FIFA World Cup Trophy © Warrenski; Image used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareALike 2.0 Generic Licence. Source of the Image and other examples of Warrenski’s photo can be found here.
As this year’s tournament gets even closer, it is time fill your appetite with some more underrated FIFA World Cup goals.
In case you missed it, you can read Part 1 here.
1. Khairi’s Cracker – 1986 FIFA World Cup, Group F
The 1986 tournament saw Mexico become the first country to host two FIFA World Cups, whilst in Group F, Poland, Portugal, Morocco and England all had a chance of advancing to the knockout stages heading into the final game.
Morocco faced Portugal, knowing not a win would secure their spot in the next round but would also make them the first African side to do so.
They made a fantastic start and after 18 minutes, Adberrazak Khairi picked up possession on the edge of the box after a defensive error and drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give them the lead.
Khairi’s second goal eight minutes later was even more impressive, running into the box to latch onto the end of Labid Khalifa’s swerving cross and placed a powerful shot past the keeper to double their lead.
The Lions of the Atlas went on win the game 3-1 and topped the group, which setup a second round tie with West Germany.
The game was closely contested, with Lothar Matthaus’s effort late on was enough to give the Germans victory.
2. Giannini the Genie – 1990 FIFA World Cup, Group A
The 1990 edition saw the football world turn its attention to Italy, with the host squad featuring many famous names such as Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Baggio amongst others.
Following a 1-0 win over Austria in their first game, the Azzurri returned to Rome to face the United States in the Stadio Olimpico.
The game resulted in another 1-0 for the Italians courtesy of a masterpiece.
The play starts with Italy passing the ball patiently as they waited for an opening and saw Roberto Donadoni flick the ball towards Gianluca Vialli, who was on the edge of the box.
Vialli then ran out to seemingly receive the pass, only to pull off a dummy, which subsequently allowed Giuseppe Giannini to skip past the American defence and coolly finish to give Italy the win.
Italy would go far in the tournament, losing to Argentina 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Semi-Finals, before going on to beat England 2-1 in the third place play off.
3. Scifo’s Screamer – 1990 FIFA World Cup, Group E
Three days later, Belgium played Uruguay in their second game of the competition, having beaten South Korea 2-0.
The South Americans on the other hand were held to a 0-0 draw and needed a win to keep control of their destiny for their final game.
Belgium took the lead via Lei Clijsters after 14 minutes and slowly began to dominate possession.
With the Red Devils patiently knocking the ball out the Uruguayan box, a pass eventually finds it way to Enzo Scifo.
From around 30 yards out, Scifo unleashed a right-footed thunderbolt to leave goalkeeper Fernando Álvez helpless and double Belgium’s advantage.
Belgium would go on to face England in the Last 16, with David Platt’s goal in extra-time enough to separate the two sides.
4. Clinical Klinsmann – 1994 FIFA World Cup, Group C
In 1994, defending champions Germany faced a highly spirited South Korean in the final group game, who had scored two late goals against Spain to earn themselves a valuable point in a 2-2 draw.
The Germans knew that a loss coinciding with a Spanish victory over Bolivia would see them crash out.
Early on in the game, Thomas Haβler made the run forward down the right flank and found Jürgen Klinsmann free in the penalty area.
With two defenders desperately closing him down, Klinsmann coolly flicked the ball up with his right foot before volleying the ball into the net with his left.
Die Mannschaft comfortably led 3-0 at half time thanks to further goals from Karl-Heinz Riedle and Klinsmann.
However, two goals in the second half from Hwang Sun-Hong and Hong Myung-Bo allowed South Korea to dream of another heroic comeback, but to avail.
Subsequently, Germany topped the group with Spain’s 3-1 defeat of Bolivia enough to see them finish in second.
After narrowly beating Belgium 3-2 in the first knockout phase, they crossed paths with a Bulgaria side led by arguably the best player the country has ever produced…
5. Hristo the Hero – 1994 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final
Before the 1994 contest, Bulgaria had never won a game in the World Cup finals and that trend looked set to continue after a 3-0 loss to Nigeria in their opening match.
However, Bulgaria went on to win in their remaining groups games with Greece and Argentina respectively before going on beat Mexico on penalties in the Last 16 after 1-1 draw after extra-time.
One of the stand out players for The Lions that year was Hristo Stoichkov, who had just won his fourth consecutive La Liga title with FC Barcelona and had scored four times as Bulgaria established themselves as one of the tournament’s dark horses.
After a goalless first half, Lothar Matthaüs converted an early second half penalty to give Germany a 1-0 cushion.
Bulgaria refused to give in and with 15 minutes remaining, they were awarded with a free kick and Stoichkov lined up to take it.
Stoichkov then proceeded to bend the ball over the six-man wall and guide it past the near post and score a wonderful goal, leaving Bodo Illgner in awe.
It only took Bulgaria a further three minutes to take the lead, with Yordan Lecthkov’s effort being the difference between the two sides at the final whistle.
Bulgaria lost their Semi-Final clash with Italy 2-1, whilst Stoichkov went on write his name in World Cup folklore, as he finished the tournament as joint top scorer with six goals and was awarded the Ballon d’Or at the end of the year.
6. Anderton Astounds Colombia- 1998 FIFA World Cup, Group G
For England, the 1998 edition will always be associated with their infamous tie against Argentina in the Last 16.
This saw Michael Owen announce himself to the world with a wonderful solo goal, before David Beckham got sent off after retaliating to Diego Simeone’s challenge and Glenn Hoddle’s side crashed out on penalties.
Before this, England played Colombia and needed a victory to go through.
With 20 minutes gone, Owen picked up possession on the right wing after Colombian defender Luis Antonio Moreno slipped and sent a cross into the box towards Paul Scholes.
The ball was initially headed away by Jorge Bermúdez, only for it to fall in front of Darren Anderton, who thumped the ball into the roof of the net.
Beckham went to scored England’s second of the match and secure the three points, which would then setup the aforementioned clash with Argentina.
7. Zenden’s Zenith – 1998 FIFA World Cup, 3rd Place Play-Off
Undoubtedly, he highlight of the 1998 competition for the Dutch came in the form of Dennis Bergkamp’s last minute winner against Argentina in the Quarter-Final, which famously caused Dutch commentator Jack van Gelder to lose his mind.
This saw the Flying Dutchmen to go toe-to-toe with Brazil in the Semis, and after a 1-1 draw after extra-time, they lost 4-2 on penalties.
This left the Netherlands to take on Croatia in the third place play-off and saw The Blazers lead courtesy of Robert Prosinecki’s goal after 14 minutes.
Boudewijn Zenden had broken into the side for the Semi-Final and kept his spot in the starting line-up against and went on to score one of the goals of the tournament.
Having received possession just inside the opposition’s half, Zenden began to dribble forward but struggled to shake off Croatian defender Robert Jarni.
As he reached the outside of the penalty area, Zenden darted to his left to create enough space before striking the ball, causing it to swerve away from Drazen Ladic and into the goal.
The game would end in a 2-1 defeat for the Dutch, with Davor Suker’s goal proved to be the decisive factor.
8. Forlan’s Finesse – 2002 FIFA World Cup, Group A
In 2002, Group A produced many shocks with the highly rated France and Uruguay on the verge of going out at the expense of Denmark and debutants Senegal.
In their final group game, Uruguay needed to win against Senegal to stand a chance of progressing and they got off to the worse start possible, going into the break 3-0 down.
However, La Celeste started the second half much brighter with substitute Richard Morales getting them off the mark.
Uruguay continued to push, and on the 69th minute they won a free kick the Senegalese box.
Álvaro Reboca sent in the cross, only for the defence to clear their lines.
The ball then flies towards Diego Forlan, who chested the ball before executing a dipping volley into the far bottom corner and score Uruguay’s second.
Reboca went on to equalise from the penalty spot but it wasn’t enough and Uruguay were out of the tournament.
9. Fabulous Fabio – 2010 FIFA World Cup, Group F
Following two consecutive draws against Paraguay and New Zealand, the reigning champions Italy needed to beat a Slovakia team who were making their first appearance in the World Cup Finals.
As the game entered stoppage time, Italy were 3-1 down and there was no sign of them scoring.
Daniele de Rossi attempted to shoot from distance and had his effort blocked, but was able to recover possession onto Fabio Quagliarella.
Quagliarella then calmly lobbed the ball over Ján Mucha and into an empty to give the Azzurri a glimmer of hope, but it was not to be.
Slovakia managed to hold on and win 3-2, consequently resulting in Italy’s early departure.
10. Tevez’s Trailblazer – 2010 FIFA World Cup, Last 16
As just four years prior, Argentina and Mexico crossed paths during the Last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Under the guidance of the legendary, yet controversial Diego Maradona, Argentina were proving to be the superior side, leading 2-0 at half time thanks to goals from Gonzalo Higuaín and Carlos Tevez.
Early in the second period, Tevez received the ball on the edge of the Mexican penalty area and attempted a through ball to team-mate Ángel Di María which was blocked by the defence.
However, the ball ricocheted to the right, gifting Tevez with enough space to blast the ball first time into the goal and sent Argentina well on their way to the Quarter-Finals.
Once again, Argentina suffered heartbreak at the hands of the Germans, losing 4-0 in Cape Town.
The Hybrid Blog 