2014 FIFA World Cup: Ranking the Top Goals of the Brazil Tournament So Far (Watch)
There's been so many great goals scored so far during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Crucial goals that determine the game in penalty kicks and extra time that eliminate a country are the biggest goals. Some of these goals will be remembered forever, some in great memory, but others in infamy.
Here are the five biggest goals scored so far during the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
6. James Rodriguez Sends Colombia to the Quarterfinals in Front of 75,000
Colombia and Uruguay faced off in Rio de Janeiro in front of 75,000 screaming fans at the Estadio do Maracana. With Colombia leading just 1-0 for the first 49 minutes because of a James Rodriguez goal, the 22-year-old struck again. Rodriguez scored making the game 2-0 in what felt like a game-winning goal for Colombia and a backbreaker for Uruguay. There's no doubt about it Rodriguez has been the breakout player of this year's World Cup
5. Georgios Samaras Sends Greece to Their First Knockout Round
What a huge goal this was.
You could argue it was the greatest goal in Greek World Cup history. Greece and Ivory Coast were tied up 1-1 in a "win or go home" Group C game. Georgios Samaras had already scored the first goal, and in extra time, he would strike again. In the 93rd minute, Samaras scored on a penalty kick, and Ivory Coast couldn't answer, giving Greece a 2-1 victory. For the first time ever, Greece fans got to watch their team play in the knockout round.
4. Bryan Ruiz Scores Only Goal Against Italy
For the second consecutive World Cup, Italy failed to advance past group play. A big reason was due to the 1-0 loss to Costa Rica on June 20. Bryan Ruiz lit the lamp in the 44th minute, sending the Italian Team to a 1-2 record. Costa Rica on the other hand would win Group D over Uruguay by just one point. Ruiz's goal had huge implications.
3. The Flying Dutchman Stuns Spain
This was probably the most entertaining goal of the 2014 World Cup. Spain had a 1-0 lead, but that would soon evaporate after the best header of the tournament. Robin van Persie scored on a leaping head shot off a deep pass from Daley Blind. After that goal, Spain was unable to respond, falling 5-1 to the Netherlands. Spain's loss was one of the worst opening game performances by a defending champion.
2. Neymar's Shootout Kick Lifts Brazil Over Chile
You just knew this was going to be a good game with a great finish.
Brazil and Chile were deadlocked for the majority of the game, and with neither team scoring in extras, we headed to a shootout. Both Chile and Brazil scored on their first two of four shot attempts. Brazil's fifth shooter was Neymar Santos Jr., and he buried it in the lower left corner against Chilean goalie Claudio Bravo en route to a 3-2 shootout win for Brazil. This is the fourth time Brazil has eliminated Chile from World Cup play.
1. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Eliminates Mexico
Mexican soccer fans are really dedicated. This is the sixth consecutive World Cup that Mexico has lost in the Round of 16, and this one couldn't have ended in bigger disappointment.
Mexico led for most of the game against the highest scoring team in the tournament, the Netherlands. But a goal in the 88th minute send the knockout contest to extra time. Just four minutes in, a controversial tripping penalty occurred, rewarding the Netherlands' Klaas Jan Huntelaar with a penalty kick. He took full advantage, scoring the third and final goal of the game, giving the Netherlands a 2-1 win over Mexico.
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