Amazing Goals

In case you missed it last week, Renato Sanches, the up and coming star for Portugal scored a beamer that tied the game at 1's. Not only is this kid already a great player, the best part is, he is only 18! He is the youngest player to score for Portugal in the European Championships and crazy enough he is the youngest player in history to score in a knockout round game at the Euros. A rising Benfica star thats now at Bayern Munich will be ready to grow his name on the world's stage at the club and international level. What impact will he make against Wales tomorrow?

The 90+ minute winner from Graziano Pellé was enough to seal a two nil victory over the 2012 Euro Champions and advance Italy to the quarterfinals. The Spain Italy affair was one taken by Italy and not given. David De Gea for most of the game, kept Spanish hopes alive with some beautiful saves but he couldn't keep everything out. Italy moves on to face Germany on Saturday. Imagine how out of hand this game could have gotten without the beast in net....

It is surprising that it took Boateng 7 years to get on the score sheet for the German national team but he got his first tally in a very important knockout game vs Slovakia. As a cross was rebounded out, Boateng came striding in to hit the ball straight on. It was a great connection that beat the Slovakian goalie bottom left. On to the quarter finals!! This isn't the only big moment Boateng has had for Germany this Euros. What can we expect against Italy next?

In case you missed it this weekend, Xherdan Shaqiri scored a goal that most people would only try in the backyard. And in that sense, missing the ball is the most likely outcome. However, Shaqiri defied the odds to score a gorgeous goal. It had the announcers in shock, it had Poland in shock and it had every single viewer in absolute shock because of how epic it was. A late 1-0 Poland lead was diminished by this goal from Shaqiri in the 82nd minute which sent the game to extra time and eventually penalties.

As Sweden failed to find the back of the net for the 2nd straight game, their looming elimination became a reality in the 84th minute when Nainggolan packed their bags for them with a screamer. With many chances getting denied in their group stage run, the only goal they scored was actually an own goal by the Irish. It was a bummer to see such a legend like Zlatan go out without a win in his final major international tournament but Belgium made them pay. A beautiful moment of Zlatan playing his last game in yellow and blue is the end of an era. 

Big players come to play on the big stage. And that is sure what Messi did last Tuesday in case you missed it. After an early Argentina goal, it was Messi's turn in the 32nd minute to break American hearts and shatter their hopes of making the Copa America final on their home soil. The United States were sure excited to see Messi play in North America but were they expecteing a free kick of this difficulty and expertise. Of course they were, it's Messi, but what a treat it was to watch him play against the US.

"Cristiano can't score in big touraments." "He can't perform for his country on the big stage!" Well, all of the critics have been quieted for the mean time as Ronaldo wowed the crowd on Wednesay as he scored two great goals to help Portugal advance to the knockout rounds. After a tough first two games in Euro 2016, Ronaldo's moment finally came. In the 50th minute, a cross behind him was sent his way which he cleverly flicked with his heel that ended up beating the keeper far post tying the game at 2-2.

As Poland's stars failed to convert in Poland's match Tuesday, it was a substitute, Jakub Blaszczykowsk, that made the difference. Starting the 2nd half, it took Blaszczykowsk just 9 minutes to impact the game. Poland took a short corner that led to Milik picking out Jakub in the box where he eventually fired a left footed rip that was a top corner seeker. Poland advances to the knockout rounds as 2nd in the group behind Germany where they will face Switzerland. An exciting moment for the Polish as they eliminate Ukraine from the Euros and continue their run. 

Potentially one of the biggest roller coaster games to take place in the Euros so far, Spain v. Croatia was a thriller. A 1-1 deadlock would have been broken if Sergio Ramos would have been able to convert from the spot but failed to do so as Danijel Subasic made a strong save to keep Croatia alive. Momentum shifts were evident throughout the game but in the end it was Croatia with the higher inensity and energy that won them the game and Group D.

5th tier Swedish Player, Jesper Hellengren took his chances from about 40 yards out and ended up hitting a beauty that sailed into the corner past the outstretched goalie. A kind of goal that we all dream about came true for this man. What a hit, couldn't have been struck any better. Cheers! Similar to Van Bronckhorst's hit in the 2010 World Cup eh?? Who did it better?