The 6 goals of World Cup Day 8, ranked

Day 8 is in the books at the World Cup, and we wanted to round up all the goals that were scored today, from France’s Kylian Mbappe finishing off Peru to Luka Modric finishing off Argentina. There were big moments and big upsets and plenty of banter, and it all stems from these moments. Let’s review:

It ended as a simple tap-in for Mbappe, converting a deflected shot from Olivier Giroud. But Mbappe did well to read it and get to it, and his timing was perfect, waiting long enough to hit it on the volley and not getting in so soon that the Peruvian goalkeeper realized the threat and came back to cover it. It was a smart and quality piece of play, and hopefully we’ll see more of it in the World Cup, assuming that Didier Deschampes stops taking him off the pitch for no reason.

We typically haven’t rated penalties high on this list, but given the quality of Mile Jedinak’s finish, fooling a typically-solid keeper against penalties in Kasper Schmeichel in the process, and the importance of the moment given Denmark’s lead at the time, it’s hard not to appreciate this one. It’s an impressive strike, and since it ultimately saved a crucial point for Australia, it’s well worthy of some praise.

You can dismiss this goal as a garbage time one put in after Argentina had already quit, but look at all the beautiful passing that leads up to the finish. Yes, Argentina was left to be picked apart at this point, but Croatia still picked them apart with flair. This is a garbage goal, elevated.

It’s easy to blame this goal on Argentina goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who made an inexplicable decision to try and pass the ball to his teammate instead of trying to kick it to the literal moon. And yes, it’s totally Caballero’s fault. But check how Croatia’s Ante Rebic wasn’t content to just take a touch and tap it in. No, he executed a flawless volley and rocketed it into the net. That’s the most stylish way to punish a howler.

Argentina was reeling following the mistake of Caballero, but it was Modric who put them to bed. This right-footed strike is absolutely perfect, both in the setup to get it on to his stronger foot, to that glorious curl which starts outside the post and ends up just inside, past the outstretched fingertips of Caballero. He couldn’t have hit the ball much better than that.

Everything about this goal is just so impressive. Denmark did a great job of keeping the play alive, taking an attack that was threatening to break down and just keeping the ball moving to find any opening possible. Striker Nicolai Jorgensen did a great job of getting on the ball under pressure while recognizing that Christian Eriksen was flying up in support, then quickly putting the ball right in his path with room to work with. Eriksen didn’t miss a beat, striking it on the half-volley and nearly putting the ball through the back of the net, not just into it.