DC Soccer Opinions: Best Match
June 16, 2006
Argentina x Serbia and Montenegro
Gelsenkirchen, Germany
- By Joseph Schoenbauer
There’s no doubt in my mind that the best game of the World Cup was the first-round game between Argentina and Serbia & Montenegro. Believe it or not, Serbia & Montenegro came into the tournament with one of the best defensive records in qualifying, having only given up one goal in Europe despite being in a group with the likes of Spain. It was clear from the beginning that Argentina would not let this fact deter them from attacking. 90 minutes and 6 goals later, Argentina had given us one of the most complete games in World Cup history. On top of that they gave us one of the best ever goals in World cup history, and 3 others that were in the top 10 goals in the 2006 World Cup.
Esteban Cambiasso’s goal in the minute 31 of the first half was most definitely the best goal I have ever seen in a live World Cup match. Had it occurred in the knockout stages, or against a media-crazy country like England, I believe it would currently be touted as one of the best ever goals in the World Cup. I would even place it in the same category as fellow countrymen Diego Maradona’s second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, widely acknowledged as the best goal in the history of the World Cup. The goal consisted of 24 beautiful passes in a row, back heels, give and go’s, and a spectacular finish. It was so beautiful people must have been weeping together around the world.
Only minutes into the first half, Argentina’s Maxi produced arguably the second best goal in the World Cup, a goal in which Argentina produced another double-digit amount of passes, including a brilliant heel flick from Juan Pablo Sorin and a great final pass from Saviola for Maxi to blast home.
Despite these two brilliant goals in the first half, and a second from Maxi after more great work from Saviola, the game almost managed to get better in the second half. 3 more goals were scored in the second half, including another “Top 10 goals of the tournament” goal from Carlitos “El Apache” Tevez, which began with a nutmeg, followed with a slight tackle and cut to his right, before a skillful finish to the lower right-hand corner of the net.
Desperate to finally get in on the fun, Lionel Messi came on for the final 18 minutes to perform more brilliance, including a perfectly-made assist to Hernan Crespo, and a brilliant goal which followed more great work between Carlitos and Crespo before Messi put the ball through the keeper’s sliding legs.
The game also produced four of the best nutmegs of the tournament, with Sorin, Riquelme, Saviola and Tevez all getting in on the act. Votes went out for Saviola’s that led to a brilliant Crespo goal that was called back for offside and to Juan Pablo Sorin for the use of the sole of the foot, but the final vote went to Tevez, for his led to his golaso.
What made the game even better were Argentina’s long stretches of possession. While Maxi’s goal began with double-digit passes, which was followed by Cambiasso’s goal that began with 24 consecutive passes, there were other feats of skill that included spells of possession approaching 50 consecutive passes at a time. It was happiness personified, and not just for the bouncing Diego Maradona in the crowd or Argentineans around the world, but for any futbol fan lucky enough to bear witness. Even the most hardcore Serbian fans must have been applauding, if not out loud, than at least in their heads.