It's the anniversary of Robbie Keane pulling out one of the most iconic celebrations in Irish history. 3-0 against Saudi Arabia and we were once again into the knockout rounds of the World Cup. Everyone of us 90's kids who were in school burst out the doors and started added bow and arrow routines to the tumbles that we had perfected after the Germany game.
With that in mind we've cast our minds back to the Archer and nine other of the most popular football moves that 90's kids tried to copy.
10. The Jurgen Klinsmann slide
First things first, there's no point being a budding 11 year old wonderkid without a trademark celebration. The 90's was the cream of pre-prepared celebrations with the Lee Sharpe dance, or the sight of Michael Owen rubbing his hands together. Some kids may have done the humble Alan Shearer, but by far the most fun was sliding along the ground like Jurgen Klinsmann. This one was tricky, you didn't want to snot yourself in front of your friends, so lots of practise was required.
9. The Zidane 360
The Zidane 360, or the Marseille turn was the height of skill for "the next Manchester United superstar". Much like the Cryuff turn in the 70's, the Marseille turn revolutionised training, and is one of the most widely taught pieces of skill from coaches. It was first brought in from Diego Maradona, but French genius Zinedine Zidane took it to a whole new level. It's so simple but so effective that stars of today like Messi, Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic all have it in their bag of tricks.
8. The Maradona 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYanxlD3Bio
As every 8 year old knows, a person's ability at keepy-uppies is directly related to their ability on a football pitch. There was no cooler move in keepy-uppies than the famed Maradona 7, which to this day, I have not managed to accomplish. Sigh, Let's try this against; right foot...
7. The Archer
Pre 2002, all the celebrations on my football team centred around the Klinsmann dive. Then, on the 5th of June 2002, while huddled around a tiny TV brought into the classroom, Irish kids everywhere saw Robbie Keane put the ball in the German's net and pull off a spectular tumble. He'd follow that up six days later with another tumble, adding in a bow and arrow. Cue hysteria amongst the kids in my classroom, all trying to perfect the tumble into the Archer.
6. The Matt le Tissier
Southampton may be 2nd in the table, but their best ever player played during the 90's and into the 00's. Matt le Tissier produced some of the most sensational goals, none more so than against Newcastle, with a flick, two lobs past defenders and the most cool as you like mis hit finish of all. If a 90's kid says they never tried to emulate this fantastic piece of art, they are lying.
5. The Panenka
It has since been commonly known as the Panenka after the Czech footballer who first attempted such a daring feat in 1976. For us 90's kids, Dwight Yorke impish attempt against Arsenal in 1998 was our first sight of it. It has since been since repeatedly, most notably from Zidane in the World Cup final in 2006 of all places. He may be one of my heroes, but Yorke is responsible for that eejit on your team always attempting the Panenka.
4. The Bergkamp Turn
Dennis Bergkamp by himself had several contenders for this list. His most ridiculous and most infuriating to try and copy was his dazzling turn against Newcastle that he made look so easy. SPOILER ALERT: It wasn't. The perfect combination of skill, strength and poise.
3. The Thierry Henry
My No.1, but with the popularity of the next 2, this had to settle for third place. It's hard to remember a time when Thierry Henry was a nobody in Arsenal. He may have been a World Cup champion, and the top scoring on that World Cup winning team commanding a fee of £11 million before transfer fees went berserk, yet before this goal, Henry wasn't the fear inducing superstar that we come to remember now. Oh if I had the time back that I wasted on trying to replicate this...
2. The Steven GERRARD
One of the reasons why Martin Tyler will go down as one of the best commentators Sky has ever produced. His elongating of Steven Gerrard's last name any time he was running up to strike the ball on the edge of area predicating on a generation of young players shouting "GERRRARRRDD" as they were running onto a long range shot attempt. Of course, we never did have the same results, but that never stopped us.
1. The Scissor Kick
It just didn't make any sense. Why would you lift one leg up only to strike it with the other? Does that matter to a 8/9 year old? Absolutely not. Does it look very cool? Absolutely. Cue tens of people mistiming which leg the ball was supposed to hit, and all from ridiculous angles. Di Canio was a genius, these people, myself included, we not.
