The Worst of 2010: Most Spineless

With 2010 drawing to a close, there's a lot of positive reminiscing, but I figure it might be a good time to give one last look at the year's worst.  I'll skirt around the list post that I called trite not too long ago on a technicality: there will be no rankings here.  Everyone's a loser; we're comparing rotten apples and oranges.

So without further ado, 2010's Most Spineless:


Koman Coulibaly

Within a matter of seconds, an unassuming Malian referee became an international pariah, as Koman Coulibaly denied the USMNT one of the greatest comeback wins in international soccer history with a seemingly predetermined (yet baseless) foul call on Maurice Edu's go-ahead goal late in the final minutes against Slovenia.  Better yet, Coulibaly refused to explain himself to the players during or after the match and hid behind the veil of FIFA, as angry Americans waited for a press conference and explanation that would never come.  Instead, we just heard things through the grapevine to explain the whistle: offside, foul, something.  But the rest of the world outside of FIFA seemed to get what they were seeing: there was no reason for a whistle against the US, and if anything there could have been a handful of fouls called against Slovenia on the play.

Never before have I swung from despair to euphoria to anger so quickly while watching a soccer game, but that's what happened last June thanks to Mr. Coulibaly and his phantom foul call.


FIFA ExCo

A pair of decisions that led me, normally mild-mannered, to spit some vitriol.   Though we're nearly a month removed now, it still irks me all the same that FIFA awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively despite their severe shortcomings in a number of areas.  The choices, almost certainly made on the basis of bribes and private interest, fly in the face of so many realities: a lack of infrastructure, human rights issues, an almost inevitable clash of cultures, obvious logistical concerns, and a serious likelihood of poor ticket sales and tourist numbers.  I was so disgusted by all of it and wondered when or if the game I love so much would ever be free from the corrupt scum that govern it. 

The only silver lining in it all was that FIFA probably chose the wrong group to piss off: England, Australia, the US, and some of the other failed bids could make enough noise and represent a strong enough coalition to actually force some kind of change going forward.  For now, though, we're still stuck with a group of two-faced, spineless, soulless bastards in Zurich.


Algeria

Despite a strong field, the Desert Foxes might actually be the worst of the bunch.  Needing at least a win, and then, once England went ahead on Slovenia, at least a two goal win over the US to advance to the knockout rounds, Algeria played like a team that was utterly content with being eliminated.  There was little urgency and few threatening jaunts forward; just a whole lot of defending.  The Algerians seemed okay with a 0-0 draw, heading home early, and bringing the US down with them; a baffling lack of ambition from a team that may have to wait decades to be in a similar position again.  All I can say is thank goodness for Landon Donovan, or I'd be even angrier looking back on this.

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I'm sure I've missed some other less-than-admirable candidates from the year that was, but those were the ones that stuck out in my mind.  Take a bow, guys.