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What is your favourite World Cup goal of all time? What is your favourite World Cup goal of all time?
(about 1 month later)
This World Cup was doing so well. The kits were looking beautiful, the fans were behaving impeccably, the referees were wowing us with their incredible disappearing spray, and Costa Rica and Colombia were taking on the big boys and schooling them in the art of the goal celebration. There were so many reasons to love this World Cup but, more than anything, it was adorable because of its goals.This World Cup was doing so well. The kits were looking beautiful, the fans were behaving impeccably, the referees were wowing us with their incredible disappearing spray, and Costa Rica and Colombia were taking on the big boys and schooling them in the art of the goal celebration. There were so many reasons to love this World Cup but, more than anything, it was adorable because of its goals.
Marcelo kicked things off with an impish own goal, which provoked Neymar into living up to his pre-tournament billing. Robin van Persie rose to the occasion with a diving header; Arjen Robben refrained from diving for long enough to dribble around Spain's defence; James Rodriguez scored every time he went on to the pitch; Tim Cahill became Marco van Basten while playing against Holland; Clint Dempsey scored after 29 seconds; and even Wayne Rooney found the back of the net. Marcelo kicked things off with an impish own goal, which provoked Neymar into living up to his pre-tournament billing. Robin van Persie rose to the occasion with a diving header; Arjen Robben refrained from diving for long enough to dribble around Spain's defence; James Rodriguez scored every time he went on to the pitch; Tim Cahill became Marco van Basten while playing against Holland; Clint Dempsey scored after 29 seconds; and even Wayne Rooney found the back of the net.
We were treated to 2.75 goals per game before the quarter-finals but, when the last eight realised what was at stake, the pressure rose, the shutters came down and the goals dried up. France and Germany played out the dullest match of the tournament; Belgium's golden generation looked like they were auditioning for a place in the last match of the Football League Show as they flung high balls up to burly strikers; Holland spent two hours trying to outwit Costa Rica's offside trap; and Brazil kicked lumps out of Colombia as they booted them out of the competition. All in all, the quarter-finals gave us seven hours of football and a grand total of five goals (four of which came from set pieces).We were treated to 2.75 goals per game before the quarter-finals but, when the last eight realised what was at stake, the pressure rose, the shutters came down and the goals dried up. France and Germany played out the dullest match of the tournament; Belgium's golden generation looked like they were auditioning for a place in the last match of the Football League Show as they flung high balls up to burly strikers; Holland spent two hours trying to outwit Costa Rica's offside trap; and Brazil kicked lumps out of Colombia as they booted them out of the competition. All in all, the quarter-finals gave us seven hours of football and a grand total of five goals (four of which came from set pieces).
Hopefully the semi-finalists will rediscover the reckless spirit of attacking verve that made the tournament so promising in the early stages but, while we wait, let's reminisce about some of the great goals in World Cup history. A few of this tournament's goals will find their way on to the highlights packages of the future – James Rodriguez's arching volley against Brazil, Lionel Messi's last-minute curler against Iran and David Luiz's side-footed free-kick against Colombia – but what is your favourite World Cup goal of all time? Here are a few suggestions to kick things off: Hopefully the semi-finalists will rediscover the reckless spirit of attacking verve that made the tournament so promising in the early stages but, while we wait, let's reminisce about some of the great goals in World Cup history. A few of this tournament's goals will find their way on to the highlights packages of the future – James Rodriguez's arching volley against Brazil, Lionel Messi's last-minute curler against Iran and David Luiz's side-footed free-kick against Colombia – but what is your favourite World Cup goal of all time? Here are a few suggestions to kick things off:
Roberto Baggio (ITALY v Czechoslovakia, 1990)Roberto Baggio (ITALY v Czechoslovakia, 1990)
Roberto Baggio gave us the defining image of the 1994 World Cup but he also scored one of the goals of Italia 90. When he picks up the ball in his own half here, there's not much on, but Baggio raises the tempo, plays a quick one-two and sets off towards the Czechoslovakia goal. He hurdles a sliding tackle and bears down on the centre-half, who does not know whether he should be coming or going. Baggio drops his shoulder to earn that half-yard of space he needs and then slips the ball past the keeper at the near post. He makes it looks so easy, but, of course, it's the hardest thing in the world. Roberto Baggio gave us the defining image of the 1994 World Cup but he also scored one of the goals of Italia 90. When he picks up the ball in his own half here, there's not much on, but Baggio raises the tempo, plays a quick one-two and sets off towards the Czechoslovakia goal. He hurdles a sliding tackle and bears down on the centre-half, who does not know whether he should be coming or going. Baggio drops his shoulder to earn that half-yard of space he needs and then slips the ball past the keeper at the near post. He makes it looks so easy, but, of course, it's the hardest thing in the world.
Zinedine Zidane (FRANCE v Italy, 2006)Zinedine Zidane (FRANCE v Italy, 2006)
There's a wonderful video on YouTube of Zinedine Zidane playing a little two-on-two match with his sons Enzo, Lucas and Theo in their back garden. Zinedine strolls around the garden at walking pace, much to the annoyance of his young son Lucas, who berates his father for not tracking back: "Come help me," he pleads as Zinedine stands motionless on their little pitch. His young son did not understand it yet, but Zinedine Zidane was not a man to get flustered. He did things at his own pace – even when playing in a World Cup final. When Zidane stepped up to chip a penalty past Gianluigi Buffon in the 2006 final, he looked as relaxed as he did when playing with his sons in his back garden. The way he walked up to the penalty spot and chipped the ball into the top corner, he might as well have been facing one of his young sons, not the best goalkeeper on the planet. There's a wonderful video on YouTube of Zinedine Zidane playing a little two-on-two match with his sons Enzo, Lucas and Theo in their back garden. Zinedine strolls around the garden at walking pace, much to the annoyance of his young son Lucas, who berates his father for not tracking back: "Come help me," he pleads as Zinedine stands motionless on their little pitch. His young son did not understand it yet, but Zinedine Zidane was not a man to get flustered. He did things at his own pace – even when playing in a World Cup final. When Zidane stepped up to chip a penalty past Gianluigi Buffon in the 2006 final, he looked as relaxed as he did when playing with his sons in his back garden. The way he walked up to the penalty spot and chipped the ball into the top corner, he might as well have been facing one of his young sons, not the best goalkeeper on the planet.
Diego Maradona (ARGENTINA v Belgium, 1986)Diego Maradona (ARGENTINA v Belgium, 1986)
Maradona should really pass this. When he picks up the ball midway through the Belgium half, he has one team-mate making an overlapping run on his right and two more breaking into space on his left. He has no right to run at Belgium's defence, but off he goes, slaloming through four defenders who surround him but never get close to him. The video below is only six seconds long; when you have a player who can create something from nothing, time is always on your side.Maradona should really pass this. When he picks up the ball midway through the Belgium half, he has one team-mate making an overlapping run on his right and two more breaking into space on his left. He has no right to run at Belgium's defence, but off he goes, slaloming through four defenders who surround him but never get close to him. The video below is only six seconds long; when you have a player who can create something from nothing, time is always on your side.
What is your favourite World Cup goal of all time?What is your favourite World Cup goal of all time?