Poll: Maicon’s Goal for Brazil – Cross or Shot?

I think it's a shot. outside of the foot and I think he good enough to see how far out of position the goal was and take advantage of that.

Shot. No Doubt about it. He scored twice last year from (almoust) the same place.

We are looking at the video replays but yet we are still not sure if it was a cross or a shot. Now imagine refs making “dive” or “hand ball” or “off side” calls without looking at video replays.

Again, doesn’t this just push the argument for video replay technology in soccer?

Matheus Gonçalves, just because he scored twice from the same place last year doesn't necessarily mean it was an intended shot. Same wind speed or is it that he is very good at judging the wind speed?

He also uses a lot of force. If he was trying to cross it would be much more softly hit. Also, as was pointed out, he struck it with the outside of his foot.

Hopefully Spain preforms tomorrow. It seems like only the Germans can produce a solid victory. Is it only a coincidence that the Bundesliga has been using the Jabulani ball for the entire past season?

Definitely a cross. You can see him try to wrap his foot around the shot, but cant do it properly…

Well, according to Maicon, it was a shot. He said: “”Il mio gol? Era un tiro, era un tiro. Lo provai già contro il Portogallo in amichevole, una volta. Mi sono detto 'provo il tiro' e grazie a Dio è entrato…”

or: “My goal? It was a shot, it was a shot. I had tried it once before against Portugal in a friendly. I said to myself 'try the shot' and thanks to God it went in.”

Oh, and Mr. Pérez, Maicon's price just went up 5 million Euro! :)

It was a shot, I've attempted those in practice, and am pretty successful most of the time I do

An accident! He was definitely trying to cross, no doubt about it. That's how our players are: accidents turn into goals.

It's a cross, because we're speaking of Jabulani balls here.

I don't think he was “doing what he was doing”. Best possible mishap on a cross. At that speed, if this was intentional, he would be a cheetah.

you dont know crap about football man see the video again he aimed to score and only brazilian player can do it why being jealous

what do you know about football cmon get a life

Sure, I'm being jealous because Brazil pulled away with a 2:1 against North Korea and Maicon scored on a happy-go-lucky cross that went into the goal. That sheer display of strength made me envious. Maicon was looking back into the box to see whether or not somebody's open to play to. Does it make it lesser a goal that it was scored by accident? Hell, no. These kinda things can “happen” to Brazilians, too. It didn't happen on purpose.

Given THERE IS a discussion and an own topic for this should back up a little that it's at least arguable. Put away the crack pipe, man, before accusing somebody else of not having a clue about football, you troll.

just before he hit the ball, he looked in the box, but then again he did hit the ball hard, so im going to say shot but didnt expect anything of it, with no angle, he just thought “im going to hit the keeper and maybe we'll get a rebound”

Very lucky shot. I think it was a split second decision by Maicon but Brazil got lucky in any case to escape today with a win. Maicon does have a fantastic right foot, one of the best in football, but that shot was a prayer, he knew it, and he gave thanks in the celebration.

It was a shot. As others have noted: 1) he used the outside of the boot; and 2) one does not cross a ball from that angle by getting the knee over the ball and driving it that hard across the goal mouth. With that kind of power, the only logical conclusion is that he was taking a shot. If it were a cross, it would have been a nice chip or solid in-step pass, but not a fully driven ball as it would be nearly impossible, indeed highly improbable, to control even as if by a ricochet and redirect it into the back of the net.

This was a shot, he scored like this before. Hey, you that reported this article. If you understood soccer history (brasil) you would know. He scored agains U.S.A like that, and Portugal.

Exactly. Clearly a shot, but not intentionally threaded between the keeper and the post. When Maicon looked up at the goal, he was still running towards the goal line, and could not have known exactly where the keeper would be positioned when he actually released the ball (as he had his head down again). It was shot exactly where he wanted it, but it was not by design that the keeper was off that line.

It's a cross. He looks into the box before trying to draw it back for another player. After running onto the ball, sprinting the final 18 yards, he almost loses his balance and just gets it away to save the ball from a goal kick. By the way, watch the video closely. He gets it with his big toe, not the outside of the foot.

It is a shot. Some argued that he looks for a cross just before and you can see his look but you also realize he had no one to cross! That is what makes the best players what they are… He shots a curved ball, hoping for the goalkeeper to move forward (as a cross is expected). Also, considering that the goalkeeper was bouncing everything he could also hope for a corner that way. He got lucky, but it was definetly a shot

Watch the replay. There is absolutely no reason why he would hit it with the outside of his foot if he didn’t intend to go for the shot. I am appalled by the coverage this shot has got. Maicon is the best fullback in the world and people are calling it a failed cross or a lucky shot? Maicon was a fricken genius when he made the shot. He was obviously looking for the cross initially but noticed the keeper anticipating exactly that and decided to make him pay for it. I don’t know many other players who would have made the same call. So many other players keep their heads low and just slam a cross into the box and hope that someone connects with it.

dont be envious about a brilliant shot .be cool and appreciate the beauty of this wonderful pay

world cup 2010 GROUPINGS RIGGED OR NOT?! can someone PLEASE TELL ME HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THE FIFA CUP “GROUPINGS” FOR THIS TOURNEY DECIDED UPON IN WHAT PROCESS AND WHO MAKES THE CALL….because in my opinion sure looks rigged to me, i mean, come on, argentina and brazil both get a cake walk of a grouping against pitiful teams to play against to easily make to to the knock out stages and beyond…good grief!
also, anybody who thinks that messe for argentina is the best player there is out to lunch, sure, he has the moves and makes his teammates look good, but he cant score when he's had plenty of easy chances, so either put out or shut up!…and the so called greatest player ever, maradona, as coach, i hope he doesnt get the cup as a coach! ugh!
GO DUTCH GO! GO ENLAND GO! GO GHANA GO! GO GERMANY GO! AND JUST ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE EXCEPT BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA*****THEYVE WON ENOUGH OF THIER SHARE OF THE SPOTLIGHT(heaven forbide the tv ratings would drop if they are not in the final again)