Is this the most difficult move in sport? Jude Bellingham’s amazing goal against Slovakia is being described as one of the greatest ever scored by an England player.
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The bicycle kick that spared England's pride
Is this the most difficult move in sport? Jude Bellingham's amazing goal against Slovakia is being described as one of the greatest ever scored by an England player.
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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 incredible happened.
With his back to the goal, Jude BellinghamAn English professional footballer, born in 2003. launched himself into the air as the ball approached. Pulling off 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 took England to an unlikely win.
Yesterday, British newspaper 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 ChileanFrom Chile, a long, narrow South American country home to nearly 20 million people. footballer Ramon Unzaga in 1914.
Others think it started during a game in PeruA country in South America. It is home to Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city. in 1892, when a local player amazed a team of British sailors.
Whatever the truth, the kick is seen as the most difficult 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 LeagueEngland's highest level of men's football. 's greatest ever.
But are there ever harder moves? Other possibilities include hitting a fastball in baseball. The ball can go at over 95 mph, requiring a reaction timeHow quickly you respond to something. of 0.4 seconds. In golf, most people are very unlikely to ever score a hole in one. And ice skaters must spin four times in the air before landing safely to pull off a quadruple jump.
Is this the most difficult move in sport?
Yes! To pull off a bicycle kick, you need to be a quick thinker and very fit. To kick a ball into a goal you cannot even see is almost a miracle.
No! Every sport needs huge skill at the highest levels. Bellingham is certainly a very good player. But he also needed luck to pull this off. After all, he happened to be in the right place to kick the ball.
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Keywords
Slovakia - A country in central Europe. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.
Jude Bellingham - An English professional footballer, born in 2003.
Chilean - From Chile, a long, narrow South American country home to nearly 20 million people.
Peru - A country in South America. It is home to Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city.
Wayne Rooney - A former English football player and current manager. He was considered one of the best players of the 2000s.
Premier league - England's highest level of men's football.
Reaction time - How quickly you respond to something.
The bicycle kick that spared England’s pride
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Slovakia - A country in central Europe. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.
Jude Bellingham - An English professional footballer, born in 2003.
Chilean - From Chile, a long, narrow South American country home to nearly 20 million people.
Peru - A country in South America. It is home to Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city.
Wayne Rooney - A former English football player and current manager. He was considered one of the best players of the 2000s.
Premier league - England's highest level of men's football.
Reaction time - How quickly you respond to something.