The 2014 FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday with Brazil v Croatia. Before the action kicks off be sure to get yourselves in the mood by checking out my favourite goals of the last 20 years of World Cup football, and read my predictions for the competition.
Let me know your expectations by leaving a comment or Tweeting me @adamgray50
The final:
Brazil to beat Argentina in what will hopefully be a thriller.
How far will England get?
We will play decent, but not brilliant football in the group, before stunning Colombia in the second round. A plucky, gallant, typically English quarter final exit to Brazil will then follow.
Surprise package:
Possibly Bosnia-Herzegovina. A quarter final place in their debut World Cup isn't beyond the realms of possibility. I am really looking forward to seeing how Miralem Pjanic gets on at the top level.
Biggest disappointment:
Netherlands. Chile will beat them to the second place in Group B behind Spain. Three defeats at Euro 2012 followed by another failure in Brazil; the final of 2010 seems an awfully long time ago.
Golden Boot:
Neymar.
Most looking forward to:
Hearing the Brazilian national anthem sung before the opening game. It will be something else.
Least looking forward to:
Hearing some England fans no doubt claim the tournament has been a failure if we 'only' reach the last 16.
Wednesday 11 June 2014
Tuesday 10 June 2014
My Favourite World Cup Goals
I have watched football my whole life. The first time I was old enough to remember World Cup football was sadly watching England's infamous failed campaign to qualify for USA 94, the San Marino goal and all. It was immortalised by the terrific An Impossible Job documentary, which I urge you to watch if you haven't seen it. Since then, it has been slightly better for my country, but sadly not much better. Too many missed penalties, and not enough memorable moments (for the right reasons, anyway), but we keep coming back for more.
Ahead of the 2014 tournament in Brazil, I have attempted to compile my 20 favourite World Cup goals of those last 20 years. A few classics, a few forgotten pieces of brilliance, and the first goal I can remember where I was when I saw it, put away by an Irishman. Well, sort of.
These are in chronological order by tournament, but let me know what your favourite is, or maybe even work out the order from 1-20. Maybe I have missed a really obvious goal, or perhaps your favourite isn't on the list. Tweet me @adamgray50 or leave a comment if you agree or disagree with my choices.
USA 94:
Ray Houghton (Republic of Ireland v Italy)
Houghton controls a poor Italian header on the chest, before coolly chipping Gianluca Pagliuca from outside the box.
Gheorghe Hagi (Romania v Colombia)
Was it a cross, or was it a shot? Either way, the left foot effort completely bamboozled Cordoba in the Colombian goal.
Diego Maradona (Argentina v Greece)
This goal is more remembered for the celebration, but the tight ball control and excellent finish in limited space is worth remebering too, even if Maradona left the tournament in disgrace.
Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria v Greece)
The future Everton man takes it past four Greek defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.
Saeed Al-Owairan (Saudi Arabia v Belgium)
The best goal of this World Cup from a man forever remembered in pub quizzes since. His impression of Maradona's second goal against England was just as good, if not better, than the original.
France 98:
Ronaldo (Brazil v Morocco)
The best player in the world at the time will sadly be more remembered for the mysterious events of the day of the final, but prior to that he showed why he was the top striker in the game with this finish.
Michael Owen (England v Argentina)
The 18-year-old announced himself to the world with this run from the halfway line and calm finish. One of England's greatest ever World Cup goals.
Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands v Argentina)
Bergkamp won his country this quarter-final with possibly the finest example of how to control a 60-yard pass and stop it dead, before keeping your head to poke home. Insanely good.
Japan and South Korea 2002:
Dario Rodriguez (Uruguay v Denmark)
Uruguay's corner is only headed away as far as Garcia, who tees up Rodriguez for a spectacular volley.
Edmilson (Brazil v Costa Rica)
A fantastic acrobatic volley, made even better when you consider that Edmilson was a defender, and this was his only goal for the Selecao.
Salif Diao (Senegal v Denmark)
Diao had a game to remember. In between committing the foul for Denmark's penalty and then getting sent off late in the game, he put the finishing touch to one of the great counter attacks.
Germany 2006:
Phillip Lahm (Germany v Costa Rica)
The opening goal of the tournament. Lahm picks the ball up on the left, before cutting inside and finding the top corner with his right foot.
Torsten Frings (Germany v Costa Rica)
Frings is teed up from a free kick, before rifling one in from fully 30 yards.
Joe Cole (England v Sweden)
The ball comes to Cole, who sets himself up on the chest, and volleys it into the corner from distance.
Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina v Mexico)
In Extra Time the game is usually either decided by a mistake or a moment of pure brilliance. You decide which this is.
Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina v Serbia and Montenegro)
Quite simply one of the best team goals of all time.
South Africa 2010:
Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico)
The first goal of the tournament gave the goalkeeper no chance.
Carlos Tevez (Argentina v Mexico)
Tevez takes the ball past two Mexican defenders, and before they have time to recover, it's in the net thanks to a thunderbolt.
Maicon (Brazil v North Korea)
Shades of Roberto Carlos as Maicon finds the North Korea net from close range with the outside of the foot.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Netherlands v Uruguay)
The best goal of the last World Cup. van Bronckhorst picks the ball up nearly 40 yards out, and for some reason thinks it's a good idea to shoot. As Alan Partridge once said, "He must have a foot like a traction engine!"
Lets hope the Brazil World Cup can provide a few more goals to treasure.
Ahead of the 2014 tournament in Brazil, I have attempted to compile my 20 favourite World Cup goals of those last 20 years. A few classics, a few forgotten pieces of brilliance, and the first goal I can remember where I was when I saw it, put away by an Irishman. Well, sort of.
These are in chronological order by tournament, but let me know what your favourite is, or maybe even work out the order from 1-20. Maybe I have missed a really obvious goal, or perhaps your favourite isn't on the list. Tweet me @adamgray50 or leave a comment if you agree or disagree with my choices.
USA 94:
Ray Houghton (Republic of Ireland v Italy)
Houghton controls a poor Italian header on the chest, before coolly chipping Gianluca Pagliuca from outside the box.
Gheorghe Hagi (Romania v Colombia)
Was it a cross, or was it a shot? Either way, the left foot effort completely bamboozled Cordoba in the Colombian goal.
Diego Maradona (Argentina v Greece)
This goal is more remembered for the celebration, but the tight ball control and excellent finish in limited space is worth remebering too, even if Maradona left the tournament in disgrace.
Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria v Greece)
The future Everton man takes it past four Greek defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.
Saeed Al-Owairan (Saudi Arabia v Belgium)
The best goal of this World Cup from a man forever remembered in pub quizzes since. His impression of Maradona's second goal against England was just as good, if not better, than the original.
France 98:
Ronaldo (Brazil v Morocco)
The best player in the world at the time will sadly be more remembered for the mysterious events of the day of the final, but prior to that he showed why he was the top striker in the game with this finish.
Michael Owen (England v Argentina)
The 18-year-old announced himself to the world with this run from the halfway line and calm finish. One of England's greatest ever World Cup goals.
Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands v Argentina)
Bergkamp won his country this quarter-final with possibly the finest example of how to control a 60-yard pass and stop it dead, before keeping your head to poke home. Insanely good.
Japan and South Korea 2002:
Dario Rodriguez (Uruguay v Denmark)
Uruguay's corner is only headed away as far as Garcia, who tees up Rodriguez for a spectacular volley.
Edmilson (Brazil v Costa Rica)
A fantastic acrobatic volley, made even better when you consider that Edmilson was a defender, and this was his only goal for the Selecao.
Salif Diao (Senegal v Denmark)
Diao had a game to remember. In between committing the foul for Denmark's penalty and then getting sent off late in the game, he put the finishing touch to one of the great counter attacks.
Germany 2006:
Phillip Lahm (Germany v Costa Rica)
The opening goal of the tournament. Lahm picks the ball up on the left, before cutting inside and finding the top corner with his right foot.
Torsten Frings (Germany v Costa Rica)
Frings is teed up from a free kick, before rifling one in from fully 30 yards.
Joe Cole (England v Sweden)
The ball comes to Cole, who sets himself up on the chest, and volleys it into the corner from distance.
Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina v Mexico)
In Extra Time the game is usually either decided by a mistake or a moment of pure brilliance. You decide which this is.
Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina v Serbia and Montenegro)
Quite simply one of the best team goals of all time.
South Africa 2010:
Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico)
The first goal of the tournament gave the goalkeeper no chance.
Carlos Tevez (Argentina v Mexico)
Tevez takes the ball past two Mexican defenders, and before they have time to recover, it's in the net thanks to a thunderbolt.
Maicon (Brazil v North Korea)
Shades of Roberto Carlos as Maicon finds the North Korea net from close range with the outside of the foot.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Netherlands v Uruguay)
The best goal of the last World Cup. van Bronckhorst picks the ball up nearly 40 yards out, and for some reason thinks it's a good idea to shoot. As Alan Partridge once said, "He must have a foot like a traction engine!"
Lets hope the Brazil World Cup can provide a few more goals to treasure.
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