Opening World Cup goals and how they reflect the rest of the tournament
By Devin Nguyen
In the build-up to a World Cup, there is speculation, excitement and wonder; speculation and excitement for what is expected, and wonder for what is not.
When the opening match of the World Cup finally comes along and the ball hits the back of the net for the first time, some of those questions that we had before the tournament begin to be answered.
Opening goals at World Cups in many ways reflect the events that follow. What does Yury Gazinsky’s goal for Russia against Saudi Arabia signify about this year’s World Cup?
The World Cup is ephemeral. It comes along once every four years and focuses the world’s collective imagination adding to its importance.
When the tournament finally starts, after the restless wait before the World Cup begins, a goal is eventually scored.
The opening goal is important for several reasons: the home fans introduce themselves to the world, the home team can make an early statement and, together, the audience can get an idea of the underlying heartbeat of the tournament to come.
It has become increasingly difficult to romanticize the World Cup because of FIFA’s corruption. We know some of what they’ve done, and with this World Cup in Russia and the following World Cup in Qatar, it is difficult to look past the different issues that follow both nations.
That excitement that precedes a World Cup slightly dissipated when Gazinsky’s headed home in the 12th minute. I couldn’t help but watch on coldly viewing the celebrations inside Luzhniki Stadium as the camera cut to Vladimir Putin and Gianni Infantino shrugging their shoulders in unison towards Salman of Saudi Arabia.
It is unfair to the Russian players and fans but the goal didn’t elicit the same reaction as Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal did in 2010.
The game in total was a shrug. Even though Russia put five past Saudi Arabia, the game still passed by without much of a heartbeat.
There was no drama or tension.
Past opening World Cup goals
Past World Cups are remembered for the fan culture and play on the field. Tshabalala’s goal and the celebrations that followed endeared the host nation to the world with the ring of the vuvuzelas in the background.
Papa Bouba Diop’s goal for Senegal in 2002 against France shocked as the defending champions went down to World Cup debutants Senegal. More underdogs followed Senegal’s lead, most notably co-hosts South Korea who made it all the way to the semifinals.
Marcelo four years ago scored in his own net to put Brazil down one to Croatia – possibly foreshadowing the despair Brazil would endure in the semifinals. That was when Neymar showed he was not afraid of the weight of the moment and took his place as a leader in front of his nation.
What will Gazinsky’s goal be remembered for? How will it help tell the story of the events that will occur next?
Next: Soccer in the USA: the amazing story of the New York Cosmos
As of now, the goal elicits a shrug and is followed by Putin’s looming spectre.