My top five World Cup moments
THE World Cup is upon us, with 32 teams eyeing the ultimate prize at the 22nd edition of the global showpiece.
Here, Mihlali Baleka looks back at his best World Cup moments down the years.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick – 2018
The opening group stage match between Spain and Portugal at the 2018 World Cup will go down as one of the best spectacles in the modern era.
Spain appeared to have wrapped up all three points by the 88th minute, but Cristiano Ronaldo had the last laugh, scoring a free-kick to level matters at 3-3.
That effort sealed his hat-trick, and it must’ve been deja vu for some of Spain’s players at the time, given that Ronaldo did that week in and week in La Liga.
Mario Gotze’s final winner – 2014
After an impressive campaign in 2010, you had to feel for Germany, who only finished third at the tournament, behind the Netherlands and winners Spain.
But as Mario Gotze scored against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in extra time to send Germany to the Promised Land, there and then justice was served for the failures of 2010.
Germany’s players in 2014 might have been hitting their prime, but they were already star players for their respective clubs, showing immense growth.
Siphiwe Tshabalala’s opener – 2010
South Africa unceremoniously became the first host nation to crash out of the World Cup at the group stage.
But Siphiwe Tshabalala’s opening goal of the 2010 spectacle against Mexico will go down as one of the best goals in World Cup history.
To date, Tshabalala, 38, is still in disbelief that he executed such a wonderful strike that has gone on to make him a popular figure around the world.
Zinedine Zidane’s final headbutt – 2006
Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring in the 2006 final in Berlin, with a lovely penalty to put the French ahead early in the game.
But Marco Materazzi headed home Italy’s equaliser before he and Zidane were involved in a chat that resulted in the Frenchman headbutting him.
Zidane was shown a straight red for the incident before Italy went on to win the match on penalties. But Zidane’s moment is still talked about to this day!
Andres Iniesta’s final winner – 2010
After boasting players who were key players for their clubs, the Netherlands were tipped to be crowned world champions in 2010.
The Dutch, however, were punished by a late Andres Iniesta winner at FNB Stadium. And that was the beauty of the World Cup: New champions were born! A feat that proved when a team has a game plan, they can achieve the improbable.