World Cup’s 101 Most Memorable Moments: Van Bronckhorst’s blast

By Doug McIntyre
FOX Sports Soccer Writer

Editor’s note: Each day between now and the kickoff of the first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 20, we’ll unveil a different memory from World Cup history. The countdown from 101 continues with Bronckhorst’s left-footed rocket.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst wasn’t known as a scorer throughout his long and decorated international career for the Netherlands, for good reason. 

In 106 appearances with the Oranje, the outside back managed just six goals. And at age 35 in 2010, many wondered if the veteran would even crack Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk’s final 23-man roster for the tournament in South Africa. 

Van Bronckhorst didn’t just make it, he was named captain. And in the semifinal against Uruguay, he opened the scoring with an audacious, 40-yard, left-footed strike that grazed diving La Celeste keeper Fernando Muslera’s fingertips and kissed the inside of the far post before settling into the net.

The only World Cup goal Van Bronckhorst ever scored helped send his country to the title match for the third time, and it remains among the most spectacular in tournament history.

Van Bronckhorst’s Blast

Giovanni van Bronckhorst placed a deep strike into the top corner of the goal for the Netherlands.

One of the leading soccer journalists in North America, Doug McIntyre has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.