Football: five legendary goals
I've selected five goals that show how football can entertain like few other sports...
I've selected five goals that show how football can entertain like few other sports, though there are many more I could have chosen. Leave a comment if you'd like me to draw up another list of memorable goals!
Dennis bergkamp (arsenal) v newcastle (2002)
Receiving a pass from Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp flicked the ball with his left foot, sending it spinning past his marker one way, while he spun round him the other way. As the ball ran back into his path and the defender floundered, the Dutchman latched on to it and stroked it into the bottom corner with his right foot. Two sublime touches, one masterpiece of a goal. Arsenal went on to win the title that year.
Thierry henry (arsenal) v manchester united (2000)
Another wonder goal. Positioned just outside the box, on the right-hand side, Henry received the ball with his back to the goal and a defender tight behind him. Flicking the ball up first time with his right, he turned and volleyed it with the same foot, sending the ball high over Fabien Barthez and into the top left-hand corner of the net. Arsenal's leading all-time scorer, Henry' scored few better goals than this.
Zinedine zidane (real madrid) v bayer leverkusen (2002)
This peach of a left-foot volley has gone down in football history. Looking for his first Champions League title, Zidane showed his determination to get his hands on the trophy. Stationed on the edge of the box as Roberto Carlos' looping cross fell to him, he conjured up a magical volley that went fizzing into the top corner. The goal put his side 2-1 up, 2-1
Diego maradona (argentina) v england (1986)
This was the kind of goal you see in video games. Picking the ball up in his own half, Maradona dribbled past half the England team, took the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton and slid it into the back of the net. The little Argentinian built his legend on goals like this.
Roberto carlos (brazil) v france (1997)
One of the most amazing free-kicks of all time. It came when Brazil were awarded a free-kick 35 yards out. Roberto Carlos stepped up to take it. The full-back struck the ball with the outside of his left foot, conjuring up a banana kick that swerved past the French wall before curling back inside the post. Poor Fabien Barthez had no chance.
