One-goal wonders of world football

Fabio Grosso

It was the semifinals of the World Cup 2006, with the game stretched all the way into extra time. Germany and Italy are not the teams you would expect to throw cautions to the wind and attack with their might. So, it all seemed destined for a penalty shootout till Fabio Grosso came to the scene with two minutes left on the clock. The left back set the ball rolling and hit a peach of a shot that the German keeper Lehmann had no answers to. It was distraught for the hosts who later conceded on the break, del Piero scoring a sucker punch. Italy were on cloud nine after the final whistle but it was redemption for the Italian left back. After being criticized for his last gasp dive earlier against the Socceroos that sent Australia out of the World Cup this was the perfect leveler. Eventually he had the privilege of scoring the World Cup winning penalty, which he did with ease.

NOTABLE MENTION

Vladmir Smicer

This Czech midfielder is perhaps not remembered anymore, but the Anfield faithful will surely remember him. It was that night in Istanbul that every one of them remembers. Liverpool trailing 3-0 and down and out (personally I’d switched off the television set). It was the revival that we all dreamt of, Stevie G with a goal in the second half and it was Smicer who added the second and gave momentum to the Liverpool onslaught and converted his penalty in the shootout .The irony is that he was going to quit the club after the match for not having his chances under Rafa, and had already signed with Bordeaux, plus the fact that he came on the pitch only because of an injury to Harry Kewell. Surely a fairytale end to his stay at Merseyside, a great parting gift, and his only claim to fame in a Liverpool jersey.