We are blessed to have the Copa America going on here in the US, as well as Euro 2016 going on the other side of the Atlantic...
With all of that soccer come some jaw-dropping goals. Here are my top 10.
10. Johan Venegas- Costa Rica (vs. Colombia)
This was a huge goal in the eventual upset over Colombia, giving the U.S. the top spot in their group. This goal is perfect. I used to do this in the FIFA games a few years ago, but they made the shot near impossible in the more recent games because... Well it is extremely difficult to pull off.
9. Gareth Bale- Wales (vs. England)
A great shot from a great player. The only reason it's this low is because Joe Hart (England's Goalkeeper) has to save that. A world class keeper like Joe Hart should be saving a 35-yard shot like that 10 times out of 10.
8. Gareth Bale- Wales (vs. Slovakia)
Scoring a free kick is one thing, but sending the goalie the wrong way and leaving him in no-man's land is incredible. Wales scored their first major tournament goal in 58 years this summer, and they have a good chance at advancing to the Round of 16...
7. Jesus Corona- Mexico (vs. Venezuela)
You can argue with me all you want about this goal maybe not being as cool as the previous three, but this individual goal, slicing right through Venezuela's defense in the 80th minute to tie the game and steal a point makes this goal that much more impressive. At one point, there were five Venezuelan defenders around him... And somehow he managed to find the back of the net.
6. Eric Dier- England (vs. Russia)
An absolute missile. Nothing the Russian goalkeeper could do about that one. Close range free kicks are tougher than you think. To get the high enough to go over the wall, but then dip back down under the bar and far enough away from the keeper to get in the net... It's no walk in the park.
5. Lionel Messi- Argentina (vs. Panama)
One of the greatest to ever play... How he can make that ball curl as much as he did is true wizardry. He's truly incredible to watch, and I can't even imagine what he's going to do next against the U.S. in the Copa America Semi-Finals this week.
#PrayForUSMNT
4. Victor Ayala- Paraguay (vs. Colombia)
Paraguay definitely had a tournament they'd like to forget, but this goal was one Ayala is never going to forget. The best goals are the ones where the goalie just stands there while the ball goes over his head, and when it drops in the camera goes back to him with his thumb up his butt. It's a great indicator that the shot was unbelievable.
3. Luka Modric- Croatia (vs.Turkey)
Back in my heyday playing soccer, we'd sometimes have practices where we'd throw a ball straight up in the air and try and volley it into the net. Focusing on the ball, not kicking too hard, and putting enough top spin on the ball so it cuts back down is not easy, and Luka Modric made it look like no big deal. Sure it wasn't a top corner volley, but ask any keeper, some of the hardest shots to save are the ones that bounce just in front of you. A great shot by Modric to win Croatia the game, but the goal of the Euro tournament so far goes to...
2. Dimitri Payet- France (vs. Romania)
This is going to be the goal of Euro 2016. First game of the tournament. 90th minute, Payet had already been playing a great game, and he dribbles through and rips an absolute MISSILE into the top corner to give his team the win. Not to mention he shot that ball with his weak foot.
Go to a field and shoot a ball from where Payet did and see what happens, then do it with your weak foot. Then you'll be able to truly appreciate just how amazing this goal was in such a clutch moment.
1. Jhasmani Campos- Bolivia (vs. Chile)
It doesn't count unless you go bardownski... Goal of the tournament. Goal of the summer. Probably goal of the year. The ball looked like it was going wide the entire time, but somehow cut back in and just far enough away from the keeper to find the net. I don't see this goal being topped for awhile.
Honorable mentions go out to Alexis Sanchez (CHI), Marek Hamsik (CRO), Wes Hoolahan (NIR), and Milan Skoda (CZE) who all put in some pretty impressive goals.
The tournaments will both continue this week and the Euro will continue into July.
Here's to a great summer of soccer!