Stunning strikes at the World Cup
Chris Wright
In all there were 142 goals at this World Cup. But how many stick in
the memory after four weeks of solid football - aside from Andres
Iniesta’s winner for Spain?
Here is a look at the pick of the bunch:
Siphiwe Tshabalala for South Africa v Mexico Just 55 minutes into the
first tournament held in Africa and a goal for the hosts as South
Africa’s Tshabalala unleashes a rocket into the top right corner past
Mexican keeper Oscar Perez.
The celebration dance with his teammates was no less stylish.
David Villa for Spain v Honduras
Villa, who has scored on average almost every 70 minutes in the
national shirt, provided a neat portfolio, not least a brilliant slalom
effort against Honduras, eluding a clutch of defenders before dinking
home despite being off balance.
David Villa for Spain v Chile
Another rival for Villa’s best effort was a cheeky ultra long-range
lob against Chile which ensured passage to the last 16 after an opening
loss against Switzerland.
Maicon for Brazil v North Korea
Maicon broke the deadlock from the acutest of angles after a surging
run down the wing.
Keeper Myong-Guk Ri was bamboozled as Maicon bent his effort inside
the far post when he appeared to have run out of space for a shot.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst for Holland v Uruguay
Veteran van Bronckhorst refused to bring the curtain down on his
career in a World Cup semi-final and delivered a thunderbolt from the
blue with a stunning 35-yard strike to draw first blood against the
Uruguayans, though it needed further efforts from Wesley Sneijder and
Arjen Robben to see the Dutch home.
Carlos Tevez for Argentina v Mexico
Tevez had netted an offside-looking opener against the Mexicans but
there was no doubt about his second - an absolute howitzer which zipped
into the top right-hand corner of the net from 25 yards, giving keeper
Oscar Perez no chance.
Diego Forlan for Uruguay v Germany
The pick of Atletico Madrid striker Forlan’s goals deserved to win
third place for Uruguay as he leapt to fire home an acrobatic right-foot
strike against the Germans, who came back to triumph.
Egidio Arevalo played a one-two with Luis Suarez and Forlan jumped to
volley his cross into the ground and inside the right-hand post.
Arjen Robben for Holland v Slovakia
Robben announced his full recovery from hamstring trouble with a
superb goal in the round of last 16, shrugging off three defenders to
lash home an accurate low drive. Jan Durica and Radoslav Zabavnik were
helpless as the Bayern Munich star drilled left-footed past the
despairing dive of Jan Mucha.
Mesut Ozil for Germany v Ghana
Ozil’s answered Germany’s call in the wake of a loss to Serbia with a
brilliant left-footed strike which saw off Ghana and secured passage to
the last 16.
The 21-year-old of Turkish descent fired home unerringly from the
edge of the box to make up for a wasted first-half opportunity.
Keisuke Honda for Japan v Denmark
CSKA Moscow star Honda was instrumental in Japan winning their first
matches on foreign soil and coming within a shootout penalty kick of the
quarter-finals.
He helped to clinch a spot in the last 16 against the Danes with a
brilliantly-executed free-kick which had the Japanese media salivating.
Luis Suarez for Uruguay v South Korea
Suarez had announced himself with a goal against Mexico and the
opener in the encounter with South Korea before a sumptuous finish for
the winner. A Diego Forlan corner found its way to the Ajax
sharpshooter, who netted a brilliant curling shot from just inside the
area.
Finally, the one that got away: Frank Lampard for England v Germany
England fans might vote for Lampard’s goal-that-wasn’t against the
Germans - but Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistants
failed to see the ball landed clearly over the line and ruled it out.
Germany gained revenge - four decades on - for Geoff Hurst’s famous
effort awarded in the 1966 final.
PARIS, Monday (AFP) |