66 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Fabio Quagliarella
Slovakia v Italy
South Africa 2010 | Group F
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
It was an unforgettable end to a forgettable Nazionale campaign. Italy, the defending champions, had drawn 1-1 with Paraguay and New Zealand. They needed to beat Slovakia to stay alive, but found themselves 3-1 down heading into injury time.
The clock was securely against them, but Daniele De Rossi refused to give up, sliding in tenaciously and flicking the adidas Jabulani to substitute Fabio Quagliarella. Goalkeeper Jan Mucha was only three yards off his line, but that didn’t dissuade the Napoli forward, 26 yards out, executing an elaborate, low-flighted chip that went over him and into the net.
It was too little, too late for Italy, but Quagliarella had pulled off one of the greatest goals of its kind in World Cup history.
