Back in January of 2016, Tottenham attacker Dele Alli announced his talent to the world by scoring what BBC Match of the Day would later vote Goal of the Season against Crystal Palace. Alli controlled a Christian Eriksen knock-down with his thigh, flicked an audacious sombrero over the head of an onrushing defender, swiveled and struck a 22-yard volley inside the post.
Today, in a less glamorous friendly between Japan and Paraguay, 25-year-old Paraguayan attacker Oscar Romero, who plays his club ball with the CSL’s Shanghai Shenhua, did his best to replicate that effort in the match’s 32nd minute.
Alli’s strike certainly scores higher for a number of reasons, but any goal involving a sombrero flick plus volley from distance qualifies as can’t-miss in my book.
Romero’s goal gave Paraguay the early lead, but Japan would storm back for a 4-2 win at the Tivoli-Neu stadium in Austria. Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa also scored a nice goal at the end for Japan.
The victory was much-needed for the Samurai Blue after going winless in its previous five matches (including a draw with Mali and defeats to both Ukraine and Ghana).
Japan’s rocky qualifying road ultimately led to the dismissal of Bosnian manager Vahid Halihodzic just two months before the World Cup finals, and the results haven’t improved under Akira Nishino.
In Group H alongside Colombia (June 19), Senegal (June 24) and Poland (June 28), Japan could advance to the Round of 16 while relying on the experience of players like Shinji Okazaki, Makoto Hasebe, Kagawa, Keisuke Honda and Yuto Nagatomo (the five boast a combined total of 515 caps), but a group stage exit, a la 2014, is the expected outcome.
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