World Cup 2010: Thanks to Robert Green and Twitter, Bill Buckner now famous in England

Yes, the 2010 World Cup will be remembered as soccer's American television breakthrough. But thanks to USA v. England, the 2010 World Cup will also be remembered as BILL BUCKNER's English television breakthrough. 

The ball had barely trickled over the goal line -- via a weak, two-hop grounder off the toes of CLINT DEMPSEY and a brief encounter with the oily gloves of England goat goaltender ROBERT GREEN -- when ESPN commentator MIKE TIRICO reached into his bag of fail . . . and pulled out a Buckner.

It was the analogy heard 'round the world: within minutes, "Bill Buckner" became a trending topic on Twitter. (The English, predictably, got sick of it quicker than we did.)

Forget that it's not the same sport, the same decade, or even the same continent -- wherever there's a slowly rolling grounder, a glove's fleeting impression, and the sudden anguish of a long-tortured Nation, the word "Buckner" will suffice as a universal language. 

The graphic above? A quick comparisons of the number of times "Robert Green" and "Bill Buckner" appeared in Tweets during the game. Notice the synonymous uptick just about the time the ball rolled into the goal.