Shaqiri's overhead goal draws similarities with goals of yore
June 25, 2016 23:47 IST
IMAGE: Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland scores his team's first goal against Poland on Saturday. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri astonishing equalising goal against Poland in their Euro 2016 last-16 match brought back memories of great goals of the past from club and international football.
The diminutive playmaker, who described his goal as beautiful, leapt into the air to meet the ball at about head height with his back to goal and sent his shot over his shoulder into the far corner, leaving the stadium stunned.
His 82nd minute goal, which cancelled out Jakub Blaszczykowski's first-half goal and forced extra time, immediately started comparisons with others of a similar style.
It was reminiscent of a strike by Rivaldo for Barcelona against Valencia when the Brazilian controlled a pass on his chest with his back to goal and volleyed the ball over his head into the net.
A similar goal was scored in less glamorous surroundings by Trevor Sinclair for Queens Park Rangers against Barnsley when he volleyed home a cross despite having his back to goal.
Shaqiri, who scored a hat-trick against Honduras at the World Cup two years ago, had struggled to make an impact in France until that moment, showing only flashes of his talent.
In fact, he had tried a similar effort in the 1-1 draw against Romania but made a real hash of it, sending his shot high and wide.
But his goal proved to be in vain as the match finished 1-1 after extra time and Poland won 5-4 in the shootout after an awful miss by Granit Xhaka with Switzerland's second penalty