The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was played from June 11 to July 11. Spain managed to win the tournament for the first time in its history.
This was the first World Cup to be played on African territory. It had the participation of the Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres.
The participating teams were Germany, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, North Korea, South Korea, Ivory Coast, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain, United States, France, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, England, Italy , Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland and Uruguay.
Italy suffered the “curse of the champion” and were eliminated in the first phase with only two points in a group that included Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand.
Prensa Libre headlined the opening day “Finally! Soccer has arrived. The words finish and the game begins”.
Among the incidents that are well remembered from this World Cup is the Quarterfinal match between Uruguay and Ghana, in which Luis Suarez stopped a goal with his hand in extra time, so that his team finally qualified on penalties.
The Netherlands and Spain reached the final, a team that played with a very defined style, known as Tiki Taka, ended up winning 1-0 thanks to a goal in extra time by Andrés Iniesta.
On the day of the last game, the Prensa Libre special was titled “The most desired” in reference to the World Cup and added that “32 teams started and after a long journey, Spain and the Netherlands will define today who will be the world champion.” .
Prensa Libre titled “Iniesta takes them to heaven” and explained that “Spain celebrates. A goal in the second extra time consecrates the red fury”.
On the front page of the following day, Prensa Libre summed up the European euphoria: “The greatest day of Spanish football.”
