World Cup 2010

The agonies were many. How could the referees miss the ricochet off the crossbar that should have brought England level with Germany? How could they miss the Argentine offsides goal that put Mexico in an early hole? And speaking of missing, how could the US create so many chances and not put the ball in the back of the net? And how could Ghana miss that point-blank kick to put Uruguay away in the last second? Yet it's these agonies - joys for others - that make the World Cup so compelling. In the end, two countries that have never won a World Cup met on a continent that had never hosted one. And we all won. ( 34 photos total)

Light beams splay out from Soccer City stadium early July 8 in Soweto during the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. (YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)

South Korea's Lee Chung-Yong (left) celebrates with striker Park Chu-Young after scoring against Uruguay June 26 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) #

South Korea's Cha Du-ri reacts after losing to Uruguay June 26. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) #

A vendor sells flags outside Royal Bafokeng Stadium ahead of the match between the US and Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium June 26 in Rustenburg. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) #

Tim Howard of the US pumps up his team against Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium June 26 in Rustenburg. (Ian Walton/Getty Images) #

Ghana's supporters celebrate in the streets of Johannesburg late June 26 after their team's victory over the US at Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg to advance to the quarter-finals. (YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images) #

South African men play soccer in a field in Diepsloot, outside of Johannesburg, June 27 during the first soccer World Cup on the African continent. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) #

Argentina's coach Diego Maradona pauses before his team takes on Mexico June 27 at Soccer City in Soweto. (DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Argentina's Gabriel Heinze (left) and Mexico's Ricardo Osorio fight for the ball during their match at Soccer City in Johannesburg June 27. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) #

Germany's Thomas Mueller (top) celebrates as he scores Germany's third goal against England June 27 at Free State stadium in Mangaung/Bloemfontein. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) #

Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder (right) celebrates with teammate Dirk Kuyt after scoring against Slovakia June 28 at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. (THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images) #

Paraguay's Paulo da Silva jumps over Japan's Makoto Hasebe during their match June 29 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane/Pretoria. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) #

Belgian referee Franck De Bleeckere (left) talks to Japan's Keisuke Honda before handing him a yellow card during Japan's match against Paraguay June 29 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane/Pretoria. (JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images) #

Brazil's Juan challenges a Dutch player during their match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth July 2. (AP Photo/Roberto Candia) #

Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder's (unseen) shot is deflected into the goal against Brazil July 2 at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth. (PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Ghana fan painted in the national colors awaits the start of the match against Uruguay July 2 at Soccer City Stadium in Soweto. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images) #

A man watches Uruguay defeat Ghana on penalty kicks on television at a bar in Cape Town July 2. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) #

A fan of Paraguay pauses after Paraguay lost to Spain in Asuncion July 3. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) #

Argentina's Gabriel Heinze (right) jumps for a ball with Germany's Miroslav Klose during their match July 3 at Green Point stadium in Cape Town. (FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images) #

Paraguay's Nelson Valdez jumps over Spain's Gerard Pique during their match July 3 at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images) #

Netherlands' John Heitinga hoists a teammate after beating Uruguay July 6 at Green Point stadium in Cape Town. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) #

Spain's Gerard Pique (left) and Germany's Miroslav Klose fight for the ball during their match July 7 at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. (PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) #

Youngsters play football in Soweto July 9. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) #

Germany's Jerome Boateng (right) and Uruguay's Edinson Cavani go for the ball during their third-place match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth July 10. (AP Photo/Roberto Candia) #

Uruguay's Egidio Arevalo (left) and Sebastian Eguren comfort each other after losing to Germany during the third place match at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth July 10. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) #

The closing ceremony of the 2010 World Cup lights up the sky before the final between the Netherlands and Spain July 11 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Nelson Mandela arrives at Soccer City stadium in Soweto before the Final between Netherlands and Spain July 11. (THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images) #

Netherlands' Robin van Persie (right) gets the ball past Spain's keeper Iker Casillas but is ruled offside during the Final July 11 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto. (JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas catches the ball over teammate Carles Puyol as Netherlands' Robin van Persie moves in during the Final July 11 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images) #

Spain's Carles Puyol (left) and Netherlands' Gregory van der Wiel fight for the ball during the Final July 11 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto. (PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) #

Andres Iniesta of Spain scores the winning goal during the Final against Netherlands at Soccer City Stadium July 11 in Johannesburg. (Lars Baron/Getty Images) #

Spain's Andres Iniesta celebrates after scoring in the Final against Netherlands July 11 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto. His shirt reads "Dani Jarque is always with us, a reference to the former Espanyol player who died of a heart attack last year. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder lies on the pitch at the end of the Final against Spain July 11 at Soccer City Stadium in Soweto. (THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images) #

Fireworks light up the sky over Soccer City stadium in Soweto in suburban Johannesburg after the 2010 World Cup football final between the Netherlands and Spain July 11. (Monirul Bhuiyan/AFP/Getty Images) #

More links and information

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The Big Picture: news stories in photographs -

Sportsshooter.com, the online resource for sports photography -

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#8 to the arrogant, the loss look bad on him

Posted by chemistj July 13, 10 01:45 PM

great

Posted by Spiderboy July 13, 10 06:24 PM

"The agonies were many."
:-D

Thanks for the collection!

Posted by Chris July 14, 10 02:02 AM

team usa created many chances so did ghana, its not lyk ghana sat back and were given the win, they worked hard for it

Posted by selom July 14, 10 07:48 AM

Nice photos, but I disagree with one remark in this article.

We didn't all win, Spain won.

Posted by GermanFan July 14, 10 09:11 AM

A great collection.

Posted by Frank July 14, 10 11:51 AM

Very VERY POOR photos of the World Cup.
What a dissapoint!

Posted by Fons July 14, 10 12:01 PM

Perhaps it was the degree of support that the fans showed for so many teams--above and beyond all that they gave to their own nation's team--that I find myself agreeing with the sentiment, that, technically, it may be that Spain won; yet on so many levels, somehow, in the face of the current state of the world, we ALL did, in fact, win, as well.

Posted by M a r c July 15, 10 05:39 AM

Numbers 17 and (especially) 23 are absolutely beautiful shots.

Posted by PLG July 15, 10 08:56 AM

To bad, Spain is WC, Holland played hard, but Spain also, don't forget the tackles on Robben and Sneijder, and all the dives from the Spanish players and provocing the referee to give yellow cards to the Dutch players.
Goal should be disallowed, Iniesta was offside on the first pass, and shouldn't even be on the pitt!! after his foul on Van Bommel!! Didn't even get a yellow card after kicking him!!
Puyol need to send off after holding Robben, Robben played fair and didn't go down, in fact, Puyol should be booked, after the action, and get his second yellow and a free lick should be given to Holland.
In ethe extra time, a corner was disallowed, only Webb didn't see that, the whole world did!!

Webb comment on the roar in the crowd, after getting his medall, i quot, " i only heard the chearing of the people, no negetive sound was heard"
He hears like he blows a whistle, awfull and it almost is like Span hat to become WC!!!
Please, change the whole FIFA board!!!! they are dirty.

Posted by Wilco July 15, 10 09:54 AM

next world cup in brazil we the orange lions are back!!!

Revange.

Everybody is complaining about a dirty and rough game, but it is all bull****.

Posted by hans v b July 15, 10 11:32 AM

Next time the dutch will win!!

Posted by Dutch Fan July 15, 10 11:38 AM

isn't it sad to see, like photo's 17 and 23 that the fifa earns 2.000.000.000 dollar at this world cup and those people still live in there "houses" and play grounds.
builds a soccer stadion of 300.000.000 dollar and there's no use with it after the wc.
So thank you South Africa for your great World Cup!
But i want to call on fifa to make a donation say 80% of the earnings to South Africa and hope fully they can creat jobs and better houses for the poor,, the real people of South africa

Posted by Leander July 15, 10 05:21 PM

España campeón, lo demás no importa. Viva Iker Casillas y Andrés Iniesta. Primera final, primera estrella.

Posted by juanma July 15, 10 06:19 PM

Andres Iniesta życia, który dał nam lekcję piłki nożnej, prostota i honestetat brutalne VISCA VISCA Catalunya Barça FREE

Posted by MIKHEL July 15, 10 07:10 PM

Holanda siempre permanecera entre los medianos del futbol ..... mas España ..... ha subido su nivel a los grandes del futbol. Lo mismo le paso a Francia hace tiempo ..... por elminar a Brazil ..... quedo maldecido ..... ahora le toco el turno a Holanda ..... es el precio, lo justo.

Posted by RENZO VALLADOLID July 15, 10 10:55 PM

Spain is the team that developed best game to "all" the championship. I think both countries have a quite different point of view but there is only one world champion and that is Spain. . . and also Europe. . . ;))))

Posted by Quixote July 16, 10 03:27 AM

#10... what about De Jong's infamous karate kick on Xabi Alonso? also Webb didn't see that and the whole world did. And Van Bommel's constant faults (aggressions)? Both should have been sent off.
Netherlands play was absolutely dissapointing, they chose to stop Spain with faults instead of playing football, even Johan Cruyff has talked about it.
By the way... Iniesta wasn't offside, watch the replays please!

Posted by Don Andrés July 16, 10 06:49 AM

It seems that the Netherlands is the only country in the world that has the royal red, white and blue and a national festivaty/party/game color.
You can say what you want about those dutch, but all that orange looks fantastic!

Posted by Ivana Humpalot July 16, 10 01:01 PM

@ #18

The action before making the goal was offside.. Webb shouldn't have let them play along.

Posted by Weekaa July 17, 10 03:22 AM

#18
They were punished by Webb, so the ref give them what they diserved in his eyes, by FIFA rules, a foul whitout a ball, thats a red card!!
The first pass on Iniesta, wher Van de Vaart touched the ball forward, that was offside, again by FIFA rules, a pass towards a player in offside should by punished whit a freekick for the devinse party, don't talk when u don't know the rules, in the first half, Kuijt was disalowed the ball in ofside, he wasn't, Van persie was!!

Posted by Wilco July 17, 10 07:06 AM

oh gosh, all non-soccers please shut the F*** up. it was offside from iniesta, the first ball that get passed to him, but vd Vaart kicked away, and torres passed the ball again to iniesta

netherlands played hard but that is just the game. and btw spain has to become the WC stupid fifa wrong organisation. but ye, thats what football today is, all unfair

Posted by Paul the octupus July 17, 10 07:30 AM

#20, #21 and #22. No idea. The rule has changed, and you should know it. The offfside is produced when the ball ARRIVES to the player that is in outside position, and NO when the ball is passed. Anyway, Spain played football whilst Holland fought karate. Holland 2010 will be remembered by his dirty game. Such a shame and a very poor image from the orange. Keep trying, 0 out 3 finals.

Posted by JP July 23, 10 07:55 PM