Top 10 goals in Group Phase

June 29, 2018 by
top 10 goals

Photo credit: John Perry

With the Group Phase coming to an end Thursday, let’s look back at some of the most breathtaking golazos we’ve witnessed so far at the 2018 World Cup.

Here’s our list of the top 10 goals based on the criteria of sheer magnificence, degree of difficulty and importance. Excellent service and/or a remarkable buildup are also considered. All videos are courtesy of FOX Sports.

10. Paulinho makes an off-the-ball run straight up the gut, then delicately flicks the ball over Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic for Brazil’s first goal in a 2-0 triumph — a match Brazil needed a result in. Slight edge to this one over teammate Philippe Coutinho’s bender against Switzerland simply because you don’t see goals like this too often. Plus, Coutinho already gets his props on this list by assisting on the gorgeous ball into Paulinho.

9. Belgium’s Adnan Januzaj gives Danny Rose the sauce before bending a beauty of a left-footer top shelf for the only goal of the game in a win over England. Had the match had any real meaning, this strike might’ve made the top five.

8. In the opening match of the World Cup, Denis Cheryshev shows off his sublime finishing ability by darting into the box and ripping an outside-of-the-boot stunner in host Russia’s 5-nil downing of Saudi Arabia. Cheryshev completed his brace in style with this one, and his first was ridiculous as well.

7. Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa controls a difficult ball out of the air and absolutely rifles a volley into the back of the net in his team’s 2-0 takedown of Iceland. Musa’s technique on this stunner is a joy to behold, plus he recorded a brace.

6. Some bloke named Cristiano Ronaldo is good at these things called free kicks in soccer. Just watch. The goal earns Portugal a 3-3 draw with Spain in the most edge-of-your-seat match of the entire Group Phase. He gets additional brownie points for completing a hat trick with this one, of course.

5. Nacho Fernandez redeems himself after conceding a penalty with an absolute screamer of a volley from outside the box in Spain’s 3-3 draw with Portugal. Jesus Christ.

4. Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma hits a shot about as perfectly as is humanly possible from outside the box, which ends up salvaging a 1-1 draw with Iran. This one is pretty much a carbon copy of Cheryshev’s, only with the opposite foot, a little more swerve and from farther out. Take a bow, Quaresma.

3. Marcos Rojo bangs in a volley with the inside of his foot in the 86th minute to give Argentina a 2-1 victory and, more importantly, an improbable spot in the Round of 16. Off the charts on the importance scale.

2. Down a man and in a must-win situation, Toni Kroos curls in an indirect free kick at the death to lift Germany to 2-1 win over Sweden. Germany later flames out of the Group Phase in epic fashion, but this goal brings hope to the hopeless at the time.

1. Lionel Messi brings the ball down with two perfect touches while in full stride and puts a desperate Argentina side on the board first against Nigeria. Extra marks because it’s Leo fucking Messi and he makes it look easy. Also, that ball over the top by Ever Banega tho…

Do you agree or disgree? Let us know us which goals we’re missing and which ones we should’ve left off our list in the comments below.

Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.

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