Halfway There: Reviewing First Round of 2010 FIFA World Cup.

We are only halfway through the 2010 FIFA World Cup and we already have so many memories that we can cherish for a lifetime.

The heroics, outstanding play, and desire by the world's greatest futbol players have made this World Cup one of the best tournament's to remember.

With 16 teams left, we're in for probably some of the greatest games that the tourney has seen, with England taking on Germany, Argentina facing Mexico, and the United States returning to the round of 16 with their match against Ghana on the horizon.

In the span of four years, so much has changed already in the soccer world that we would have never expected coming in. But after a solid two weeks of entertainment, we can review what we have witnessed, and what we will remember forever.

Best Game

United States 1, Algeria 0

There could have been many choices for the best game award.

The United States stunning two-goal comeback against Slovenia was an option. South Africa's opening tie facing the Mexicans, with one of the most raucous crowd's in World Cup history behind the Bafana Bafana, also comes to mind. Even the onslaught of goals brought on by Portugal, when they dropped a seven spot on the North Koreans, qualifies.

While they were all exciting in their own way, there was no better game than America against Algeria.

While England appeared to spoil the American's chances of advancing with their own win just a few miles away, it looked as though this would turn into the year that could've been for the United States, following the two strange disallowed goals and the numerous missed opportunities against Algeria coming into the 91st minute.

The Americans broke a 5-on-2 in injury time, with Landon Donovan leading the way.

He got the ball to Jozy Altidore in front of the goalie, who knocked it away right to Donovan, who nailed the shot right into the left corner of the net.

Donovan was mobbed by his teammates as the pro-American crowd lost their mind's after over an hour and a half of waiting for the United States to finally get their act together, and advance into the second round for the first time since 2002.

Not only did the Americans advance, but they won their group. Yes, the same group that included England.

The win not only showed the Americans talent, but their resilience. They faced a 2-0 halftime deficit against the Slovenians and somehow came back to tie. They appeared to have won, if not for maybe the worst call since "Hand of God".

Despite seeing another goal disallowed on a phantom offsides against the Algerians earlier, the Americans persevered for 91 minutes and somehow this Saturday, we are going to see the United States in the round of 16.

Worst Game

Uruguay 0, France 0

The second game of the tournament was by and far one of the worst futbol matches I've ever witnessed.

In front of 64,100, Uruguay and France came out flat and just had nothing to show for the four years of practice. Considering the French were also four years removed from a devastating loss in the World Cup final to the Italians, you would think they would have a thirst for blood coming to South Africa in 2010.

But as we see now, there was only a thirst to go back home for the French, who finished 0-2-1 in a group that consisted of Uruguay, Mexico, and South Africa.

Biggest Upset

Switzerland 1, Spain 0

This was another tough choice, as there were a number of upsets. Serbia stunning Germany 1-0 and South Africa defeating France 2-1 were both choices that could have won this category.

But to see the number two ranked team in the world fall to the 24th ranked team that was really was just happy to be there was by far the biggest upset of the tournament.

Gelson Fernandes made a ridiculous score against the Spaniards, and made use of their only shot on goal.

Spain had a number of chances to score behind the talented foot of Fernando Torres, but saw no results as the Swiss held their ground and managed to shut out and beat the powerful Spaniards.

Best Goal

David Villa vs. Honduras

In a 2-0 win against Honduras, both of Spain's goals came from David Villa. While his second goal was any run of the mill score, his first goal had us jumping out of our seats and asking for more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE--_mLSx5o

Villa split two defenders while still being guarded strongly by another and while sliding, he struck a powerful goal off the right foot into the right corner of the net to stun the Hondurans and the rest of the soccer world.

Biggest Disappointment

Tie: Italy and France

These two teams played their heart's out in the 2006 World Cup final. The Italians beat the French in penalty kicks for a thrilling finish after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Both teams came in with high hopes and many believed the Italians even had a chance to repeat. The French drew a difficult group, with two powerful countries in Uruguay and France and the host country South Africa.

The Italians probably got the easiest draw with Paraguay, Slovakia, and New Zealand.

Neither team won a game.

They combined to go 0-3-3. Among the most disappointing results were France's 2-1 loss to South Africa and the Italians 1-1 tie against a New Zealand team who had never been to a World Cup.

They both finished at the bottom of their groups.

Biggest Surprise

New Zealand

The Kiwi's had never been to a World Cup before, and when they drew a group that consisted of the defending champion Italians, 31st ranked Paraguay, and 34th ranked Slovakia, they were believed to be fodder and an easy win for each team.

Ranked 78th in the FIFA World Rankings, New Zealand began with a stunning 1-1 tie against Slovakia that featured a goal in the 93rd minute. They followed that up with another 1-1 tie, this time against the defending champion Italians, and finished up their World Cup run with a scoreless tie against Paraguay.

They might not have won a game, but New Zealand should go home proud with the performance they put on for the fans back home.

MVP

Landon Donovan

Prior to the start of this 2010 World Cup, many fans and followers criticized Landon Donovan and his leadership of the Americans.

They went 0-2-1 in 2006, and after drawing the English, Slovenians, and Algerians this year, the entire country looked to Donovan to lead this team to the promise land, a second round appearance.

The 1-1 tie against England was nice, but the 2-0 deficit against Slovenia had 300 million Americans looking forward to 2014.

Donovan would have no part of that. He ignited the comeback with a thunderous early second half goal to close the gap to one before the Americans finished the job with a tie.

It all came down to the final game against Algeria. In the 91st minute, Donovan led the break and finished it with the greatest goals in American soccer history.

The score gave the Americans a win and a berth in the second round. Donovan's two goals were easily the most motivating of any other players goal in the World Cup thus far.