WORLD CUP TOP TEN GOALS

No. 10

Game: Italy 3 v 1 West Germany,
World Cup Final, Spain, 1982
Scorer: Marco Tardelli
Description: This is one of the most famous images of the modern World Cup era. Tardelli scored Italy's 2nd with a rasping left foot drive from the edge of
box. It flew past the infamous Schumacher in the German goal, for what became the crucial moment in the Italians eventual victory. Perhaps more famous than the strike itself was Tardellis celebration!

No. 9

Game: Brazil 5 v 2 Swden,
World Cup Final, Sweden, 1958
Scorer: Pele
Description: This was not just a goal of sheer technical brilliance, but it was a also a defining moment in the history of football. Pele had arrived on the world scene as a precocious 17 year old, but the deft flick over the Swedish defender and the right foot volleyed finish from 8 yards, truelly herladed the arrival of a master

No. 8

Game: Argentina 2 v 1 Holland,
World Cup Quarter Final, France, 1998
Scorer: Dennis Bergkamp
Description: After fulfilling a boyhood ambition of winning the English league title the previous season with Arsenal, Bergkamp came into these finals full on confidence. Even he, however, could not have predicted what he has described, as his best ever goal. With the score at 1-1, the game was dying out and extra-time was fast becoming a reality. Argentina were weary after their exploits against England in the previous round. With 1 minute to go, the Dutch defender Frank de Boer launched a long ball high into the Argentine box. At an acute angle, there seemed no danger, but Bergkamp instantly controlled the ball with his right foot, flicked it round the defender and buried it past Argentine keeper, Roa. It was a sublime moment and a demonstration in the art of "first touch"

No. 7

Game: England 2 v 0 Mexico,
World Cup Second Round, England, 1966
Scorer: Bobby Charlton
Description: When Bobby Charlton scored this belter from 30 yards, people really began to believe that hosts England had a realistic chance of wining the tournament. Although Charlton was allowed by the Mexican defence to run fully 20 yards unchallenged, nobody can take away from the finish: a right foot drive that went high to the keepers right. A marvellous goal, encapsulating the dynamism and power of Charlton at his best.

No. 6

Game: Saudi Arabia 1 v 0 Belgium,
World Cup Group Stage, USA, 1994
Scorer: Saeed Owairan
Description: There is not really much to say about this goal, other than Owairan picked the ball up on the edge of his own penalty area, ran the length of the pitch, brilliantly beating several Belgian defenders along the way, and once inside the Belgian penalty are, unleashing a powerful shot that Preud'Homme in goal could do nothing about. An astonishing goal.

No. 5

Game: Scotland 3 v 2 Holland,
World Cup Group Stage, Argentina, 1978
Scorer: Archie Gemmill
Description: The situation facing Scotland in the final group match was clear. To qualify for the second stage, they had to defeat Holand by 2 clear goals. Miraculously, they were leading 2-1, when Gemmill produced this outstanding effort. Receiving the ball on the touchline, he skipped inside, nutmegged a Dutch defender, sidestepped another and lifted the ball over the flailing arm of the keeper. The goal sent a nation into hysteria. However, it was not to last long. Holland scored 2 minutes later, and Scotland, were going home (again).

No. 4

Game: Brazil 4 v 1 Italy,
World Cup Final, Mexico, 1970
Scorer: Pele
Description: The greatest player of all time scored what is probably the greatest headed goal of all time, in this classic perfomance by a sensational Brazillian team. Rivelino lofted a high, left footed cross from the left, and it reached Pele who was 6 or 7 yards out. The height he generated in his leap was beyond belief. The power in the neck muscles to unleash a header of unnerving accuracy into the keepers right hand bottom corner was phenomenal. It was the turing point in the game, as this cancelled out an early Italian lead. It also signalled the beginning of one of the most miraculous team perfomrance of all time.

No. 3

Game: Argentina 2 v 0 Belgium,
World Cup Semi-Final, Mexico, 1986
Scorer: Diego Maradona
Description: This goal was very much similar to his goal in the pevious round against England. Again, another outstanding solo effort, made all the more remarkable by the fact that after he had beaten 4 Belgian defenders and screwed the ball past the goakeeper into the far right hand corner, he managed to keep his balance and not fall into the advertising horadings behind the touchline. This goal summed up the importance of Maradonna to the Argentinians

No. 2

Game: England 1 v 2 Argentina,
World Cup Quarter Final, Mexico, 1986
Scorer: Diego Maradona
Description: He picked up the ball in the centre circle, spun past 2 English players. Then he set off on the run that would crown him as his generation's finest player. Running toward the English box, he gathered an unrelenting pace, shrugging off challenges from Reid, Butcher and Fenwick, before sliding the ball under Shilton. Just 2 minutes before, he had cheated England with the infamous "Hand of God". Now any heavenly aides were truly in his feet. Even BBC commentator Barry Davies had to applaud the genius of it all, by declaring in very downbeat manner: "You have to say that is magnificent"

No. 1

Game: Brazil 4 v 1 Italy,
World Cup Final, Mexico, 1970
Scorer: Carlos Alberto
Description: It is fitting that the greatest World Cup goal of all time, should be scored by the greatest team of al time. Alberto finished off a flowing move that had the Italians stretched all over the Azteca pitch, with a fierce right foot volley. The passing, movement, individual skill and team cohesion of this goal, perfectly summed up the 1970 Brazilian side, and it was apt that this should be their final goal in a tournament that will long be rembered. The ferocity with which Carlos Alberto rammed home the shot, was in touch with the class that oozed from every sinew of those Brazillian players. They had achieved, footballing perfection.