10 Best Golazos from World Football This Weekend

With 23 of UEFA's 53 member nations promised a place at the bloated Euro 2016 tournament, the qualification process promised to be a diluted bore. However, thus far, there have been several surprises, many close groups and some stunning goals. 

Many of the golazos in this weekend's ranking—which also includes Friday's games—have come from nations vying to make it to France in the summer of 2016, with some quality strikes also found elsewhere in China, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

10. Arjen Robben (Netherlands) vs. Latvia

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The Netherlands put an underwhelming European qualification campaign back on track with a convincing 6-0 win over Latvia on Sunday.

In the 35th minute, Arjen Robben put the Dutch 2-0 up with a goal that can only be described as "Robben-esque."

The Bayern Munich star picked up the ball from Robin Van Persie on the edge of the area, cut onto his favoured left foot and unleashed a fantastic curling strike. 

Robben also scored the penultimate goal in style. 

9. Nicklas Bendtner (Denmark) vs. Serbia

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No, your eyes do not deceive you: Lord Bendtner is gracing one of your weekend golazo rankings.

Denmark climbed to the top of Euro qualification Group I on Friday with a 3-1 win in Serbia. Bendtner scored the Danes' first and last goals, the latter of which came in the 85th minute from a great counter-attacking move. 

Michael Krohn-Dehli threaded a perfect chipped cross through to Bendtner, who had beaten the offside trap to chest the ball down and tap in a volley. 

8. Zheng Zhi (China) vs. New Zealand

China invited New Zealand for a friendly in Nanchang on Friday evening that resulted in a 1-1 draw.

The scoring in a reasonably unglamorous international fixture was opened in very glamorous style when Zheng Zhi, a former Charlton and Celtic midfielder, launched a beautiful looping shot in from outside the box. 

7. Isco (Spain) vs. Belarus

After their shocking loss to Slovakia in October, Spain built on the momentum of their recent 4-0 win over Luxembourg with three unanswered goals against Belarus in Huelva on Saturday.

The scoring was opened in impressive fashion by Isco, who was fed the ball by Koke on the edge of the box before unleashing a wonderful curling shot into the top left corner.

6. Jorge Valdivia (Chile) vs. Venezuela

Chile stuffed Venezuela 5-0 in a home friendly in Talcahuano on Friday night, with the most impressive goal of the evening coming just before the half-time whistle.

After making a darting run into the box, Palmeiras' Jorge Valdivia somehow managed to beat the keeper from an incredibly tight angle. 

It's one of those shots that might actually have been a cross, but very little can be taken away from his technique. 

5. Rafael Castillo (San Antonio Scorpions) vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

The San Antonio Scorpions stayed at the pinnacle of the NASL—the American second tier—on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Fort Lauderdale. 

The Texan side opened the scoring with an outrageous overhead kick, courtesy of 34-year-old Colombian midfielder Rafael Castillo. 

4. Shaun Maloney (Scotland) vs. Republic of Ireland

Scotland took a big step towards Euro 2016 qualification on Friday evening with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Ireland. 

The match was settled in the 74th minute through a magnificent short-corner routine. After taking the corner, Shaun Maloney darted into the box, collected a lovely back heel from Scott Brown and curled a beautiful shot past David Forde into the net.  

3. Facundo Oreja (Gimnasia La Plata) vs. Banfield

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Gimnasia La Plata drew 1-1 with Buenos Aires rivals Banfield on Saturday, having taken the lead through a powerful long-range strike from Facundo Oreja.

That's pretty good technique for a right-back. 

2. Paulao (Internacional) vs. Goias

Internacional climbed within the top three of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A on Sunday afternoon with a 1-0 win over Goias. 

The winner came in the 79th minute when 28-year-old defender Paulao turned in a perfect overhead bicycle kick from a corner. 

1. Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) vs. Lithuania

Switzerland stormed to a 4-0 win over Lithuania on Saturday, with Xherdan Shaqiri putting the icing on the cake in the 90th minute with a sensational finish.

Bayern Munich's winger-in-waiting redirected a pass from Josip Drmic with the cheekiest of back heels to beat the Lithuanian keeper.  

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