Goals of the tournament

Fifa is having a contest to let fans decide which goal was the best of the World Cup tournament. Here are three, plus short texts illustrating how sports writers described them โ€“ in English. Audio included as are links to video clips of each goal.

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Goals of the tournament

The Official Fifa World Cup 2014 website is encouraging fans to vote for the tournament's best goals. It has posted 15 short video clips of top goals here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/goal-of-the-tournament/index.html

I have chosen three of the goals that are likely to get many votes. But I have gone one step further and found examples of how sports writers described each goal. Thus, you can learn English while watching some of the best goals of World Cup 2014.

Teachers: You might want to have your students try to describe the goals before they see the texts. Then you might also want to watch some of the other goals mentioned and, with your students, try to describe them in English. Do a google search to find how they were actually described in sports stories, e.g., "Messi's goal against Bosnia".

Mario Goetze's World Cup winner

Note: For the video, I usually have to watch twice to get a smooth look from start to finish.

Watch here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/goal-of-the-tournament/video=2405215/index.html

The 22-year-old took the ball on his chest and then volleyed past Sergio Romero to spark delirium amongst the largely pro-German crowd. AFP

The Germans attacked along the left flank, supplying Andre Schuerrle for a direct run that drew two defenders. Schuerrle, who had entered in the first half, served an exquisite cross to Goetze, who chested the ball down to himself at the edge of the six-yard box and tagged a left-footed sliding volley past goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Washington Post, Steven Goff

James Rodriguez' spinning volley against  Uruguay

Watch here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/goal-of-the-tournament/video=2389158/index.html

Loitering 20 yards out, Rodriguez glanced over his right shoulder before pulling off a remarkable chest, spin and left-footed volley all in one fluid moment. The ball went in off the bar.  Jack Pitt Brooke, The Independent

Some nifty head tennis ended with Rodriguez taking the ball down on his chest, turning and firing a left-foot volley that brushed Fernando Muslera’s flailing fingertip, hit the underside of the bar and crashed in.  Sebastian Hassett, The Sydney Morning Herald

Robin van Persie's diving header against Spain

Watch here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/goal-of-the-tournament/video=2370456/index.html

Robin van Persie has scored some beautiful goals, but few can rival the one he scored on Friday at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Netherlands left wingback Daley Blind sent a pinpoint diagonal pass into Spain’s  penalty area, Dutch captain van Persie flung himself into the air and headed it past Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas. nesn.com

The goal came when Daley Blind fired a diagonal ball from the halfway line, and from out wide on the left wing. Van Persie ran from outside the penalty area to meet the ball but despite most fans expecting him to volley the ball into the net, the Dutch striker threw himself through the air and managed to lob the Spanish keeper Iker Casillas with his header. Van Persie then ran to the touchline to celebrate with the manager Louis van Gaal, who will also coach him at Manchester United next season.  The Guardian

See different angles here: http://thebiglead.com/2014/06/13/robin-van-persie-header-is-first-amazing-goal-of-the-2014-world-cup/

Click here for our complete World Cup coverage: http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/413146/following-the-world-cup-in-english

Here is everything you need to follow the World Cup competition in English: http://bit.ly/RlaA3Y

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