Wonderful strike, yes, and the French offense looks like it's getting on track ... but the defense ...
Argentina this year were a crate of unmatched parts thrown together -- a car engine here, bicycle handlebars there, motorcycle sidecar, pieces unidentifiable. Some were of the highest quality, some distinctly pedestrian, some well past their sell-by and fit for the knackers. And still France shipped 3 against this side.
Get it together, Les Bleus. This is a stylish, entertaining team to watch on attack, especially Mbappe, and I'd like to see them lift the Cup. But that defense has got to tighten up.
6
Things happen...….the ball is round. It will go mostly where and how it was hit (on its surface), the location of the hit, skill of the shooter, circumstances of all the other players on the field. What makes a great strike is the urgency of the moment and a precise strike necessary to score. For most of the 22 players on the field it rarely happens. But when it does, we crown the scorer famous or not. And that is one aspect of the beautiful game that the entire world can appreciate and love. Celebrate one, at the moment of success - the other 21 players , they all had something to do with it too.
The beautiful game is beautiful because it ends after 90 minutes, give or take a few minutes.....
that leaves us enough time to linger, imagine, love, despair and look forward to the next 90 minutes and what it may bring.
4
Agreed on the analysis - particularly with one-touch hits on a pass (though Zidane's Euros volley on a Roberto Carlos pass is a tough one to argue against). Not to take away the specialness of Pavard's goal (gorgeous strike), Mbeppe was clearly the impressive and skillful Le Bleu on the field. His 60 yard sprint was a special moment of raw speed and skill. Messi's touches were something special and I'd put it in the top 3 though I'm not sure it can be called the clear winner. Cavani's cross field give and go header with Suarez against Portugal; Ronaldo's hat trick free kick against Spain to draw in the last minutes; Roos' free kick against Sweden in the last seconds of the game...there are a number of phenomenal goals this tournament. Sure, they are a different type of control and placement but nonetheless, you wouldn't bet against any of those three not being able to do it again. It's high quality expected and delivered from and by them all - Messi included.
3
July 5, 2015
The sport of interpretation in great moments like herewith is worth all for believing in the sportsmen's surprise talent and more so - just train for the unexpected and take the opportunities for legends
4
I'll never understand why people consider these long-distance strikes to be a goal-of-the-tournament contender. Usually, the shooter is as surprised as anyone that it actually went in. The other 99% of the time, the shot skies way over the crossbar or dribbles weakly to the keeper and the shooter's teammates mutter something about selfishness as everyone trudges back the other way.
The goal of the tournament is Messi's against Nigeria. Controlling a 40 yard pass with his thigh and then a sublime second touch off his foot to get it into space and then shooting with his weaker right foot while running at full speed -- incredible and fully intentional.
12
Bruce, you answered your own point: "The other 99% of the time [the shot misses]"! And Pavard's shot was as clearly intentional as Messi's - only Pavard did it with one brilliant, balletic blast, from much further away, and with a perfect arcing spin that brought the shot back to its intended target.
Magnifique!!
15
Vive Les Bleus!
10
Only in sports do moments of pure elation ring the most true, and have the most unifying power.
8
With Germany out and the U.S. never in, then, long live France, the hope of mankind's future (since the U.S. has abdicated). Long live the European Union!
31
The Nacho goal was also one of the best strikes of the tourney
4
This was an riveting game, played with elan on both sides of the ball. They were all in, holding nothing back. Magnificent! The joy of the younger players infused the play and brought it to another level.
10
Fantastic goal ! Hope his parents are in the stadium for the next match.
20
That shot by Pavard was a serious display of concentration and skill. You see many players now who can "bend it like Beckham", typically an outside in swing that hooks wickedly. But this was something different, it was taken out of the air, and struck with a downward/sideways kick. But as good as Pavard is, if he kicked that same ball from the same spot 9 more times, he would probably not score. Especially if you consider that he tucked it just inside the far post, and just outside the reach of the keeper.
He capitalized on his chance, and you have to give him credit just for taking the shot. This goal is definitely a candidate for goal of the tournament.
42
A score! Just pure excitement for over 90 minutes...and a goal was scored! Wow!
5
Actually I have to take my comment back. I didn't actually read the story before posting my first comment, but now I see the final score was 4-3. In all seriousness, this truly is a shocking game. There were enough goals scored for 7-10 games. 4-3! I've never even heard of a soccer score that high. What happened to 1-0, or better yet, 0-0 with a shootout?
2
Maybe you also should look at previous scores in this tournament before commenting. And anyone with even a passing acquaintance with football could tell you that there were 8 goals in a famous semi final in the last World Cup. From your knowledgeable perspective, enough for a dozen games. Go read about it.
3
Joe, The FIFA World Cup goals scored per game, from 1930 to 2014, is roughly 3.1 goals per game during said period of 20 World Cups. (Source: FIFA)
I hate to be Scrooge but if truth be told, it was an amazing goal but it was half-accidental.
That may be, but Pavard's instincts "kicked"in to direct the ball precisely to where the Argentine goal minder couldn't reach it.
25
I suppose the phrase “Who’s laughing now?!” fits here rather nicely.
2
When you hear stories like this, it's heartwarming to know that hard work and determination actually do pay off.
It's also easy to see why the US will never win a World Cup. Contrast Pavard's journey with our pay to play youth club system and you can see why we don't even qualify for the cup.
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