So the first day of the 2010 World Cup is already ‘in the books’. It was a day that started with news of a tragedy, brought hope and expectations, encapsulated scenes of unbridled joy and frustration. World Cup Daily takes a look at the moments that made Day 1.
Moment of the Day: The game may have finished as a draw, but the immeasurable joy brought about by the electrifying goal scored by Siphiwe Tshabalala must surely rank as one of the finest moments in the tournament’s most recent years. The sumptuous lofted pass offered by team-mate Katlego Mphela allowed Tshabalala to control the ball just inside the penalty area and fire a thunderous left-footed shot high into the far side of the net. The vuvuzelas reached fever pitch as fans of Bafana Bafana believed that they were on the verge of witnessing a historic victory. Unfortunately for them, their hopes were dashed by Rafael Marquez’s equaliser. The moment, however, will live long in the memory.
Questionable Decision of the Day: The opening ceremony was the usual mix of culture, music, dance and dung beetles.
Adidas, creators of the controversial Jabulani football featured in this summer’s World Cup, will be wondering what they did to deserve the criticisms aimed their way in recent weeks. Their misfortune continued today as a giant dung beetle pushed an enormous Jabulani around the field at Soccer City like the inflated lump of excrement the ball itself is said to be. Somewhere a Nike executive was celebrating.
Schadenfreude of the day:
Thierry Henry’s appeal for a handball against Uruguay will have come as some solace to the legions of fans, both in Ireland and elsewhere, who still take issue with the French internationals unpenalised foul against the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup Qualifying Playoff. Should Henry’s unheeded demand for a penalty be seen as deeply ironic (at least in Alanis Morisette’s understanding of the word ‘ironic’)?
The Vuvuzela Award for Irritation of the Day:
People complaining about the vuvuzela. Television networks were inundated with complaints from viewers about the constant, monotonous hum of the vuvuzela. That didn’t stop the anchors from voicing their objections to the plastic horns themselves. Were the vuvuzelas all that intrusive or are people just too sensitive?
Sepp Blatter Mishap of the Day: That speech before the game. It infuriated the thousands of Twitterers watching the game and presumably those in attendance too. Nobody likes him, but he doesn’t care. Carry on wayward Sepp.
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