GOALDEN WONDERS!
With the Qatar World Cup almost upon us, we look back at 10 of the best goals the tournament has produced...
10. LOTHAR MATTHAUS, WEST GERMANY V YUGOSLAVIA (1990)
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WEST Germany captain Matthaus led by example in his side’s 4-1 opening win over Yugoslavia, charging goalwards from his own half before slamming a rightfooted shot past Tomislav Ivkovic.
9. BENJAMIN PAVARD, FRANCE V ARGENTINA (2018)
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PAVARD’S extraordinary volley in France’s last-16 victory over Argentina was voted goal of the tournament in Russia, an arrowed strike into the top corner from the edge of the area.
8. ROBERTO BAGGIO, ITALY V CZECHOSLOVAKIA (1990)
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ITALY were desperate for the so-called ‘Divine Ponytail’ to come up with the goods on home soil and he did not disappoint, beating two men to net a stunning individual effort against the Czechs.
7. MICHAEL OWEN, ENGLAND V ARGENTINA (1998)
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THE 18-year-old Owen scored what many regard to be England’s greatest World Cup goal in their ill-fated last-16 tie when the Liverpool forward surged past Argentina defenders Jose Chamot and Roberto Ayala before unleashing an unstoppable angled drive beyond Carlos Roa.
6. SAEED AL-OWAIRAN, SAUDI ARABIA V BELGIUM (1994)
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THE Saudi Arabia midfielder made the headlines with a fantastic strike in a group match against Belgium, picking up the ball in the middle of his own half and running the length of the pitch before finding the net.
5. JAMES RODRIGUEZ, COLOMBIA V URUGUAY (2014)
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AFTER controlling the ball on his chest, Colombia’s playmaker swivelled before unleashing a dipping left-footed volley from 25 yards which crashed into the net via the underside of the crossbar.
4. ESTEBAN CAMBASSIO, ARGENTINA V SERBIA & MONTENEGRO (2006)
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THEN Inter Milan midfielder Cambiasso applied the finishing touches to a flowing 54-second team move composed of 25 passes after Argentina dispossessed their opponents deep inside their own half during a 6-0 group-stage win.
■ 3. PELE, BRAZIL V SWEDEN (1958)
THE 17-year-old Pele announced his arrival on football’s main stage with a breathtaking strike in his nation’s 5-2 final win over hosts Sweden. After chesting the ball down and chipping over an advancing defender, he volleyed past Kalle Svensson to put Brazil 3-1 up.
2. CARLOS ALBERTO, BRAZIL V ITALY (1970)
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CARLOS Alberto earned his place in World Cup folklore when he finished off a superb team passing move, steaming in from the right channel to meet Pele’s perfectly weighted lay-off with a shot low into the net from a tight angle as Brazil claimed the trophy with a 4-1 final win over Italy.
1. DIEGO MARADONA, ARGENTINA V ENGLAND (1986)
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NEVER mind the ‘Hand of God’, Maradona’s second effort in this quarter-final – when he picked up the ball in his own half and beat the entire England defence before slotting past Peter Shilton – deserves to go down as the greatest World Cup goal of all time.