After scoring a goal, the way in which a player expresses their jubilation says a lot. Africans often demonstrate their athleticism by doing a procession of flips, Alan Shearer’s consistency was mirrored by the perennial palm aloft, and the more morose of souls, such Dimitar Berbatov and Nic Anelka, seem to give scant regard to their feat.
Goal celebrations can become iconic, such as Jurgen Klinsmann hurling himself head long across the pitch in response to accusations of diving. Romario and Bebeto’s baby cradle is symbolic of Brazil lifting the 1994 World Cup, and Peter Crouch’s robot dance perhaps illustrates England’s disjointed performances under Sven Goran Eriksson.