World Cup Memories: Columbus Crew's Gregg Berhalter recalls best goal you probably never saw

World Cup Memories: Josimar (1986)


Only 13 days left until the start of the goal rush from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. There were 145 of them scored in South Africa 2010 and some will be able to remember all of them.

But some are clearly more special than others. Just ask Columbus Crew manager and former US World Cup player Gregg Berhalter, who shares his most memorable moment:



[Brazilian right back] Josimar's goal in the 1986 World Cup. The one that he just hit and smashed it upper corner from long range [vs. Northern Ireland in the group stage]. I was 13 years old and for some reason the magnitude and the precision, distance and power made it really special.


I was watching the game in Buffalo, N.Y., at a soccer tournament [with Union County Soccer Club, which was also Claudio Reyna's team] and just watching it -- it was really incredible.

[Josimar] was having a real good tournament and that World Cup was the first one I really studied. We were watching teams closely and had pretty good familiarity with them.

Josimar was a dynamic, outside back who'd go forward a lot and he kind pioneered that position, getting forward and getting into the attack. He scored two goals that World Cup [the other one vs. Poland in the Round of 16 was just as good -- WATCH it here] and he was fantastic.

He played in Spain and then went back to Brazil after that. That tournament that was his first time really playing [for Brazil] and he came out out of the gate with a great tournament.


What's the World Cup goal that you just can't get out of your head? One that you can watch all day on YouTube? Let us know in the comments below.

WORLD CUP MEMORIES:


Alexi Lalas: Legend's all-time favorite moment was a hand ball
Clint Dempsey: Childhood dreams come true with a single goal
Bruce Arena: First World Cup game? Only one of the biggest upsets in history
Landon Donovan: Baggio's missed PK in '94 leaves profound impact on US great
Kyle Beckerman: The Saudi Arabian who inspired RSL's World Cup hopeful
Jason deVos: 1986ers pave the way for future Canadian national team star
Will Johnson: Timbers captain experiences agony and ecstasy in 120 minutes in 1998
Michael Bradley: The miracle comeback that he helped author in South Africa 2010
Carlos Valderrama: The goal that brings goosebumps to every Colombian
Clint Mathis: The Mohawk and the Red Sea in South Korea
Robbie Keane: Lady Luck shines on Republic of Ireland in 2002
Tim Cahill: RBNY star goes down in the history books in 2006
Grant Wahl: How the 1998 final shaped a Sports Illustrated writer's career
Jermain Defoe: Consolation for not making it to Brazil? His goal in 2010
Nick Rimando: RSL 'keeper fulfills a dream hatched in Pasadena in 1994
Peter Vermes: Sporting KC boss lived the greatest World Cup atmosphere
Matt Besler: The chills and thrill of Landon Donovan's Algeria goal
Mike Magee: Best World Cup PK ever taken? Of course, it was Zizou