11 July 2010: “African” World Cup Final!

11 July 2010: “African” World Cup Final!
Posted: 11 July 2020

The 11th of July 2010 will long live in the memory of South Africans; young, old, black, white, tall, short and otherwise, this is the day “Africa” held its first ever World Cup Final. It was a very cold evening at the majestic FNB Stadium, named “Soccer City” during the football spectacle due to naming rights, this was a special day in more ways than one.

It was 20:H30 South African Time, 11th of July 2010 when a galaxy of superstars walked onto the green turf of the well-manicured Soccer City football arena, both sides ready for battle. La Roja, as Spain is known in world football, carried the likes of Iker Casillas, Joan Capdevila, the rock Carles Puyol, deep-lying midfielder and play-maker Xavi Alonso, pass master Xavi, the violin conductor Andres Iniesta, and the finisher David Villa.

On the contrary, the Netherlands had stars of their own; Giovanni van Bronckorst, hardman Nigel de Jong, the mercurial Wesley Sneijder, the tip-toed Arjen Robben and the sweet left-football of Robin van Persie, so this was sure going to be a special night under lights at the FNB Stadium.

The game was dominated by the Spanish side through their tiki-taka football, but the Dutch carved out opportunities of their own. However, after 120 minutes of tactful, well-thought, entertaining football; through their inspirational and often go-to-guy midfielder, Iniesta hit the bottom left corner with a well-timed half-volley to beat Sketelenburg, 1-0 to Spain and subsequent to that, they became World Champions.

The stadium erupted in vuvuzela’s and chants, Spain were the carriers of the 18 carat gold trophy, which stands 36.8 centimetres high and weighs 6.1 kilograms, it was off to Madrid…on this day, where were you…because South Africa had held arguably the best-ever well-organised World Cup Tournament!

Article By;
Selebalo Karabo Phasha.