'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Some moments of skill are practised over and over again till they become second nature and players begin to exhibit them on the pitch. However, all moments of genius are not ones that come from the training ground, they’re sheer inventiveness and athletic ability that allow players to gain an upper hand over their opponents.
When Croatia faced Gibraltar in an international friendly, there was one player on the pitch who produced a moment of tremendous awareness and quick reaction. Mateo Kovacic was the quickest to react to a ball over the top into the box despite having slightly run past it.
The resultant backheel to put the ball past the onrushing keeper into the net was a moment of immense quality. The fact that Kovacic was flanked by a couple of Gibraltar defenders made his job that much tougher.
His goal put Croatia 2-0 ahead and the score remained the same till the match ended.
Watch the superb piece of skill:
