleged Thierry Henry handball goal against Ireland.
They didnt do well when they got here either, drew with Uruguay, lost to Mexico and Bafana. There was animosity within the French camp, involving coach Domenech. Les bleu bowed out of the competition in the first round. Thierry Henry didnt get much match time either.





The group I was watching with great interest is group A with Bafana, and Dos Santos as an added bonus. Bafana made history, by being the 1st host nation to bow out in the group stages. But they left fighting and kicking in the last match with Les Bleu, winning 2-1. Goals by Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela.

The 2006 defending champs, Italy, were kicked out in the group stages by Slovakia. I celebrated with Zinedine Zidane, dont you just love karma! France were the rightful champs for 2006!



For the first time Six African countries participated, and I followed these and wanted them to go further.
Only Ghana went past the group stages into the round of 16, where they sent the USA packing. They face Uruguay in the Quarter finals. Ghana has a couple of hotties in Andre Ayew and Kevin Prince Boateng.






Kevin Boateng, scored a goal in the round of 16 match that brought USA to its knees in their 2-1 victory!





Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast



Ivory coast was in the toughest group with Portugal and 5time winners, Brazil. Portugal beat Korea DPR 7-0 and made it extra hard for the Ivorians to stage a comeback.
They drew with Portugal, beat Korea and the higlight was the match with Brazil. Fabiano used his hands when he scored, the referee saw it and let it go. But as karma would have it, Keita, an Ivorian took a leaf from the Brazillians and gave a theatrical dive when Kaka elbowed him. Kaka got a red card.
The mighty elephants didnt make the circle bigger as they exited in the group stages as well.


Victor Enyeama, Nigeria



Saved many possible goals during the group stages for his country, but sadly the Super Eagles didnt soar in this 2010 tournament.
Nigeria came up against South Korea, they were subdued by Argentina, and got a red card during the match with Greece.In a moment of craziness, Kaita kicked a Greek player out of the blue. He woke up to an inbox full of death threats the next day. Soccer is a beautiful game of passion!


Samuel Etoo, Cameroon



The Indomitable lions of Cameroon had the poorest showing during this tournament. They failed to live up to their reputation and illustrious history of previous tournaments.

Algeria, the Desert Foxes

Were in Group C along with England, USA and Slovenia. USA and England passed to the group of 16, and were both knocked out. England had the best names in English Premiership, but had a dismal showing.
Their match with Germay had poor refereeing again, disallowing a Lampard goal, and they crumbled to a 4-1 loss to Germany.
The US met with Ghana, Boateng scored to give advantage to the Africans. USA got a free kick and scored, they mostly score from set pieces. Gyan nailed the Yankee coffin in extra time with a brilliant goal, seeing the Black Stars to a 2-1 victory and a spot in the Quarter finals.
~INFINITE SHINE~ Black Stars of Ghana, the hope of Africa!

Quarter Finals

Ghana v Uruguay (Ghana)
Germany v Argentina (Argentina)
Brazil v Netherlands (Netherlands)
Spain v Paraguay (Spain)

VS Yonke 2010