Photo: Diether Endlicher/AP/TT, Instagram/@mancity
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 1-1 goal against Italy in European Championship 2004 is a rugged classic.
Now Norwegian Erling Braut Haaland has repeated the feat.
– It’s arrogant to even try, to be honest, says Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter.
We probably all remember Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s incomparable heel at the end of the thriller against Italy in EC 2004. One too long Kim Källström-corner that bounces back and forth in the offensive penalty area before Zlatan finally manages to make a magnificent kick and heel the ball in an incredible arc over both Gianluigi Buffon and Christian Vieri who tried to head it away on the goal line. Dream goal! We never thought we would see anything like this.
The goal a copy of Zlatan’s
During Wednesday’s Champions League match between Manchester City and Sparta Prague (5-0), the Norwegian scored Erling Braut Haaland a goal that reminded a lot of Zlatan’s heel. He met a cross, which actually came a little behind him, with a diving heel that bounced into the goal in a really elegant way.
The thoughts clearly went to that late night at the Estádio do Dragão
in Portugal, June 18, 2004. Surely it was quite similar to Zlatan’s goal? Decide for yourself, see the goal in the player below.
Out of this world! 🌎
🤯 @ErlingHaaland pic.twitter.com/zkDoUdPCCm
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 23, 2024
After the match, Haaland was praised for his incredible goal. People from all over the world were amazed at how he could get the ball in from that distance, with that angle and the power of the finish.
– On instinct! Is that what you call technology? Not entirely sure. It’s arrogant to even try, to be honest,” commented Sky Sports Laura Hunter.
“There is a Swede who smiled tonight when he saw the Norwegian goal,” wrote the TV profile Jan Aage Fjørtoft on X.
READ MORE: Malmö FF’s tough action against Zlatan Ibrahimovic is touching
“Ibrahimovic class on that”
Even here in Sweden, Haaland received a lot of attention for his goal, which was scored in Ibrahimovic fashion. Viaplay’s commentator Robert Tennisberg was lyrical.
– It is incomparably beautiful of Haaland. It’s Ibrahimovic class on that. If you were to make a compilation of the most delicious finishes in the history of the tournament, it will be included, rest assured, he says.
Another who was completely shocked by how beautiful the goal was was Haaland’s teammate at City, Phil Foden. The Englishman himself scored a really nice lead goal for City already in the third minute, but it was nowhere near the Norwegian’s if you look at aesthetics and acrobatics.
READ MORE: Truls Möregårdh responds to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s challenge
– I don’t understand how he behaves. If I had done the same, I would have stretched my groin. But he is an alien. No one else can do like him, says Foden after the match.
What an incredible goal! Everyone probably thinks so. What do you think Zlatan thinks of the piece of art? Please write a comment.
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