Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Top World Cup Moments of the Decade

Soccer's biggest international competition was played only twice this decade but gave soccer fans some great memories and a headbutt seen around the world.

10. Roy Keane sent home days before 2002 World Cup
Ireland's captain was back home from Korea days before the World Cup. Ireland advanced past the group stage and who knows if they would have gone farther with their captain and emotional leader on the pitch.
9. United States shock run to quarterfinals in 2002.
The American team was thought have a chance at advancing to the group stage but the '02 team did a lot more than that. In the opener, they beat Portugal 3-2, then in the round of 16 beat rivals Mexico 2-0, and then played a great game against Germany that still to this day is controversial.
8. Germany's 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia
The Germans put a whooping on the Saudis in the group stage and carried that momentum all the way to the final, losing to Brazil.
7. Italy-United States 1-1 draw in 2006
In one of the worst officiated games in recent soccer history, the United States scrapped with the Azzurri for a draw after Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope were sent off for calls that were not even worthy of yellow cards.
6. Klose's 2 goals help Germany open World Cup at home
Miroslav Klose got the 2006 World Cup off to a bang in Germany's 4-1 win over Poland. The Bayern Munich striker hit the opener and third goal for the home side.
5. Brazil wins 2002 World Cup
The 2002 World Cup was filled with unexpected runs deep into the tournament by lower ranked nations but the number one team in the world came through beating Germany 2-0 in the final.
4. Maxi Rodriguez's game winner against Mexico
The goal of the tournament in 2006 advanced Argentina into the quarterfinals. Rodriguez controlled the ball with his chest and sailed the ball into the left corner of the goal in extra time.
3. Shootouts galore in Germany
Four matches in the knockout rounds, including the France-Italy final, went to shootouts. With at least one in each knockout round, the World Cup provided even more excitement with drama a shootout brings.
2. South Korea advances to semifinals
In the biggest shocker of the 2002 World Cup, co-hosts South Korea went on a magical run beating Italy and Spain in the first two knockout rounds before losing to Germany in the semis.
1. Zinedine Zidane headbutts Marco Materazzi
In the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, Zidane said after the match that Materazzi said something about his sister and that is why his head found Materazzi's chest and ended up in a red card that cost France the World Cup.

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