Image via Complex Original
We are less than 100 days away from the World Cup in Brazil this summer, and we were reminded of that this week as many top-class players took a break from their club duties to meet up with their national teams for a round of international friendlies. Brazil dominated as you might expect, Cristiano Ronaldo continued his fine form for Portugal, and France showed that they could be a force to reckon with in a few months time. Domestic leagues were back in action at the weekend, with a smattering of EPL matches on Saturday, and some scintillating action from other corners of the globe. Bayern and Juventus keep on rolling, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to amaze us on a weekly basis. From Cristiano Ronaldo becoming Portugal’s all-time top scorer to Kwadwo Asamoah’s winner in Turin, check out the Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
15. Thiago Alcantara Carves Open the Wolfsburg Defense
Date: 3/8/2014
Match: Wolfsburg v. Bayern Munich
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany
Bayern Munich haven't lost a league match all season, and that's due in large part to their creative genius in the attacking third of the pitch. See above. Thiago Alcantara showcased that brilliance as he carves the Wolfsburg defense open with the skill of a surgeon to set up Muller for the finish.
14. Lucas Pittinari's Nutmeg Assist
Date: 3/8/2014
Match: Velez Sarsfield v. Belgrano de Cordoba
Competition: Primera Division de Argentina
Ground: Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Because, you know, a nutmeg assist is like finding that last chip when you thought the bag was empty. We see you, Lucas.
13. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Finishes Schalke's Quick Move
Date: 3/8/2014
Match: Schalke 04 v. Hoffenheim
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Don't blink, or else you might just miss this lighting-quick break from the Miners. One pass sets them on their way, and another sets up the hunter for this fantastic angled finish. The fourth-place side is on course to secure Champions League football yet again next season.
12. Sosa's Precision Pass Finds El Guaje
Date: 3/8/2014
Match: Celta Vigo v. Atletico Madrid
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Estadio Municipal de Balaidos, Pontevedra, Spain
Just when it looks as if Sosa has wasted this wave of Atletico attack with a wayward pass, David Villa flashes on to the screen to show Sosa's brilliant vision. What a pick out from the Argentine.
11. Ibra Kadabra With the Magic Touch
Date: 3/8/2014
Match: Bastia v. Paris Saint-Germain
Competition: Ligue One
Ground: Stade Armand-Cesari, Bastia, France
Even when Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn't scoring goals he still manages to produce the best football on the pitch. Check out this karate kick back heel pass that Ibra perfectly places into the path of Ezequiel Lavezzi, who applies the finishing touch that pass deserves.
10. Josip Drmic Twists, Turns, and Fires
Date: 3/5/2014
Match: Switzerland v. Croatia
Competition: International Friendly
Ground: St. Jakob Park, Basel, Switzerland
The Nurnberg man shows a brilliant piece of individual skill as he makes the quick cut to make the Croatian defender look silly, and then hits a perfectly placed finish low into the corner.
9. Cristiano Ronaldo Slots it Home
Date: 3/5/2014
Match: Portugal v. Cameroon
Competition: International Friendly
Ground: Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal
A classic Cristiano Ronaldo goal, as he breezes past his defender with a superb first touch, and fires hard and low past the helpless Cameroon keeper. This was Ronaldo's 48th goal for Portugal, which sees him pass Pauleta as the country's most prolific goalscorer.
8. Blaise Matuidi's Acrobatic Finish
Date: 3/5/2014
Match: France v. Netherlands
Competition: International Friendly
Ground: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Ibra and Cavani may grab most of the plaudits for high-flying PSG this season, but Blaise Matuidi showed midweek that he's certainly capable of a bit of brilliance himself. Check out this fantastic volleyed finish from the Frenchman during Les Blues midweek clash with the Netherlands.
7. Hisato Sato Sets Himself Up For the Stunner
Date: 3/7/2014
Match: Sanfrecce Hiroshima v. Kawasaki
Competition: J-League
Ground: Edio Stadium, Hiroshima, Japan
What a move from Sanfrecce's Hisato Sato to not only set himself up with the deftest of touches, but cap the play with a world-class finish by any standards. The forward shows a great awareness for his proximity to the goal as well.
6. Karim Benzema Catches it on the Laces
Date: 3/5/2014
Match: France v. Netherlands
Competition: International Friendly
Ground: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Les Blues defeated Clockwork Orange 2-0 during their international friendly on Wednesday, and if this superb finish from Karim Benzema is any indication of what's to come in Brazil, then France are certainly looking capable of doing some damage in Group E and beyond.
5. Joel Campbell's Sublime Lob
Date: 3/6/2014
Match: Costa Rica v. Paraguay
Competition: International Friendly
Ground: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, San Juan de Tibas, Costa Rica
The Arsenal youngster, currently on loan with Olympiacos, continued his impressive season with a fine display for Costa Rica in this international friendly. The forward takes one touch to get away from his defender, spies the keeper out of position, and floats a perfectly weighted lob into the back of the net.
4. Bend it Like...Sebastian Kehl
Date: 3/9/2014
Match: Freiburg v. Borussia Dortmund
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: MAGE SOLAR Stadion, Freiburg, Germany
Dortmund have no shot of catching Bayern Munich in the chase for this season's Bundesliga crown, nor does any other club for that mater, but the black and yellow have struggled to pick up points in general of late. Well, Sebastien Kehl ensured BVB would be heading back home with all three points this weekend, courtesy of this wonderstrike in Freiburg. This is the kind of brilliance that makes you forget about your hangover for a minute or two, you know?
3. Fernandinho's Long-Range Blast
Date: 3/5/2014
Match: South Africa v. Brazil
Competition: International Friendly
Ground: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
What a strike from the Manchester City midfielder during Brazil's 5-0 demolition of South Africa in Soccer City. Fernandinho gets everything behind this strike and unleashes an absolute rocket into the back of the net. The keeper's expression says it all, really.
2. Kwadwo Asamoah's Worthy Winner in Turin
Date: 3/8/2014
Match: Juventus v. Fiorentina
Competition: Serie A
Ground: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
Juevntus' clash with Fiorentina was billed as one of the showcases of the Serie A weekend, and this finish from Asamoah was not only a worthy winner on Saturday, but a contender for goal of the season in Italy. Just watch, and repeat.
1. Dario Benedetto Leaves the Keeper With no Chance
Date: 3/7/2014
Match: Tijuana v. Guadalajara
Competition: Mexican Liga MX
Ground: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico
Goodness, this strike from Dario Benedetto definitely had Tijuana feeling some type of way on Friday night, and probably Saturday morning. The Argentine shows great technique as he hits this one on the laces, and makes the keeper little more than a spectator as his shot cannons into the corner.
