Is this the most difficult move in sport? Jude Bellingham’s spectacular goal against Slovakia is being described as one of the greatest ever scored by an England player.
The bicycle kick that spared England's pride
Is this the most difficult move in sport? Jude Bellingham's spectacular goal against Slovakia is being described as one of the greatest ever scored by an England player.
Things were looking bad. With time running out, England were losing 1-0 to SlovakiaA country in central Europe. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.. They were heading out of the Euros. But then something miraculous happened.
Kyle Walker sent a throw-in far into the Slovakian penalty area. Marc Guehi headed it on. And with his back to the goal, Jude BellinghamAn English professional footballer, born in 2003. launched himself into the air. Executing a perfect bicycle kick, he buried the ball in the corner of the net.
The game went into extra time. A minute later, a header from Harry Kane secured victory for England.
Bellingham's amazing strike made almost every front page yesterday. "Yaaay Jude!" shouted the Daily Star. "Slova the Moon!" exclaimed Metro.
The Daily Telegraph ranked the goal third in their list of the best ever scored by England in a major tournament.
People argue about the first player to come up with a bicycle kick. Some believe it was invented by the Chilean footballer Ramon Unzaga in 1914.1
Others trace it to a game in Peru in 1892, when a local player amazed a team of British sailors.
Whatever the truth, the kick is seen as the most challenging move in football. Wayne RooneyA former English football player and current manager. He was considered one of the best players of the 2000s. 's brilliant goal for Manchester United against Manchester City was voted the Premier League's greatest ever.2
But are there more difficult moves? Other possibilities include hitting a fastball in baseball. The ball can be pitched at over 95 mph, requiring a reaction time of 0.4 seconds.3
Scoring a hole in one at golf is a rare achievement even for professionals. For amateursA person who does something, usually a sport, without being paid. the chances are 12,500 to 1.4
The quadruple jump in figure skating is incredibly challenging. It means spinning four times in the air before landing on the ice. Many moves in gymnastics are in the same league.
Nor are difficult moves confined to sport. For ballet dancers the fouetteA quick whipping movement of the raised leg in ballet. requires enormous skill.
Is this the most difficult move in sport?
Yes: It requires quick thinking and extraordinary athleticism. The player is aiming at a target he or she cannot see; it is hard enough to make contact with the ball, let alone guide it towards the goal.
No: Every sport demands enormous skill if done at the highest level. To score a goal like Bellingham's also requires an element of luck: he just happened to be in the right place to meet Guehi's flick.
Or... The most difficult moves are the ones that involve the whole team rather than a single player. England cannot hope to progress further at the Euros if they have to rely on individual brilliance.
Keywords
Slovakia - A country in central Europe. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.
Jude Bellingham - An English professional footballer, born in 2003.
Wayne Rooney - A former English football player and current manager. He was considered one of the best players of the 2000s.
Amateurs - A person who does something, usually a sport, without being paid.
Fouette - A quick whipping movement of the raised leg in ballet.
The bicycle kick that spared England’s pride
Glossary
Slovakia - A country in central Europe. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.
Jude Bellingham - An English professional footballer, born in 2003.
Wayne Rooney - A former English football player and current manager. He was considered one of the best players of the 2000s.
Amateurs - A person who does something, usually a sport, without being paid.
Fouetté - A quick whipping movement of the raised leg in ballet.