Football’s Greatest Goals No.11
Victorian illustrator Frederick R. Barnard once said that a picture can paint a thousand words. I believe that this is the same with goals.
There are some goals that can sum up a player and shows their attributes. If someone had never seen the scorer play, show them a video of the player scoring a goal and it will do all the talking.
Many of Dennis Bergkamp’s goals showed his classy and skillful side. He could control a ball dead and then be able to put the ball just out of a goalkeeper’s reach.
Bobby Charlton’s goal against Mexico in the 1966 World Cup showed his speed, ability to take on opponents with ease and his powerful left foot.
Today’s goal is from former Manchester United front man Eric Cantona. It came in a League match at home to Sunderland on 21st December 1996.
United had won the League and Cup Double the previous season and were on their way to a fourth title in five years.
Manchester United were already 4-0 up against a struggling Sunderland side who would get relegated at the end of the season. Summer signing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had scored a brace and Eric Cantona and Nicky Butt’s names were also on the scoresheet.
Eric Cantona picked the ball up just inside Sunderland’s half out on the right-hand side of the pitch. He wriggled free from two of Sunderland’s midfielders before dribbling towards the Sunderland goal.
Cantona played the ball forward to strike partner Brian McClair and carried on his forward run. McClair had his back to goal, took a touch and turned to face the goal before delicately laying the ball off to Cantona.
The Frenchman didn’t even break his stride and took a quick look at goal as he reached the edge of the Sunderland penalty area.
He saw Sunderland goalkeeper and fellow Frenchman Lionel Perez standing just outside of his six yard box.
Sunderland’s defender Gareth Hall came in from Cantona’s left, sticking out his right leg to block a shot. It was already too little, too late.
Cantona had deftly chipped the ball up and it went over Hall’s outstretched leg and over the stricken Lionel Perez who was left clutching thin air.
The ball dropped down, hit the inside of the far post before going into the back of the net. It was a goal of brilliance and beauty, showing Cantona’s skill and eye for goal.
His celebration was simple but effective. He turned around, looking at the crowd before slowly lifting both of his arms in acknowledgement to the fans. It was as if he was asking the Old Trafford crowd “What do you make of that then?”. It oozed confidence and class.
Great sportsmen make the difficult things look easy. This goal was difficult and took a lot of skill, but Eric Cantona made it look like the easiest thing in the world.
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