We have written on this site of one of the greatest skills of the Irish people: our ability to rig a public vote. For example, the BBC were forced to recognise this when they had to announce that the Wolfe Tones classic 'A Nation Once Again' had come out on top in a poll to find the world's favourite song in 2002. This found its greatest sporting manifestation when former Middlesbrough full-back Ronnie O'Brien surprisingly found himself in the running to become Time magazine's Person of the Century, before being pipped by Einstein, having seen the magazine bar him under the explanation that 'whimsical candidates will be not be counted'.
It seems that the good folk of Hungary have been learning from us, as that is the only rational explanation for the results of Sky Sports' poll for the best goal scored in Euro 2016. Zoltan Gera's goal against Portugal is in the lead, an astonishing 100,000 votes ahead of second-placed Xherdan Shaqiri. Gera's goal was undoubtedly very good, but there's no chance it as the best goal of the tournament. Let's remind ourselves of Gera's strike:
https://youtu.be/fZ414yRX4i0
Good, but Shaqiri's was miles better:
https://youtu.be/fY5iCxWUpXs
Here's the list in full, with Wes Hoolahan's goal against Sweden shamefully omitted:
- Zoltan Gera v Portugal
- Xherdan Shaqiri v Poland
- Hal-Robson Kanu v Belgium
- Dimitri Payet v Romania
- Ferret Head v Wales
- Cristiano Ronaldo v Hungary
- Luka Modric v Turkey
- Antoine Griezmann v Iceland
- Marek Hamsik v Russia
- Eder v Sweden
You can help redress the balance here.
