2010 FIFA World Cup

Everyone in the world was watching. The biggest sporting event in the world definitely had some winners and losers. Spain obviously was the biggest winner of them all, taking home the trophy coveted by all 32 participants and the millions upon millions of fans cheering for their teams at home. Here are the other winners and losers of the FIFA World Cup:

Winners:
-South Africa: Don't get me wrong, it was a disappointing tournament for the nation, but the countrymen showed such enthusiasm throughout the tournament even when their team had been eliminated. It was one of the most exciting World Cups simply because South African gusto made it such.

-Landon Donovan: The biggest name for the United States (aside from Tim Howard perhaps---) had quite a showing at the World Cup. He scored three times and all were crucial goals: one energized the USA's comeback against Slovenia, another tied Ghana, and the final and signature goal won the USA's game against Algeria.

-Beautiful Soccer: It may sound strange, but it is true. Many people criticized the way Spain played the game. They passed and moved the ball with such grace and aptitude it was astounding. The team they played in the finals, Holland, played a much different style. The Netherlands played rough and tumble, in-your-face soccer. Spain played much like team's in the past with beautiful, flowing soccer worthy of World Cup victory.

-Diego Forlan: The Uruguayan stud came into this tournament as somewhat of a doubt. No one was confident in his ability, but he showed people what he could do. He may be the purest ball striker in soccer and may give Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Christiano Ronaldo another competitor for best player in the world.

-Ghana: Most African nations disappointed, but Ghana did well to reach the Quarter Finals and should have reached the Semi Finals. Ghana was the only African Country to make it out of the group stage and played their hearts out to beat the USA and should have defeated Uruguay. This came after Ghana reached the round of 16 in Germany.

-Wesley Sneijder: Another player who can compete for best player in the world. His outstanding tournament makes him more valuable than players such as Messi and Ronaldo who struggled mightily even though their teams were counting on them. Sneijder may have not won the title, but his five goals were a key reason to why Holland made the finals.

-1-0 finals: Spain won every game in the knockout stage 1-0

Losers:

Superstars: The known names coming into this tournament (namely Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Wayne Rooney, Drogba) all struggled to have great tournaments. Players such as Forlan and Sneijder who were not as well known were the most talked about and played the best. The stars did not shine the brightest in South Africa.

-African Nations: Aside from Ghana the African continent struggled. Africa expected big things from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and even host South Africa. Only Ghana escaped from the group stages for the African continent.

-The Netherlands: One might look at Holland and say, "They made the finals, how are they losers?" Well, the Netherlands has never won the World Cup. They now take on the role of having the most World Cups wins without a title from Spain. Holland has made the finals thrice now, but never come out on top.

-Adidas: The new soccer ball was supposed to be the smoothest ever, but struggling striker's showed the ball was a fail. Maybe someone forgot to test the ball for quality in the conditions of Africa...who knows?

-France and Italy: The two finalists from 2006 did not even make it out of the group stages and they were not in as tough of groups as others (Ivory Coast for example)

-Germany: They looked like the best team throughout the tournament, but fell to Spain in the Semis and had to settle for third place for the second straight cup...at least it wasn't it Germany this time.

-England: Maybe the worst performance of the cup. First they tie the USA and Algeria, failing to win maybe the easiest group in the Cup. Second they are knocked out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in the round of 16 by Germany. Third they rehired their non-English manager for a couple more years...bloody hell.

-World Powers: Many of the teams everyone thought would be there in the end were not. Spain may have been the #2 team in the world, but teams that no one would have suspected to make it far did. Brazil lost in the quarters to the Netherlands. Italy and France did not make it out of the group stages. England lost in the round of sixteen. Germany was said to be too young, but they won 3rd place. Argentina lost in the quarters. Portugal lost in the round of 16. It was a disappointing showing for the teams everyone thought would win....except you, Spain.

In Conclusion: Soccer is far less popular in the United States than everywhere else.