World Cup Festival 2010 at Soldier Field: Photo Gallery

After a month of competition, which saw 64 matches, World Cup South Africa is over. Sunday’s final between two European soccer powers, Spain and Holland, looked to be a good match on paper, but the game played out much differently. With most of the plays bogged down in mid field, there were few scoring chances for each side. The scoring chances thinned further thanks to the outrageous number of yellow cards (14) handed out by the main referee. When either team had a great chance to score these valuable opportunities were blown, with shots going over/around the goal posts.

At the end of regulation the game was tied at zero, zero. Overtime proved to be more lively with substitutes for each team, who were brought on late in the game, began playing better soccer. It wasn’t until the near of the second half overtime, a breakthrough came. Down to ten men, Holland was on it’s heels defensively when Spain struck. Andres Iniesta scored with a few minutes left in the final minutes of overtime, to win the game.

The Spanish fans watching the game at Solider Field went nuts. They vastly out numbered the Dutch contingent holed up into the stadium. But what the Dutch supporters lacked in numbers, they made up for in noise and pride.

There were more Holland and Netherlands flags than those for Spain. While the both fans blew their Vuvuzelas to the point of passing out, the Dutch fans stuck out more thanks to the excess of orange in that team’s uniform.

If you weren’t a supporter of their team, but wanted be in the stadium for atmosphere you were in the right place. Not only was every TV in Soldier Field tuned to the game, a youth soccer tournament was being played at the same time. Fans could either choose to watch the game in South Africa on the big screen or watch one of four tournament matches being played on the field. The tournament of future World Cup stars ran most of the afternoon with an adult amateur tournament taking place just before kick off.

The viewing party was made complete with a mini festival village with various sponsors and vendors set up to sell or give away their products. There was a stage with pre-match performances, raffles, contents and an on field shoot out for $10,000.

Our only question upon exit was: Why doesn’t the World Cup happen every year?

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