On the evening of July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain were in the 116th minute of extra time competing in a scoreless World Cup Final. Andrés Iniesta was inside the Dutch box, to the right of goal, calling for the ball. A weary teammate attempted to reach him with an aerial pass, but it was parried away by a Dutch defender. Spanish midfielder, Cesc Fábregas, got to the rebound first, and he had already spotted Iniesta.
Fábregas’ threaded pass evaded four converging Dutch defenders and reached his teammate on a bounce. Iniesta’s one touch and extra step set him up for a volley-blast from close range for the winning score.
Goal!
Spain were World Champions!
The sun was behind me that Spring afternoon in 2012. My team of eleven-year-old peers sulked. We were half-way through the first half and our opponents were on, while we were way off. I was standing just outside the far-left corner of our opponents’ box, a teammate to my right, about 25 yards behind me and dribbling straight at their goal. He looked up and saw me. I called for the ball and got a perfectly weighted pass, spitting grass as it skidded to me. In one touch and one move I was in the box. My shot went in on the far side, inside the goal’s right upper ninety.
Goal!
We were now down 1-3. But by the final whistle we had completed the turnaround and won 8-3.
My Iniesta moment.
The link between these two events exists only in my mind and heart, as do many other similar, beautiful memories. If you love football (soccer, futbol) as much as I do, you too have one or more similar memories, and you also want to experience and relive many more moments like those.
I am Futbol Hijo, and I will not let those moments evaporate, instead I will distill as many as I can, and by sharing them here with you, help them become indelible. Come visit when you can.
Futbol Hijo