The twelve days of World Cup: 9 days to go...

Dario Rodriguez's goal for Uruguay from three days ago was a truly stunning, sumptuous volley, but Uruguay have an incredible World Cup pedigree, even if they've faded in recent years. Today's World Cup moment however, is a true one off. 1994 was Saudi Arabia's first ever World Cup, and they've been perennial qualifiers ever since, going out without a win in 1998, 2002 and 2006. 1994 was the country's zenith, making the last 16 before going out to a very, very good Sweden team, who would go onto finish third.

The nature of the winning goal in a 1-0 win versus Belgium in Washington DC was truly magnificent. Saeed Al-Owairan, an ordinary player, generally an attacking midfield, played all his career for Al-Shabab in the Arabic league, picked up the ball deep in his own half and proceeded to run through the entire Belgian side with blistering pace, before hooking the ball past Belgian legend Michel Preud'homme. Brilliant. The goal had a feel of a late, late counter attack, running through tired Belgian legs, but no, this was the fifth minute of the match, and those Belgian legs included Scifo, Degryse, Boffin, Wilmots and van der Elst. Granted, the heat in DC was more akin to Riyadh than Brussels, but still. The commentator proclaimed at that early stage in the competition that Al-Owairan's effort was the best of the tournament so far, and so it remained.



Anything Maradona can do, Saeed Al-Owairan can do just as well.

TOMORROW: We stick with the USA, but head back in time from 1994 to many years before...