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| | Sunday 5 October, 2008 | | Blog: Ibra the Genius | | Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal against Bologna was a classic strike that will go down in YouTube history. Susy Campanale takes a moment to admire |  |  | | If there is one thing we all know about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it is that he is never mundane. This magician can perform the most audacious tricks before most players have even thought of them, let alone considered acting upon the impulse. His goal against Bologna was sheer bliss for any fan of this sport and must-see viewing. I realise that is a cruel thing to say when Serie A has been banished from most British television screens, but I’m sure this clip will live long on YouTube.
At first glance it brought back the memories of Roberto Mancini’s spectacular goal for Lazio against Parma in 1999, voted the greatest Serie A goal of the last decade. That one was from a Sinisa Mihajlovic corner kick, the flick with the heel a little more insouciant, his gaze in the other direction. That was Mancio’s style and it shone through.
Ibra’s was a little different, reflecting his own personality and characteristics. The Inter striker used his ludicrously long limb to curl round the diving Bologna defender and twist it back in for the flick. It looked for all the world like a taekwondo move, the martial art Zlatan practised as a young man. The power and control in the way the leg snapped back was not something often seen on a football field.
Except of course we have seen it before – when Ibrahimovic scored for Sweden against Italy in Euro 2004. The Azzurri had utterly dominated that match up until the point when Ibracadabra waved his magic wand to net a seemingly impossible goal. I owe him an apology, for I thought that if he’d tried that another 50 times it wouldn’t have gone in. Ibra, I am sorry I considered it a fluke.
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It looks spectacular but it's really not that difficult a skill. On the rare occasions when Zlatan actually does something, half the world seem to fall over themselves in a rush to heap praise on him. I've never been convinced by him. When has he done it against the top teams in Serie A or in the Champions League???
Adrian, Ireland
Yes, a wonder goal from a true talent. Do we expect anything less? I would (but only slightly) take Ibra totally vanishing in vital games rather than lose his wonder tricks. I would argue that Gianfranco Zola's cracker from a corner (he had to run and meet the ball) deserves the top spot in the YouTube Hall of Fame.
Jessica, Toronto Canada.
Ibra's goal was great, a classic. But when is the last time "Ibracadabra" had a good performance against a top five or six team either in Serie A or the Champions League? Great players aren't measured by how nice a goal they can score against the Bolognas of the league. They are measured by their performances in the big games, and Ibra is yet to prove himself as a "big game" player. Quite the opposite, actually...
Eydin
Susy Campanale saying nice words about an Inter player?? You didn't convert to Nerazzurisim did you? Just kidding. It was a great goal that you only see in Serie A. Last goal I have seen like this one was Amantino Mancini's when he was with Roma against Lazio, but Ibra's goal was just incredible.
Nerrazzuri Nut
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