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Football World Cup: Vote for Best goal of Group stage!
Goals are flying in by the bucketload at World Cup 2014. Fans, having waited four years to watch and drool over their favourite football players, have already been rewarded.
The ongoing World Cup in Brazil has seen more goals scored in the group stages than at any other with 32 teams competing.
The sporting extravaganza has already seen 136 goals, an average of 2.83 goals per match.
The last time the teams scored so heavily was in 1970, on an average of 2.96 goals per match.
However, when it comes to goals-galore, the 1954 World Cup takes the cake, with 5.38 goals scored per match!
Several goals will compete for the best when the tournament wraps up on July 13, but, for now, let’s take a look at those that top the Group stage.
1
Robin Van Persie (Netherland) vs Spain
Down 0-1 against World champions Spain, Robin van Persie stole in between Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba to meet a searching Daley Blind cross with a powerful diving header that left goalkeeper Iker Casillas rooted.
The Dutch forward's flying header in the 5-1 rout of the Spanish set a standard that few could match.
Van Persie earned the nickname of ‘Flying Dutchman’ for his effort.
Who scored the best goal of the Group stage? Vote and Tell Us!
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Move on to the next slide and register your vote on the last page.
Vote: Best goal of the World Cup Group stage!
Tim Cahill (Australia) vs Netherlands
Tim Cahill's left-footer, on the volley, left fans singing his praise.
At the 21-minute mark of their June 15 match, the roving striker crashed a fantastic 20-metre volley into the roof of the net for what will be a strong contender for goal of the tournament.
The Aussie's volley was so powerful that it beat the Dutch goalkeeper. Jasper Cillessen. for pace and crashed into the top netting.
Who scored the best goal of the Group stage? Vote and Tell Us!
Move on to the next slide and register your vote on the last page.
Vote: Best goal of the World Cup Group stage!
Neymar (Brazil) vs Croatia
A lot was expected from Brazil forward Neymar and, certainly, he delivered.
The country's 22-year-old poster boy got the home side on level terms when he intercepted the ball in mid-field, surged forward and fired home a grounder from 40 yards in the 29th minute.
Oscar started the move by beating two men in midfield before finding Neymar, who advanced a few metres and despatched a low left-foot shot that went in off the base of Pletikosa's left-hand post for his 32nd goal in his 50th international.
Who scored the best goal of the Group stage? Vote and Tell Us!
Move on to the next slide and register your vote on the last page.
Vote: Best goal of the World Cup Group stage!
Lionel Messi (Argentina) vs Iran
Lionel Messi saved Argentina's blushes with a brilliant stoppage time winner against unheralded Iran to seal the South Americans' spot in the last 16.
With some of the most dogged defending that has been witnessed in this edition, the Iranians nearly pulled off a memorable draw before the Argentine skipper produced a precision left-footer from 20 metres out that curled past goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi, who had been brilliant under the bar.
Who scored the best goal of the Group stage? Vote and Tell Us!
Move on to the next slide and register your vote on the last page.
Vote: Best goal of the World Cup Group stage!
Arjen Robben (Netherlands) vs Spain
After the break the Dutch poured forward and went ahead after 53 minutes when Arjen Robben got on the end of another superb Daley Blind lobbed pass before turning Spain's Gerard Pique and holding off Sergio Ramos to fire home from seven metres.
Robben stunned a raucous crowd as he toyed with the Spanish defence and Iker Casillas before belting home in the 80th.
Who scored the best goal of the Group stage? Vote and Tell Us!
Move on to the next slide and register your vote on the last page.
Vote: Best goal of the World Cup Group stage!
So who scored the best goal in the Group stage?
Take the poll below and have your say.