This is the top 10 first round goals from channel4
1: Philip Lahm, GERMANY v Costa Rica, June 9
The opening goal of the 2006 World Cup and what a way to start the biggest football feast on the planet. German full-back Lahm running down the left deceives a couple of Costa Rican defenders, giving him the space to line up a dynamic curler from the left, just outside the penalty area. The Costa Rican ’keeper was helpless as the ball clipped the far post before hitting the net.
2: Torsten Frings, GERMANY v Costa Rica, June 9
One super goal is usually enough, but this opening game provided two as Frings started to get used to the ball and volleyed in an unstoppable 30-yarder, that again took a wicked curl to land in that right-hand corner.
3: Javier Saviola, ARGENTINA v Ivory Coast, June 10
The Argentineans showed the rest of the World what they had to beat and no-one defined the South American’s decisive style more than Saviola. Receiving a through ball, the little man with a big boot timed his run to perfection and with a single touch slid the ball under a despairing Jean-Jacques Tizie.
4: Tomas Rosicky, USA v CZECH REPUBLIC, June 12
Simply one of the goals of the tournament so far as the Arsenal new boy hammered in a 30-yard screamer past two defenders. Showing he too had understood the new ball’s strengths, he swerved it past American 'keeper Kasey Keller into the top right hand corner.
5: Andrea Pirlo, ITALY v Ghana, June 12
The Milan deep lying playmaker received the ball after a short corner and from 25 yards out struck a thunderbolt that thumped its way past everyone in the area, including a rapidly ducking Alberto Gilardino, before burying itself into the back of the net.
6: Kaka, BRAZIL v Croatia, June 13
This was not the Brazil everyone had expected until Milan’s Kaka collected the ball almost 30 yards out. Looking up for a split second, the playmaker sidestepped two defenders before volleying home a left footed screamer.
7: Steven Gerrard, ENGLAND v Trinidad & Tobago, June 15
As he did against West Ham in the FA Cup final, the Liverpool captain scored in the last minute to put a reasonable look to the 2-0 scoreline. Pushing the ball past a defender, he unleashed an unstoppable shot that curled past the same West Ham 'keeper Shaka Hislop, into the left hand corner. Hislop must be sick of the sight of Stevie.
8: Esteban Cambiasso, ARGENTINA v Serbia & Montenegro, June 16
What can you say? This match was a master class in how to play free-flowing football. Already one up, the South Americans passed the ball between themselves no less than 24 times before a clever back heel from Hernan Crespo set up Cambiasso. The Inter midfielder took the ball in his stride and slammed it into the roof of the net. If not one of the best goals in World Cup history, it’ll surely be the best seen this year.
9: Joe Cole, ENGLAND v Sweden, June 20
The Chelsea ace chested down a misguided clearance by Swedish defender Alexandersson from over 30 yards out on the left. He then delivered a true masterpiece on the volley which looped towards 'keeper Isaksson, who could only help the unstoppable shot into the goal. Truly unforgettable and up there with Cambiasso’s as a candidate for goal of the finals.
10: Maniche, PORTUGAL v Mexico, June 21
Maniche may have flopped at Chelsea but his goal, after a fabulous one-two with Simao, was crisper than a Roman Abramovich £50 note. Simao ran into the box dragging three defenders with him, then slipped the ball back to Maniche. Without a moment’s thought, he fired home a terrific thunderbolt of a shot from 12 yards.
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