Top 10 Shocking Matches (of my lifetime): Part I of III

To say that the level of emotion surrounding a World Cup game is high would be an understatement. For starters, people care about their national teams to the point that it can be irrational. Players who lead their teams to glory become national heroes while disappointment is inevitably heaped upon a scapegoat or two (1998 David Beckham, I'm looking at you England fans). Combine this with the fact that the World Cup happens only once every 4 years, and hopes/anxieties/expectations have come to a boil by the time the tournament starts. It's part of what makes the World Cup great although it won't feel that way if your team is on the wrong end of a match like one of these 10 shockers.

Players to Know: #7 Arjen Robben

Midfielder, Netherlands

In youth leagues, there's that unstoppable player who could kick the ball past opponents and out-run them to score. There's that basketball player who always crossed over and drove to his right. Their coaches would tell them, "Son, if you ever want to make it in the big leagues, you're going to have develop another move." Arjen Robben, if he's so inclined, could look these people in the eye and laugh.

Top 10 World Cup Goals (of my lifetime)

 

The players who compete in the World Cup are of the highest caliber, and the presence of exceptional players brings the possibility of extraordinary goals. I selected the goals for this list on two criteria: 1) the quality of the goal and 2) the context in which it was scored. If you notice a lack of goals from the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, that is in part because it’s more difficult for World Cup moments to resonate when one is 3 and 7 years old. As for the list, are the 10 goals worthy of their spot?

Nike's World Cup Commerical

Nike and its stars are ready for the World Cup, and this spot is reminiscent of Nike's outstanding 2002 commercial. Which one do you like better?

Players to Know: #8 Andrea Pirlo

Midfielder, Italy

Conductor. Technician. Maestro. High praise but also apt descriptors for Italy's deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo. Watching Pirlo orchestrate his team is an understated and engrossing experience. Sitting between the back-four defenders and the more advanced midfielders, Pirlo is the fulcrum from which the Italian team's movements extend. He collects passes from all directions and rechannels as he sees fit.

Although this ability is impressive, there are other players who can perform this role for their teams - Xavi, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Yaya Toure - so perhaps what most defines Pirlo is the manner in which he performs this role.

2010 USA Recap (Knockout Stages): The Road Not Taken

Heading into the Round of 16, USA fans were giddy with excitement as the team's tournament had been flipped right side up. In the span of a few minutes, the USA had gone from a disappointing group-stage exit to topping their group (full details in Part I). Furthermore, the knockout bracket setup could hardly have been kinder to the USA.

2010 USA Recap (Group Stage): One Shining Moment

The United States' performance in South Africa 2010 was different parts encouraging, stressful, joyful and disappointing. Going into the tournament, hopes were high. The USA was spurred on by a surprising run in the 2009 Confederations Cup that saw the team advance further than ever before in a FIFA tournament. After beating Egypt 3-0 in their final group game to make the knockout rounds, the USA shocked #1-ranked Spain in the semi-finals and led 2-0 at halftime in the final against Brazil before falling 3-2. And unlike 2014, the 2010 World Cup draw was favorable to the USA placing them in a group with England, Slovenia and Algeria; the English press also felt this was a workable group.