Top 5 Moments of the 2010 World Cup | Thebigtip

Another World Cup edition is over, but looking back over the past month there's been plenty of those memorable World Cup moments, where emotion takes over and – despite being half-asleep in the middle of the night – you jump up and down in your lounge room.

Yep, the World Cup is a pretty darn exciting time, it's just a shame us Aussies always seem to be forced to go sleep deprived for a month when it rolls around every four years.

Anyway, that's what makes those moments of brilliance and glory all the more wonderful, so here's my top five moments from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

5. Winston Reid's injury-time equalizer for New Zealand against Slovakia

I remember watching this game with a few Kiwi mates and as the match entered into injury-time they appeared resigned to the fact they'd lost this one.

Then Shane Smeltz holds the ball up and whips in a deep-cross which Winston Reid powers in off the post for a memorable and last-minute equalizer. Straight away you got the feeling, the fairytale was on for the All Whites and this could be a World Cup to remember for them. It turned out that way too.

4. Landon Donovan's stoppage-time winner against Algeria which sent the United States into the Round of 16

There isn't much more dramatic a moment than this. The USA were heading out of the World Cup after toiling fruitlessly for 90 minutes against Algeria. It seemed like just one of those days when the ball would never go in for the US.

Slovenia and England were going through... until Landon Donovan, who I'd become a huge fan of following his exploits at the 2009 Confederations Cup, popped up in stoppage-time to slam home from close-range. The Americans proceeded to have a round of 'stacks on' near the corner flag and US fans alike went nuts. Awesome.

3. Brett Holman's long-range screamer which put Australia 2-0 up against Serbia

The man formerly known as Lolman silenced every single one of his critics in South Africa. He also had a few of us believing, if not just for a tiny moment, Australia could get through with his stunning long-range effort against Serbia.

In the final round of group matches in Group D, with Germany 1-0 up on Ghana, Australia needed to make up the goal difference on the Black Stars and win big against Serbia, while hoping Die Mannschaft could grab a couple more. Tim Cahill had put Australia ahead, but when Holman struck his cracker a few minutes, suddenly the dream was alive. Unfortunately it didn't last.