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World Cup wonder goals: The Cobra strikes by the Rhone

We count down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showing a wonder goal each day. Today’s shows Adrian Ilie’s terrific toe-poke for Romania at France 1998.

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We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.

Adrian Ilie

Romania v Colombia
France 1998 | Group G
Stade de Gerland, Lyon

Romania line up before playing Colombia at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon in Group G of the 1998 FIFA World Cup France 15 Jun 1998: The Romania team line up before the World Cup G group game against Colombia at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, France. Romania won 1-0. \ Mandatory Credit: Mark Thompson /Allsport

It was billed as a battle between Romania and Colombia’s greatest-ever players, veterans Gheorghe Hagi and Carlos Valderrama. It would not, nevertheless, be settled by ‘The Maradona of the Carpathians’ or ‘El Pibe’, but by ‘The Cobra’.

Hagi was the goal’s co-star, playing an imaginative back-heel to Adrian Ilie. The Valencia forward took a touch, slithered past Mauricio Serna and, from an examining angle, with Ever Palacios sliding in purposefully, intuitively toe-poked the ball over Faryd Mondragon and into the top corner.

The 1-0 win ultimately helped Anghel Iordanescu’s troops top the section above David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer and England.