For something a little different (and because I kinda miss the writing I did for all those years at Sports Illustrated), allow me to present five of the biggest blown calls... with completely plausible alternate reality scenarios for each.
URUGUAY vs SOUTH AFRICA
Group A, Pretoria, 16 June
What happened:
With 10 minutes left and South Africa 1-0 down, Luis Suarez gets the ball in the South African penalty area and is tripped up by Bafana Bafana keeper Itumeleng Khune. Khune is sent off, star midfielder Steven Pienaar is taken off to make way for the substitute keeper, and Uruguay score from the penalty spot. Fifteen minutes later, 5 minutes into injury time, Uruguay get a third goal to leave South Africa facing an early exit from the tournament. SA now need to beat France 4-0 in their final game, and hope Mexico lose to Uruguay.
What might've happened:
The referee sees that Suarez was in fact offside when he received the ball, and calls play back. He stops short of booking Suarez for an obvious dive. No foul, no red card, no penalty, no goal, no substitution and no fifth minute of added time means South Africa grind out a brave 1-0 defeat. That result leave them needing to beat France 2-0 in their final game, and hope for either Uruguay or Mexico to lose in their final clash. With France in turmoil SA win 3-0, with Khune keeping a clean sheet and Mphela springing the offside trap to score SA's third*. Uruguay's 1-0 win over Mexico means Uruguay and South Africa both comfortably qualify for the second round.
* In our world, his 37th-minute goal was harshly ruled offside.
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UNITED STATES vs SLOVENIA
Group C, Johannesburg, 18 June
What happened:
It's the biggest comeback since platform shoes as the United States recover from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 against the Slovenes. It could've been even better, though, as Maurice Edu has his late goal disallowed for... who knows? It wasn't offside, there wasn't a foul. Baffling decision.
What might've happened:
Edu's goal completes a dream 3-2 victory for the US, who now top the group with four points. England must beat Slovenia to qualify for the second round (which they do), but the Americans now only need a draw against Algeria in their last match. Neither side puts in any effort, and a dull 0-0 draw means our alternate reality is robbed of what happened in the real world: Landon Donovan's dramatic last-minute winner. So maybe these blown calls aren't such a bad thing after all...
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BRAZIL vs IVORY COAST
Group G, Soccer City, 20 June
What happened:
With Brazil already 1-0 up, Luis Fabiano receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area and juggles it once, twice over the heads of the defenders before spanking in a goal. Brazil go on to win 3-1, despite having Kaka controversially sent off late in the game.
What might've happened:
The ref spots the deliberate handball during Fabiano's juggling act, and disallows the goal. The Brazilians go on to win 2-1, but the referee - feeling bad about his tough but correct call on Fabiano - does not show Kaka that red card. Apart from that, nothing much changes.
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GERMANY vs ENGLAND
Round of 16, Bloemfontein, 27 June
What happened:
A shambolic England claw their way back from 2-0 down to 2-1, and just before half-time Frank Lampard's long-range shot hits the bar and bounces down a full two metres over the goal-line. For reasons known only to himself, the ref rules no goal. Germany go on to win 4-1, and England are eliminated.
What might've happened:
Lampard's goal levels the scores, and the sides go into the break tied at 2-2. England - who, as always, play on guts and confidence as opposed to any demonstrable skill - try a series of speculative shots from distance in the second half, but fail to hit the target. The scores remain tied at the end of 90 minutes, and a goalless extra time means the match goes to a penalty shootout. Özl, Müller, and Podolski all score from the spot for Germany, but none of Rooney (who's had a terrible tournament), Lampard (who missed a penalty in May's FA Cup Final) or Terry (who slips at just the wrong moment while taking his kick) manage to hit the target. The Germans win, inevitably, on penalties.
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ARGENTINA vs MEXICO
Round of 16, Soccer City, 27 June
What happened:
Carlos Tevez is about three or four metres offside when he scores Argentina's opener, but the ref signals a goal. Argentina win at a canter, 3-1, and Mexico are not at all pleased.
What might've happened:
Tevez's goal is disallowed. Mexico, unrattled, keep their cool for the next 10 minutes and don't gift Higuaín a second goal (unlike in our world). It takes a thunderbolt strike from Tevez to finally settle the match, which Argentina win 1-0. The score changes, but - as in the England match - the result remains the same.