Russia 2018 is one week old and so far, so good. There have been plenty of talking points, great games and a bunch of incredible World Cup goals.
Roughly half of the goals we've seen so far have come from set pieces -- such as the imperious Ronaldo free kick leveling matters with Spain at the last possible moment -- which is an enormous amount. The number of penalties given has risen hugely compared to previous World Cups too, although there has not been a surfeit of quality finishes from play. The fact that we haven't witnessed a single 0-0 draw yet certainly helps.
We thought about ranking these goals in terms of quality, but to be honest it seemed unfair to judge them against each other considering the high quality we've seen up to now.
Just feckin' enjoy them in all their glory, in one place.
The Best World Cup Goals Of The First Round
Nacho, Spain vs Portugal
The best pure strike of the tournament? We likely won't see a better one this summer.
WHAT? A? SHOT?
WHAT? A? GOAL?#POR 2-3 #ESP
Nacho's first international goal is one to remember #RTEsoccer #WorldCuphttps://t.co/oxiH0RMLa9 pic.twitter.com/UkdQrXZfNS— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 15, 2018
Watch on YouTube here.
Hirving Lozano, Mexico vs Germany
Nothing beats a counter-attack cutting through the heart of a defence like a hot knife through butter.
Mexico 1-0 Germany. Hirving Lozano gives Mexico a richly deserved lead against the World Cup holders #rtesoccer #GER #MEX #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ko1pWJII04
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 17, 2018
[YouTube]
Aleksandar Kolarov, Serbia vs Costa Rica
A Kolarov special.
GOAL #CRC 0-1 #SRB
Aleksandar Kolarov opens the scoring with a perfectly executed free kick in the 57th minute. #RTEsoccerhttps://t.co/OnWjRroBfs pic.twitter.com/JS6KBudaxK— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 17, 2018
[YouTube]
But was it better than Ronaldo's effort?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal vs Spain
Doubling his tally of World Cup goals in one tournament, there's hardly a better way to end a match than with a Ronaldo free kick.
Hat-trick for @cristiano, who does not score at #worldcup finals supposedly #POR 3-3 #ESP #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/Gv8TfizUtK via @RTEsoccer
— RTÉ (@rte) June 15, 2018
[YouTube]
Philippe Coutinho, Brazil vs Switzerland
Much like Arjen Robben, you know what the Brazillian is going to do but can't seem to stop him.
Best angle to watch that Coutinho goal on repeat pic.twitter.com/ywFZqe1bRN
— St_Hill (@St_Hill) June 17, 2018
And here's an incredible angle from the crowd's point of view.
ICYMI: Coutinho Goal of the Tournament contender!
Curled thunder!!! pic.twitter.com/Kw7BWmEZCq— Thierry Nyann (@nyannthierry) June 17, 2018
[YouTube]
Dries Mertens, Belgium vs Panama
Woof.
Belgium 1-0 Panama. Dries Mertens puts Belgium in front with an absolute cracker of a goal #rtesoccer #worldcup #BEL #PAN pic.twitter.com/Sm2lEQ0BEv
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 18, 2018
[YouTube]
Sergio Aguero, Argentina vs Iceland
No better man to hit a thunderbolt in a tight situation.
#ARG 1-0 #ISL
Sergio Aguero gives Argentina the lead after 19 minutes.#RTEsoccerhttps://t.co/A8yeguWpVk pic.twitter.com/XRwSUcNNH3— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 16, 2018
[YouTube]
Diego Costa, Spain vs Portugal
The pure power, the elbow on Pepe, the close control, the shimmy, the strike. This is Costa distilled into one moment.
#POR 1-1 #ESP
Diego Costa showing his strength and the lethal shooting accuracy that can make the Brazilian Spaniard unplayable #WorldCup #RTEsoccer https://t.co/oxiH0RMLa9 pic.twitter.com/fDXtTZmv6g— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 15, 2018
[YouTube]
Romelu Lukaku, Belgium vs Panama
*dink*
And that certainly is that as Romelu Lukaku gets his second and Belgium's third to make it #BEL 3 #PAN 0 in World Cup Group G. #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/JeXAfNHqUU
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 18, 2018
[YouTube]
His first goal in that game deserves praise for the incredible assist by Kevin De Bruyne as well.
Juan Quintero, Colombia vs Japan
Arguably the least spectacular goal in this list, but you have to admire Quintero's imagination to attempt the low free-kick. No clue what the goalkeeper is arguing about, when it wasn't a close call at all.
Colombia 1-1 Japan. Juan Fernando Quintero draws Colombia level with a wonderfully taken free-kick. #rtesoccer #worldcup #COL #JPN pic.twitter.com/bxXHQzm3Vd
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 19, 2018
[YouTube]
Denis Cheryshev, Russia vs Saudi Arabia
The Villareal man wasn't even in the starting line-up for the opening game of the tournament, yet he's scored three times in two games and is turning out to be the World Cup's surprise package at the moment.
It's a second for Cheryshev...https://t.co/f2LAOYqcor #rtesoccer #worldcup pic.twitter.com/z2A0cpdO7g
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 14, 2018
[YouTube]
Which one is the best of the World Cup goals from the first round?
