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37 World Cup memories we won’t forget from South Africa 2010

The vuvuzelas, Lampard’s ghost goal, Paul the Octopus… oh, and that little Suarez incident. It’s all in here.

1. Ireland were there… oh no, wait, we weren’t. Thanks, Thierry.

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2. It gave us two of the all-time great World Cup anthems

The official song — Shakira’s Waka Waka.

shakiraVEVO / YouTube

And the unofficial one — K’naan’s Waving Flag.

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3. Before the first ball was kicked, there was controversy

The Jabulani, which cost a few quid to develop, was slammed as a beach ball.

Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

4. Siphiwe Tshabalala got the tournament off to a stonking start

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5. And we fell in love with the hosts as they celebrated – Bafana Bafana, baby!

6. Just leave the vuvuzelas at home the next time, please

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7. ITV cut to an ad break and missed England’s first goal of the tournament

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8. Unfortunately for Rob Green, they didn’t miss his absolute howler

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9. Maicon re-wrote the laws of geometry to score against North Korea

WorldCupReview / YouTube

10. Favourites Spain lost their opening game to Switzerland

Gelson Fernandes’ goal was one of only two that the miserly Spanish defence conceded in the entire tournament

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11. Rooney gave the England fans a piece of his mind

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12. Kader Keita took himself off Kaka’s Christmas card list

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13. There was mutiny in the French camp (what’s new?)

Nicolas Anelka was sent home for aiming some choice language at coach Raymond Domenech — and then in protest, his team-mates refused to train.

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14. Ronaldo fluked one in Portugal’s 7-0 win over North Korea

But at least he had the decency to celebrate with a smile, rather than by ripping his shirt off.

15. Yakubu took his place in the World Cup hall of shame with this miss

“Unmissable,” said Alan Hansen. “The worst miss I’ve ever seen,” said Alan Shearer.

staticiation1989 / YouTube

16. Emmanuel Eboue revealed that he apparently speaks Korean

17. A psychic octopus looked into the future

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18. England crashed out against Germany — but all anyone wanted to talk about was Lampard’s ghost goal

Looks over the line to me.

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ClassicEngland / YouTube

19. Don’t forget that Mesut Özil made Gareth Barry look like an old man too

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20. In fact, Özil was pure class for the entire tournament

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21. Carlos Tevez scored this scandalously offside goal against Mexico in the last 16

worldcup2010net / YouTube

22. And then a few minutes later, Gabi Heinze gave the camera man a puck

Watch where you’re walking, Gabi!

23. Luis Suarez cheated tournament darlings Ghana out of a place in the semis…

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24. And cried as he went off the pitch…

25. But Asamoah Gyan whacked his penalty off the crossbar…

26. An entire continent wept…

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27. And Suarez celebrated like nobody’s business as Uruguay went through in the shootout

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28. After ripping England to shreds, Germany did the same to Argentina in the quarters

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29. But Jogi Löw’s men found one team too good — Spain

Carles Puyol headed them out of the tournament in the semis.

Fullgoals / YouTube

30. Nelson Mandela took his seat for the World Cup final between Spain and Holland

Luca Bruno Luca Bruno

31. Somehow, Howard Webb didn’t think that Nigel de Jong deserved a red card for this “tackle” on Xabi Alonso

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32. Arjen Robben must still have nightmares about this moment

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33. Andres Iniesta kept a cool head

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34. And celebrated with a touching tribute to Espanyol captain Dani Jarque who died suddenly in 2009

His t-shirt read “Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros” (Dani Jarque, always with us)

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35. Iker Casillas stopped by for a post-match interview with girlfriend Sara Carbonero

“O madre mia,” indeed, Sara.

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36. Manchester United reject Diego Forlan won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player

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37. And at long last, Spain were the champions of the world

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Check out the rest of our World Cup memories series here >

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