James Rodriguez's opening goal for Colombia in the 2-0 win over Uruguay: discuss. (Watch it on Fifa's website here)
Was it the best goal of the tournament or even one of the greatest in the history of World Cups?
At the least, his strike said: “You might not have heard of me before, but you will never be able to overlook me now.”
It was the coming-of-age strike of a superstar.
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But was it really that special? Neat chest control and a sweet volley, granted. But lots of players can do that.
Maybe it was the fact he had done it on such a starry stage. The last 16 of a World Cup, at the Maracana, for a bravura team quickly establishing themselves as the neutral fans’ favourite, against some farcical villains who are also their continental rivals.
Or maybe it was something else, something more superficial. It went in off the underside of the crossbar, and a goal never looks as good any other way.
Here are five more famous goals that pulled the same trick.
1 Geoff Hurst, England v West Germany, World Cup final, 1966
The Russian linesman. Kenneth Wolstenholme. Those people on the pitch, who thought it was all over.
Would any of them be as synonymous with World Cup lore if Geoff Hurst had shot a few inches lower against West Germany in the 1966 final?
The crossbar Hurst struck, en route to being awarded arguably the most famous goal in the competition’s history, is still exhibited at a Wembley Stadium restaurant.
A full 48 years and a complete reconstruction later, and one of the most treasured items at the home of English football is a wooden relic. Which is much like some of their present-day defenders, some might say.
2 Tony Yeboah, Leeds United v Liverpool, English Premier League, 1995
For football fans of a certain generation, belting one in off the underside is known simply as a “Yeboah”.
It is more emotive when it is said out loud, rather than written down. It is delivered with a rising intonation, starting with a “Ye-”, which sounds like “Yeah, you are not really going to try one from there, are you? Stop wasting our time.”
That segues into “-bo-” which is suddenly pregnant with possibilities, saying: “He has, you know. It couldn’t possibly ... could it?”
Before rounding off with an “-ah” which is a fervid, rabid, entirely lost control of all sense, this-is-what-delirium-feels-like “AAH”.
It is followed by all your mates wildly pursuing you around the field, lionising a strike the like of which they have never seen before in person.
Which may, or may not, have happened. You get a bonus point if you were shouting “Yeboah” as you connected with the volley.
Which all has its roots in the wonder goal by the man of the same name, Tony Yeboah, for Leeds United against Liverpool at the start of the 1995 Premier League season.
3 Tony Yeboah, Leeds United v Wimbledon, English Premier League, 1995
As above. Just with a bit of chest control to start with, a powerful run past a defender, then smashed in on the half-volley. So firmly that it actually hit the same bit of crossbar twice. Bosh.
We can only hope he was screaming “Ye-bo-AAH” as he connected.
4 Zinedine Zidane, France v Italy, World Cup final, 2006
Lucky to make this list on account of the fact it was a dainty Panenka, rather than a full-blooded, full-bodied lash.
But this is Zizou, and even if he did stroke his seventh-minute spot kick in the 2006 final softly, he still managed to hit the crossbar twice in one shot. That is a prerequisite of many a great in-off-the-underside effort.
This was the perfect penalty and the confidence with which it was delivered spoke of a footballing deity who had his emotions entirely in check. He could never be phased by anything. Ever.
5 Tim Cahill, Australia v Netherlands, World Cup Group B, 2014
Rodriguez’s wonder strike against Uruguay won him a legion of new admirers, not least the opposition coach, Oscar Tabarez.
“I believe from what I’ve seen he’s the best player in the World Cup,” Tabarez said after the game. “I’m not exaggerating.”
Yet, for all its excellence, it probably was not even the best goal in a tournament littered with choice.
Tim Cahill can probably just about still lay claim to that, for the snap volley he rifled in against the Netherlands for Australia in the pool phase.
pradley@thenational.ae
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