8 goals of World Cup Day 3, ranked
Paul Pogba scored a winner, Iceland netted a historic goal, and a we saw a lot of penalties.
The third day of the World Cup was a long one. We had four games, lots of banter — so, so much banter, especially around Lionel Messi and his missed penalty kick — and lots of goals to discuss.
So let’s discuss them. Actually, even better — let’s discuss them after ranking them.
8. Etebo own goal
Mandzukic gets there first, but Nigeria's Etebo gets the final touch to put the Croatians ahead! pic.twitter.com/fmmoTpEbPf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2018
This is the second heartbreaking own goal we’ve seen already in the World Cup. Friday brought Morocco to tears, and on Saturday it was Nigeria’s turn, as a valiant defensive efforts against a rampant Croatia attack was undone when a scuffed header from Mario Mandzukic was turned in off Oghenekaro Etebo and into the back of the net. It was an incredibly unfortunate moment — but that’s just how this sport works sometimes.
7. Modric’s penalty buries Nigeria
#MundialTelemundo @lukamodric10 aumentó la ventaja de #CRO sobre #NGA y así lo narró @ErasmoProvenza pic.twitter.com/8BZO2NYv5w
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 16, 2018
Another defensive miscue from Nigeria ended their hopes of getting anything out of their opener against Croatia, with William Ekong bear-hugging Mandzukic to the ground late in their match to give away a penalty. It was a perplexing challenge, and Croatia captain Luka Modric made no mistakes, burying his shot from the spot in the low corner of the net to give his team a vital 2-0 lead and take the top spot in a difficult Group D.
6. Antoine Griezmann’s VAR-assisted penalty
#MundialTelemundo Así narró ️ @CopanAlvarez el gol de penal de @AntoGriezmann pic.twitter.com/LOGFPA5Ol2
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 16, 2018
This goal is notable for resulting from a penalty awarded via VAR, the sometimes-controversial tool meant to help assure that referees are making the correct decisions in a given moment. When the play happened, Argentine referee Andres Cunha didn’t see that Joshua Risdon’s challenge on Antoine Griezmann happened just inside the penalty area, but a quick VAR review showed him where the tackle happened and he awarded a penalty that Griezmann didn’t miss.
5. Then another penalty, this time Jedinak off a gift from Umtiti
#MundialTelemundo Así narró ️ @CopanAlvarez el gol de penal de Mile Jedinak que empató el marcador #FRA 1-1 #AUS pic.twitter.com/SbRdQ3kRJg
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 16, 2018
If anyone can figure out what on earth Samuel Umtiti was thinking when he stuck his arm in the air on that Australia free kick, please speak up, because man was that incredibly stupid. What wasn’t stupid was Mile Jedinak’s finish of his penalty, which he struck with immense authority to level the score for Australia against France.
4. Pogba’s gorgeous, unfortunately deflection-assisted, winner
What a run by Paul Pogba to finish off a pretty team goal! pic.twitter.com/xfPqDQDyDU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2018
That tied score wouldn’t last, though, thanks to Paul Pogba. It looked at first to be an incredible strike before replays showed it to have deflected off a defender en route to goal, but Pogba’s run and the overall quality of the buildup still deserve significant plaudits, especially coming as a vital late winner against a very game Australia side.
3. Finnbogason scores Iceland’s first goal ever
#MundialTelemundo @A_Finnbogason marcó el primer gol en la historia de #ISL y así lo gritó @AndresCantorGOL pic.twitter.com/93uOZde52p
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 16, 2018
This isn’t the prettiest strike of the list, but it gets extra points for being historic: Alfreð Finnbogason scored the first-ever World Cup goal in the history of the Iceland national team. It ultimately won his team their first-ever point in the World Cup as well. That it was a well-taken volley off a rebounded save despite feeling the pressure coming behind him will just make it all the easier for Iceland fans to remember for a long, long time to come.
2. Poulson made no mistakes to beat Peru
#MundialTelemundo Así gritó ️ @sadovnik1965 el gol de Poulsen para poner en venrtaja a #DEN sobre @PER pic.twitter.com/40KMZHeDhP
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 16, 2018
This was the one truly great scoring chance Denmark had, almost an hour into a match that Peru had seen all the attacking opportunities in. But unlike Peru’s attackers, Yussuf Poulsen was able to get his finish right, making a nice run and handily beating the keeper with his shot, putting his team ahead and scoring what proved to be a crucial winner for Denmark as they look to progress from a tough group.
1. Aguero makes one turn and drops jaws
. @aguerosergiokun marcó su primer gol en el #MundialTelemundo y así lo cantó ️ @AndresCantorGOL pic.twitter.com/JqGzLzx31s
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 16, 2018
There have been some great goals scored already in the World Cup, and this Sergio Aguero strike can definitely be counted among them. The degree of difficulty here is incredibly high. He’s taking a fast-paced ball in, having to quickly make space from a defender sitting right on his hip; and then while moving away from the goal, Aguero turns and scoops a shot all in one motion while not fully balanced He still hits and absolute laser of a shot into the back of the net. It was an incredible strike, though one now largely overshadowed by Lionel Messi’s struggles later in the match.

