89 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Andrzej Buncol
Poland v Peru
Spain 1982 | Group 1
Estadio Municipal de Riazor, La Coruna
Poland failed to score in their first five halves in Spain. They then struck five times in 21 minutes to continue in a competition they would finish with bronze.
Buncol bagged the pick of them… with a little help from his friends. Waldemar Matysik aborted a Peruvian attack on the edge of the Polish box and freed Grzegorz Lato, who scampered upfield and switched the ball from right to left. Zbigniew Boniek dummied it for Buncol to receive. The latter then played it to the former, received a back-heeled return, and thwacked the adidas Tango España into the roof of the Peruvian net.
“It was a work of art,” said Poland coach Antoni Piechniczek. “A Peruvian priest came on to the pitch to bless their players before the game, but they forgot that the Pope is Polish!”
Karol Wojtyla almost became a goalkeeper rather than Pope John Paul II, and another netminder made this match’s headlines. Ramon Quiroga, with Peru chasing the game, began operating as an 11th outfielder. ‘El Loco’ was duly booked for a rugby tackle on Lato – in the Poland half!
