Acrobatic volleys, long-range shots dominate FIFA shortlist

(Reuters) – Acrobatic volleys and long-range shots dominated the shortlist of 10 goals for FIFA’s goal of the year award announced yesterday.

There were no flowing tiki-taka moves or individual runs from the halfway line among the candidates which included two goals from women’s football.

FIFA said the goals http:// www.fifa.com/ballondor/ puskasaward/index.html) were chosen “by a panel of experts and members of FIFA’s football committee.”

The list included Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s speculative 25-metre overhead kick for Sweden against England, scored late in a friendly when his team were already winning 3-2.

There was also a spectacular effort from the Mexican league where Pachuca’s Argentina midfielder Daniel Ludena scored from inside his own half against UANL after spotting the opposing goalkeeper off his line.

Udinese’s veteran striker Antonio Di Natale also made the list with a volley which resembled Marco Van Basten’s stunning effort in the 1988 European championship final for the Netherlands.