Top 10 Iconic Football Games of the Past Decade
by Rafi Levi
10. Real Madrid 4 - 1 Atletico Madrid (24.05.2014 - Estadio de Luz)
After a miraculaous season that ended with a La Liga title that came after 18 years Los Rojiblancos was playing against their city rival Real Madrid for the Champions League trophy in Lisbon. The controlled football that Diego Simeone had adapted to the club brought them leading 1-0 to the 89th minute. However, the Spanish captain Sergio Ramos’ goal after Luka Modric’s croos carried the game to overtime. Real Madrid who wasted countless opportunities during normal time ruled the overtime and won 4-1 with the goals of Bale,Marcelo and Ronaldo. With the legendary goal that came by their captain, Real Madrid managed to beat the underdogs and won their 11th Champions League trophy.
9. Chelsea 1 - 1 Bayern München (19.05.2012 - Allianz Arena)
Chelsea were clearly the underdogs when they reached the 2012 Champions league final in Allianz Arena after miraculaously eliminating Barcelona in the semi finals. The manager Roberto Di Matteo was already being criticized heavily for his defensive football mentality. Also, their opponent Bayern München was playing home and had all the necessary things to win the trophy. As expected Bayern started quickly and scored in the second half with Thomas Müller. Things were going as expected until the stoppage time. However, just like Ramos in 2014 Drogba scored at the 89th minute with a header from Mata’s corner. The game went to overtime and Robben missed the chance to give his team the lead by missing the penalty in extra time. After the tie was not broken in the extra time the game went to penalties. With Mata’s penalty miss Bayern took the advantage after the first round of penalties. But, Petr Cech’s two consecutive saves and Drogba’s final penalty won Chelsea the trophy. Chelsea beat the hosts and Didier Drogba made a legendary farewell to his Chelsea career. Devastated with the loss at home, Bayern München won the final against Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
8. Spain 1 - 5 Netherlands (13.06.2014 - Fonte Nova Arena)
When the groups were drawn for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, inarguably this was the most anticipated fixture as it was a rematch of the 2010 final in Johannesburg. While everybody was expecting a nerve wrecking game the reality was the opposite. Everything started as expected and Spain managed to break the silence with Alonso’s goal in minute 27. After that, the Dutch started to play an unbelievable football and in the 44th minute Robin van Persie scored what is regarded as the most iconic goal of World Cup history by some. With the shock of the legendary goal, Spain could not prevent the other four goals scored by van Persie,Robben (2) and de Vrij in the second half. At the end Spain started their new campaign terribly and Robin van Persie earned the nickname of ‘‘The Flying Dutchman’’ with his legendary goal.
7. Liverpool 4 - 0 Barcelona (07.05.2019 - Anfield)
After the shocking loss of the 2018 final against Real Madrid and the 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the semifinal, pretty much everybody thought Liverpool had lost their place for the final in Madrid. However, Liverpool are known as the team of miracles since that amazing night at Istanbul in 2005. In Anfield, they repeated the amazing success of the 2005 final and managed to beat Barcelona 4-0 to guarantee a place in the final by playing an impressive football from minute one. Although there were many memorable moments from the game, the fans will always remember the legendary commentary of Trent Alexander Arnold’s cheeky corner: ‘‘Corner taken quickly...Origiiiiiii...GOAAAAAAL’
6. Manchester United 8 - 2 Arsenal (28.08.2012 - Old Trafford)
Although United ended the decade bitterly after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure from the club the first half of the decade was amazing for them. Doubtless, they were the dominating force of the Premier League and this game has become a symbol of their domination over the years. It was just a regular Premier League game and it was just the beginning of the season so the game on its own did not have a big significance. But the meaning of the game was clear. Manchester United was playing a football that was out of this world and nobody could stop them (although somebody did)
5. Barcelona 6 - 1 Paris Saint Germain (08.03.2017 - Camp Nou)
After their 4-0 win against Barça in Parc des Princes everybody thought PSG had guaranteed a place in the quarter finals despite the fact that the manager of Barcelona, Luis Enrique claimed that they are capable of eliminating Paris in the second leg countless times. When Barcelona took the lead with a three goal difference everybody thought there was a tiny piece of hope. In minute 62, Edinson Cavani destroyed Barça’s hope by scoring the only goal of PSG. With the away goals rule in consideration, Barça had to score 3 more goals to move to the next round. However the impossbile became possible when Neymar scored a brilliant free kick in 88’ and converted the penalty kick right after that. Sergi Roberto’s legendary sixth goal completed the iconic comeback in the 90+6th minute. After all, one of the most iconic games of the Champions League history ended in Barça’s favor.
4. Reading 5 - 7 Arsenal (30.10.2012 - The Madejski Stadium)
The most iconic game of the Carabao Cup history started with Reading’s 4-goal lead. Arsenal managed to complete a comeback by Henry’s goal in the last second and went to extra time. With Maroune Chamakh’s goal in the extra time Arsenal took a deep breath and believed that they had won the game. However, they were wrong as Pogrebnyak balanced the scoreline in 116. This time, Reading were wrong when they thought they could go to the penalties as Chamakh and Henry’s goal in the stoppage time declared the scoreline. In the history of football there are few games that had more ups and downs than this 2-hour long thriller
3. Germany 7 - 1 Brazil (08.07.2014 - Estadio Gobernador Megalhaes Pinto)
Nobody, literally nobody was expecting this scoreline. Even if you told one team would won 7-1 before the game everybody would think it was the hosts who are going to beat Germans with six-goal difference. Germans took the 5-goal lead in only 29 minutes. I remember the commentator saying ‘‘Your eyes are not mistaken. Germany is leading by 5’’ when Khedira scored the 5th goal.
2. Manchester City 3 - 2 Queens Park Rangers (28.04.2012 - Etihad Stadium)
Do you remember how I said Manchester United was unstopabble in 2011/12 season? Somebody did stop them and it was no other than then their biggest rivals Manchester City. After the Arab investment City was playing for the Premier League title for the first time in their history. Yes Manchester United was unstopabble and they points were equal before entering to the final week of the league with City leading with goal difference. When the last whistle in United game was blown City were trailing 1-2 so the celebrations in the red side of the city started. However, the final word had not been said yet. With Dzeko’s equalizer and Aguero’s last second screamer the celebrations in the Old Trafford stopped and the blues celebrated the first Premier League title in their history. The final moment of the game wass recorded in the football literature as the ‘‘Aguero Moment’’ because of Martin Tyler’s iconic lines that even became a tatoo for some of the City fans.‘‘Manchester City are still alive here. Balotelli. AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...’’
1. Ghana 1 - 1 Uruguay (02.07.2010 - FNB Stadium)
It is the last kick of the World Cup quarter final that is massively significant for your country and you are playing against the underdogs of the tournament. The score is tied at 1-1 and a goal conceded at this minute would have irreversable consequences. The opposing player is about to score and your goalkeeper is out of the goal. As a striker, you are the only thing that stands between the goal and the ball that the opposing player has just hit. What would you do? I do not know about you but I know what Luis Suarez did. He kicked the ball with his hand INTENTIONALLY just as a keeper would do. Of course the referee gave the penalty and sent Suarez off with the red card. If Gyan had scored that penalty all of the sacrifices Suarez had made would have been in vain. But luck always rewards the courageous. Gyan aimed the ball to the crossbar and Uruguay went on to win the game in the overtime. Luis Suarez became a national hero with the legendary decision he made in miliseconds that took his country to the World Cup semifinals. Sadly, with Suarez’s abscence Uruguay lost the semifinal against the Netherlands. However, the iconic handball will remain as the most iconic moment of football in the 2010s.