One-goal wonders of world football

CARLES PUYOL

We all saw this summer how big a player Puyol is. He was ever so sturdy at the back, but what we all remember is that semifinal. Playing against the best team of the tournament, the Germans, Spain seemed to have found their road block. It was Puyol who created history by thudding in the header for Spain, the only goal in the game, and worthy enough to win them the semifinals and reach the finals for first time. The game was Spain’s throughout, but the young Germans were far more resilient than expected and stuck to defending against the Spanish tiki-taka. It was Puyol who led his side to the final and that too in a not too Spanish style – a set play. His first and perhaps the last World Cup goal for Spain.