Every Important World Cup Goal Since ‘86
Is it Diego Maradona, ghosting past half of the England national football team to slot past Peter Shilton? Or the controversial ‘hand of God’ goal that guided Argentina to a 2–1 win over the ‘Three Lions’ on their track to Mexico 1986 glory. Some goals are imprinted in our memories longer than the best of rivalries. Others fizzle out just like the effort that produced them.
Show me a World Cup finals goal which impacted the outcome of a match and I’ll tell you how important it was (or the skills and athleticism that went into them). Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner was all Germany needed to avoid conceding another world championship to the Argentinians over three years ago. Nigeria was just 2 minutes shy of a quarter-final berth at a Fifa World Cup but for a Roberto Baggio equaliser.
All goals aren’t created equal. Some get extra credits from the commentary box. This article is about the important strikes since Mexico 86. Do you recall?
- Dennis Bergkamp genius in 1998 (Holland 2–1 Argentina)
Bergkamp was the unlikely hero in 1998 when his lovely winner ousted Argentina in the quarter-finals of the Fifa tournament in Marseilles. The Dutch team — with a man down — were hanging on by their fingertips until the talismanic forward collected a long Frank De’ Boer ball, jinked round Robert Ayala, and side-footed into the net. Three perfect touches from ‘the iceman’ and a magical World Cup moment was born.
2. Andres Escobar own-goal in 1994 (USA 2–1 Colombia)
Whoever said football was just a game surely missed events that led to the assassination of a budding Colombian defender Andres Escobar. Aged 27, Escobar stretched to intercept a cross from the left only to bury the ball inside his own net. The own-goal helped the USMNT eliminate his beloved Colombia in Pasadena. A few days later, he was shot 12 times by three men in a roadside shooting in the city of Medellin. “Thanks for the own goal” one of his assassins said according to an eyewitness.
3. Gary Lineker hat-trick in 1986 (England 3–0 Poland)
This was the start of an unforgettable feat that culminated in a golden boot for the young lad from Leicester. Off the back of a 1-nil defeat by Portugal and a goalless draw with Morocco, the ‘Three Lions’ desperately needed to salvage their campaign with an emphatic victory. The stage was set at the Estadio Tecnológico in Monterrey where Poland awaited Sir Bobby Robson’s men. Gary Lineker’s hat-trick helped England dispatch Poland through to the second round of the tournament. He went on to score twice against Paraguay and once against Argentina to beat Maradona to the Fifa Golden boot award.
4. Diego Maradona historic in 1986 (Argentina 2–1 England)
It wasn’t the hand of God. It was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it… Sir Bobby Robson.
A brace of a goal in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup and Maradona will forever be regarded as the greatest football player of all time by many. The Argentine legend needed just five minutes to put paid to England’s ambitions at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. First, he lobbed the ball over Shilton with his right hand and then dribbled past five England players: Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher, Terry Fenwick, Butcher (again), to score what became known as the ‘Goal of the Century’. Argentina went on to win that tournament with a 3–2 victory against West Germany while Maradona claimed the Fifa Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.
5. Sunday Oliseh rocket in 1998 (Spain 2–3 Nigeria)
A well taken Sunday Oliseh pile-driver was all minnows Nigeria needed to stun the high flying Spain national team in their opening Group D encounter at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. Mutiu Adepoju and Garba Lawal helped the Super Eagles fight back from a 1–0 and 2–1 deficits courtesy of Fernando Hierro’s and Raul Gonzalez’s strikes respectively. Oliseh scored the deciding goal 12 minutes from time powering in from 25 yards. Nigeria failed to reach the quarter-final following a 4–1 defeat by Denmark in Paris.
6. A James Rodriguez volley over 3 years ago (Colombia 2–0 Uruguay)
Voted the best goal of the 2014 tournament and the year at large, there’s something about James Rodriguez’s volley against Uruguay that’s meant for legends. Having scored in each of Colombia’s group stage matches at the Brazil World Cup, Rodriguez’s brace against Uruguay single-handedly guided his side into the last-eight of the World Cup for the first time in history. He ended the tournament with six goals in five matches and a Fifa Golden Boot. Colombia was eliminated by the hosts Brazil.
7. Bouba Diop stunner in 2002 (France 0–1 Senegal)
Papa Bouba Diop’s solitary strike made the difference as debutantes Senegal saw off reigning champions France in one of the greatest upsets of the Fifa World Cup. Talk about the resilience of ‘the Teranga Lions’, ranked complete outsiders in the opening match of the tournament, or the scintillating dance routine around Diop’s shirt at the corner flag, the football world witnessed an epic dishonour in Seoul. Coach Bruno Metsu’s men became the second African side to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament, where they failed to roar past Turkey.
8. Roger Milla dazzles early 1990's (Cameroon 2–1 Romania)
Celebrating a World Cup goal wasn’t much of a dancing affair until 38-year-old Roger Milla burst onto the scene in 1990. Milla, who had come out of retirement to join Cameroon’s World Cup squad, scored a brace in their second match against Romania in Bari. The goals marked the beginning of his trademark celebration — a dance at the corner flag. ‘The indomitable lions’ defeated defending champions Argentina in their opening match (with nine men) and eventually lost to England in the quarter-finals having beaten Colombia in a round of 16 encounter in Naples. His second goal celebration against Colombia was the subject of a Coca-cola advert during the South Africa World Cup.
9. Hakan Sukur opener in 2002 (Korea Republic 2–3 Turkey)
What’s more important than scoring the fastest ever World Cup goal?Probably the urgency with which your name is etched into the history books. The third-place face-off between South Korea and Turkey in 2002 produced one of the memorable goals of the Fifa tournament. Hakan Sukur needed just 10.8secs to open scores at the Daegu stadium in what proved to be one of the most exciting play-offs of the World Cup.
10. Ronaldinho sublime free-kick in 2002 (England 1–2 Brazil)
A lacklustre performance against 10-men Brazil ended another England World Cup quest in Shizuoka on a day Ronaldinho lobbed a delightful free-kick over David Seaman and then got sent off 6 minutes later. His goal, however, sealed Brazil’s passage to the semi-finals, where they edged Turkey 1–0, on their route to a fifth triumph in South Korea and Japan.
11. Flying Robin van Persie header in 2014 (Spain 1–5 Holland)
No one saw this coming especially with Spain — then defending champions — opening scores at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador. David Silva could have doubled the lead for ‘La Roja’, instead it was Robin van Persie that levelled with an incredible diving header to turn the game on its head. The Dutch team went on to humiliate Spain in what was a repeat of the 2010 World Cup final.
12. A David Platt volley in 1990 (England 1-0 Belgium)
A David Platt extra-time volley was all England needed to eliminate Belgium from the 1990 World Cup at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna. ‘The three lions’ defeated Cameroon in the quarter-finals but lost to eventual winners West Germany in the semis.
13. Giovanni van Bronckhorst rocket of a shot in South Africa (Uruguay 2–3 Netherlands)
Gio van Bronckhorst scored one of the great goals of the World Cup finals in helping Holland eliminate Uruguay in 2010. Finding the ball close to the left touchline some 30 yards from goal, the full-back floated a stunning left-foot shot into the top corner off the upright. That spectacular strike in Cape Town, alongside goals from Wesley Schneider and Arjen Robben, sent the Dutch side through to a final showdown with Spain five days later.
14. Esteban Cambiasso nicks it in 2006 (Argentina 6-0 Serbia & Montenegro)
This goal is important for coaches who’d ever want to teach teamwork. Esteban Cambiasso converted a textbook goal as the Argentinians showcase a masterclass of the passing skills to surge 2–0 up against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. The buildup included a flowing 26-pass move, a back-heel and the best of link-up play.
15. Diego Forlan strike in 2010 (Uruguay 2–3 Germany)
Diego Forlan scored what was arguably the best goal of the 2010 World Cup as Germany pip Uruguay to third place in Port Elizabeth. The Uruguayan was at the end of an Egidio Arevalo cross, smashing an acrobatic effort from the edge of the box into the turf and back up past German second-choice goalie Hans-Jorg Butt. The goal was his fifth of the tournament (same tally as David Villa, Thomas Muller and Wesley Sneijder).
What do you know about the trickery, masterclass, athleticism, and skills that go into World Cup goals? If you think I haven’t mentioned your important World Cup goal in this piece, add them to the comment session below. Most importantly, don’t forget to clap for this write-up.
