2010 FIFA World Cup Final Grades

The 2010 FIFA World Cup was a month-long roller coaster full of enough emotional highs and lows to have fans screaming at their televisions, other fans or some higher power. Now that Spain has lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time in the country's history, it's time to look back at the international tournament and rate the best and worst aspects of the World Cup. You may be surprised with the grade the officials receive.

European football: A+

Big shock for those still playing FIFA '96, but Europe is home to the best soccer players in all the land. Three of the four teams in the World Cup final four (Germany, Holland and Spain) hail from across the ocean and the World Cup's best goal scorers, play makers and goaltenders were all European. The Spain-Netherlands final was hardly a fluke. Sadly, the two squads seemed to forget they were playing for the most coveted trophy in the sports world.

Spain vs. Netherlands World Cup Final: F

Yes, I was cheering on my (sort of) fellow Dutchmen during the World Cup. Doesn't have any impact on this grade. I and numerous biased and non-biased sports fans agreed at about the 70 minute mark of the match that the final was potentially the worst game of the entire World Cup. When's the last championship game in any sport that you watched where two teams were just blatantly playing to not lose rather than to win? Spain and Holland, two of the more exciting teams throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup, trudged through roughly 95 minutes of the final like LeBron James announcing a decision; painfully slow and void of any emotion. The officials weren't much a treat, either, but that's another story entirely.

World Cup officials: D-

How don't the refs receive an "F," you ask? American soccer fans are jaded as the officials robbed Team USA, well, pretty much whenever they could. The missed goal in the England vs. Germany match, a couple of missed offside calls and fans want the heads of these FIFA officials on a plate. The D- grade comes from the fact that the World Cup and similar soccer tournaments and organizations will finally see some changes, likely including instant replays for close goal/non-goal situations. Positive change is always a good thing in my book.

ESPN/ABC: A-

To the people hating on ESPN's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Shut up. I've often been the first person to nitpick the worldwide leader but ESPN was fantastic throughout much of the tournament. The commentators were entertaining and knowledgeable and I didn't mute my TV once. Bob Ley and Mike Tirico obviously are not "soccer guys" but, hey, they were trying their best while on camera. Besides, who wouldn't love Ruud Gullit? A fantastic man, he is.

The Vuvuzela: A+

Get over it. I love these freakin' things and will miss them tremendously. Perhaps I can sneak one into the new Giants Stadium.

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