I tried to watch every goal of the World Cup that I could, if not live at least the highlights. In case you missed one, here's a supercut of all 136 group stage goals.
This year's tournament has been fantastic. United States success aside, the games have been high scoring, we've had great goals from Messi, not that many ties, plenty of surprises. It's been a joy.
Coming into it, I already was a fan of the USMNT. And I also like Argentina, both for Messi and I really enjoyed my time there (plus their uniforms are snazzy).
Some other teams have impressed me.
First, the Netherlands for their dismantling the reigning world champions. Just watch. After giving up a questionable penalty early, van Persie scoring a diving header that was the early goal of the tournament. Also, van Persie is really fun to say in a soccer announcer voice. Then Robben showed world-class touch and finish. After another Dutch goal, it was van Persie who scored again by picking the ball off the goalie and Robben's turn again to show speed and then control. Those are beautiful goals.
Then, Switzerland. In their first game against Ecuador it was 1-1 in the 92nd minute in a 93 minute game. Ecuador had the ball in the box. And Behrami on the Swiss team makes a slide tackle in the box, dribbles it out is knocked to the ground but without a whistle, so he gets up and continues dribbling. He passes it to Seferović who swings it wide and then is on the receiving end of a low cross. It's an end-to-end goal to win the game in stoppage time. Watch at the :42 mark. My favorite part is that Behrami wasn't looking for a whistle, he just keep running. In their third game, a Swiss defender make a brilliant kick save on the goal-line against Honduras.
And then we get to Costa Rica, the CONCACAF team that nobody gave a chance. They came from behind to beat Uruguay 3-1 with a nice range of goals. And then they beat Italy (which eventually gave Costa Rica 1st place and knocked out the Azurri) with a goal that was correctly called, where it was a good thing that goal-line technology existed.
I mentioned that van Persie had the early goal of the tournament. Well, I think he was on the field for the goal that deserves that title. Australia earned 0 points but this volley from Cahill will live on.
I can't overlook Argentina. Or should I just say Messi. There was his marvelous goal in the first game, his game winner over Iran in stoppage time, and two goals against Nigeria including a free kick.
And of course, the United States. The game winner from Brooks that would outrank Donovan's 2010 goal if it was the last game in the group stage and the equalizer from Jones that I could stare at for hours.
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