Unforgettable Moments

Siphiwe Tshabalala receives the ball on the left side of the penalty area, cuts inside onto his right foot, and drives a powerful low shot into the far corner of the net. It is the first goal of the first African World Cup, scored by an African player, in an African city, before 84,490 people. The roar is unlike anything Soccer City has ever heard. Across South Africa — across the continent — people stop what they are doing. It had begun.
The image of Tshabalala wheeling away, arms out, became the defining photograph of the entire tournament.

Spain — European champions, global favourites — lose their opening match to Switzerland. Gelson Fernandes scores the only goal. The reigning European champions had conceded their first competitive goal in 35 matches. For 24 hours, the entire tournament's narrative shifts. Spain would not lose again for the rest of the tournament, winning every subsequent match 1–0 in the knockout rounds. But this was the moment that made the competition feel genuinely open.

Nicolas Anelka is sent home from the tournament after reportedly insulting manager Raymond Domenech at half-time of France's second group match. In protest, the squad refuse to train. Players read a statement written on a bus. The French Football Federation eventually dissolves the squad's leadership structure. France lose to South Africa and go home in disgrace. The host nation beats the World Champions of 1998. Bafana Bafana celebrate; it is not enough to keep them in the tournament — but it is deeply satisfying.

Argentina, with Messi in their prime and a 24-year unbeaten record in World Cup knockout matches, are dismantled. Thomas Müller scores twice, Klose and Friedrich add to the carnage. Diego Maradona — Argentina's manager — stands motionless on the touchline as his team is taken apart by a Germany side playing some of the most complete football seen at a World Cup in a generation. Müller ends the tournament as top scorer with 5 goals and 3 assists.

In the final seconds of extra time, Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah heads towards an open goal. Luis Suárez, standing on the line, deliberately saves the ball with both hands. He is sent off. Ghana have a penalty to reach the semi-finals — to make African football history. Asamoah Gyan runs up and strikes the crossbar. The ball bounces clear. Uruguay survive. In the penalty shootout, Uruguay win 4–2.

Suárez celebrates wildly. Across Africa, people weep. In Accra, in Nairobi, in Lagos, in Cape Town — grown men and women cry in the streets. The debate over whether Suárez's actions were sporting or profoundly unsporting has never been settled. The moment has never fully healed.

Spain, playing their characteristic tiki-taka — short, precise, relentless passing — grind Germany down. Carlos Puyol heads in a corner in the 73rd minute to send Spain to their first World Cup final. It is a performance of footballing philosophy over physical power. Spain would carry that philosophy into the final, and into history.

Ninety minutes of stalemate. Extra time, the clock at 116 minutes. Cesc Fàbregas plays a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Andrés Iniesta. He controls, opens his body, and side-foots the ball into the bottom-right corner. He tears off his shirt and runs towards the corner flag, arms spread, face contorted with emotion, revealing a message for a recently deceased friend.

Spain win the World Cup. The first non-European country ever to host the tournament has staged a final won by a European team — but played with a fluency and elegance that the continent and the world recognised as something special. The African World Cup ends in a moment of Spanish beauty, on African soil, under an African sky.

Andrés Iniesta would later say: "That goal will follow me forever. And I am glad."