Express: Gerrard on special goal

Steven Gerrard last night hailed a sensational overhead kick by Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the best goal he has ever seen.

The brilliance of the Sweden striker put Gerrard's 100th appearance for England in the shade. It also served to ram the taunts of England's fans down their throats as he conjured a virtuoso display in which he plundered all four goals in the 4-2 win
 here which condemned Roy Hodgson to his first defeat as England coach.

"Sometimes you have to hold your hands up to a special individual performance, and this was world class from a world-class player," said Gerrard.


England had been leading 2-1 through goals from Danny Welbeck and debutant Steven Caulker when Hodgson made a raft of substitutions with 15 minutes left, only to see Ibrahimovic take control of an absorbing friendly.

His final goal was an acrobatic overhead kick from 30 yards after goalkeeper Joe Hart had mistimed a headed clearance and had Gerrard, who had earlier been substituted in his landmark game, ceding the spotlight.

"I have mixed emotions," said the England skipper.

"Obviously, I am very proud for myself, getting to 100 caps, and really pleased with the lads for large parts of the game. I thought we controlled it and did not look like losing. But Ibrahimovic's last goal was the best I have seen live.

"Everyone knows how special Wayne Rooney's goal [against Manchester City] was but this one tonight - an overhead kick from 30 yards when the ball is six feet in the air - only certain players can do that, and he is a special player. 

"He said some nice things about me before the game and if I could return the compliment - that was one of the best individual performances I have seen. He is not everyone's cup of tea but he is certainly mine." Ibrahimovic said: "I think it was a nice goal, one I enjoyed very much, even in a friendly.

"I've scored a couple of nice goals in my career, but I've not scored four before in the national team.

"I liked the first one more because it was an historic goal, the first in the new arena. But four is not bad."

Hodgson could take heart from the performances of Raheem Sterling, Leon Osman and Caulker, who all started on debut.

Source: Daily Express