HOLLAND’ WITHOUT WEGHORST (VS ARGENTINA 2022)
Wout Weghorst scored two dramatic late goals against Argentina on Friday, the second from a fantastically inventive free-kick in the 11th minute of stoppage time, as the Netherlands fought back with seven minutes of regulation time remaining to force extra time. It was cleverly crafted, with Teun Koopmeiners feigning to deflect a free kick into the box only to play short and fool the Argentine defence. Weghorst took a touch, held off his marker and scored a finish on the stretch.
OF SWEDEN TOMAS BROLINO (AGAINST ROMANIA 1994)
Sweden had a successful tournament at USA ’94, finishing third. And striker Tomas Brolin produced one of the highlights. After qualifying from a group that also included Brazil, Sweden beat Saudi Arabia in the round of 16. There, Brolin finished off a well-crafted free-kick in a 2-2 draw with Romania. Sweden eventually won on penalties, but were beaten by Brazil in the semi-finals.
OF ARGENTINA JAVIER ZANETTI (AGAINST ENGLAND, 1998)
David Seaman expected a thunderbolt from Gabriel Batistuta as England faced Argentina for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1998. But as Batistuta ran in, Juan Sebastian Veron made a pass into the box, where Javier Zanetti appeared from behind the wall to shoot past Seaman. England had been taken aback by the perfectly planned routine.
BULGARIA DINKO DERMENDZHIEV (VS PERU, 1970)
In the first match of the group stage (13′), just outside the area, a little to the right of the goalkeeper, Dermendzhiev sprints to the left, going around a wall of four defenders. Another Bulgarian came up from the right, received the pass from a free-kick and pushed it back behind the wall, on Dermendzhiev’s foot, who scored home.
RONALDINHO OF BRAZIL (VS ENG, 2002)
It’s been debated ever since Ronaldinho, more than 35 meters away and wide on the right, spun a free-kick over a struggling and unprepared David Seaman in 2002: was it supposed to be a pass? The Brazilian says he scored. England obviously disagrees. The displaced England goalkeeper could only watch as the ball curled into the top left corner.
