Men's World Cup moments that still make us cringe

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez has built quite a resume of cringeworthy World Cup moments. In the 2010 quarterfinal between Uruguay and Ghana, the Barcelona front man intentionally handled the ball on the line to prevent a last-minute winner that would have sent the Black Stars to the semifinal. Of course, we wouldn't view Suarez, who was sent off for the foul, as such a villain had the subsequent spot kick hit the back of the net. 

All Asamoah Gyan had to do was convert the penalty to make Luis Suarez pay for his offense and send Ghana through to the semifinal of the 2010 World Cup. Gyan's kick ricocheted harmlessly off the crossbar and out of play, though, and Uruguay won the shootout to advance. 

Holland playmaker Arjen Robben has gained a reputation for flopping on the pitch, and he gave critics additional ammunition when he theatrically went to ground in stoppage time of the 2014 World Cup round of 16 game between the Netherlands and Mexico. The ensuing penalty propelled the Dutch to a 2-1 victory, but karma may have struck Robben and Holland years after the fact, as the Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. 

As Barry Glendenning of The Guardian wrote, the public squabble between Ireland captain Roy Keane and then-manager Mick McCarthy resulted in McCarthy sending Keane home from the 2002 World Cup. What became known as the "Saipan incident" divided national team fans, some of whom sided with Keane and some who believed McCarthy had no other choice than to dismiss the outspoken and fiery Keane. 

"Do I believe the squad can win the World Cup? Yes, of course I believe they can, otherwise what is the point?" That, per The Guardian , is what England manager Roy Hodgson said of his side before the 2014 World Cup. The Three Lions not only failed to achieve that objective. England crashed out of the competition in the group stages for the first time since 1958. 

Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the round of 16 contest at the 2006 World Cup, but most remember what became known as the "Battle of Nuremberg" for reasons other than the final score. According to the BBC, four red cards and 16 yellow cards were shown during the chippy and emotional clash. As explained by the BBC , FIFA president Sepp Blatter publicly criticized referee Valentin Ivanov following the match. Imagine trying to keep the peace on that fateful night. 

The 2010 World Cup Final between Holland and Spain was a violent affair filled with numerous crunching challenges and tackles, the worst of which involved Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong smashing Spain's Xabi Alonso with a flying kick to the chest. Referee Howard Webb only showed De Jong a yellow, a decision he later regretted, per ESPN, but Spain nevertheless won the match 1-0. 

An errant headed back-pass gifted Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain with an open chance on goal in the first half of the 2014 World Cup Final versus Germany. Higuain elected to hit the ball off the bounce rather than dribble further into the box, and he pushed his shot wide of the post. Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal scored by Mario Gotze. 

Germany's Thomas Mueller displayed his acting prowess during a 2014 World Cup match against Portugal. In the 37th minute, Mueller dramatically went to the ground after Portugal's Pepe accidentally hit his opponent with a hand to the face. Pepe wasn't happy with Mueller's antics, and he responded by delivering a headbutt that the German sold like a WWE superstar. Pepe was sent off, and Germany won 4-0. 

What should be remembered is that Roberto Baggio only had a chance to keep Italy alive from the spot during the shootout versus Brazil in the 1994 World Cup Final. The nature of the miss and that the ball sailed well over the crossbar is why this moment still makes us cringe 24 years after the fact even though he wasn't the lone goat that day. 

As Andrew Anthony of The Guardian wrote, Jurgen Klinsmann claimed he was left with a "15-centimeter gash" following the foul from Argentina's Pedro Monzon that got Monzon unceremoniously dismissed early from the 1990 World Cup Final. Replays didn't do the West Germany striker many favors, but he helped his side win the match 1-0. 

The 2014 World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia in Sao Paulo was marred by controversy when Brazilian forward Fred threw himself to the ground inside the penalty area in the 69th minute. To his credit, Fred won the decision, Neymar buried his kick from the spot and the hosts earned a 3-1 victory. 

Nigeria's Yakubu Aiyegbeni was gifted with a tap-in goal during the 2010 World Cup match versus South Korea after South Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong failed to deflect a cross out of danger midway through the second half. Yakubu pushed his shot left of the post, however, and the Super Eagles failed to advance. 

In the 2010 World Cup round of 16 match between England and Germany, England's Frank Lampard correctly believed he leveled the contest at two after his attempt bounced off the crossbar and over the line. Neither the referee nor the linesman awarded the tally, however, and Germany ultimately eliminated the Three Lions from the tournament. 

Years before the United States men's national team shockingly and shamefully fell short of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, striker Chris Wondolowski delivered arguably the worst miss in the country's footballing history. In the third minute of stoppage time of the 2014 World Cup match between the US and Belgium, the Belgian back line held Wondo onside as he was presented with an unmarked shot on goal six yards from the line. He rocketed the attempt well over the bar, and Belgium notched the victory in extra time. 

Regardless of who you wanted to win the 2014 World Cup semifinal between Brazil and Germany, one couldn't help but feel sorry for the Brazilians throughout what became a humbling and embarrassing 7-1 defeat in Belo Horizonte. The hosts trailed 5-0 in under a half-hour of play, and fans at the stadium couldn't prevent tears from flowing well before the final merciful whistle sounded. 

David Beckham's million-dollar smile couldn't save him in the second half of the 1998 World Cup showdown between England and Argentina. Argentina's Diego Simeone dropped Beckham with a physical challenge, and the superstar responded by kicking the right leg of his opponent. Beckham saw red, and Argentina bounced the Three Lions from the competition after winning the penalty shootout. 

It is probably the most controversial and infamous goal ever scored in a World Cup. Argentina's Diego Maradona left his feet and used his left fist to push the ball past the England goalkeeper early into the second half of the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal. His other tally of the match, one scored after a brilliant individual effort, has been called the " goal of the century." 

As explained by ESPN, Italy defender Marco Materazzi later admitted he provoked France's Zinedine Zidane during the 2006 World Cup Final. Materazzi probably didn't expect what he described as "stupid words" to earn him a fierce headbutt to the chest, a foul that ended Zizou's World Cup before Italy won the penalty shootout. 

We end where we began, with Uruguay forward Luis Suarez shaming himself and his nation at a World Cup. In the group stages match between Uruguay and Italy at the 2014 World Cup, Suarez clearly and intentionally chomped on the shoulder of Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini before embarrassingly flopping to the ground as if he had been fouled. It was, to date, at least the third time Suarez had bitten an opponent as a professional.