We watched a shedload of football in 2013, and here's more of the games we most fondly remember... in no particular order mind...
Spain 0 Italy 0 (Spain won 7-6 on penalties)
Another game from the Confederations Cup and one of the best 0-0 games of all time. Italy were fantastic in normal time, but they simply could not get a goal, with Mario Balotelli missing a few handy chances. Spain, on the ropes and struggling, managed to maintain their discipline and as Italy tired, the likes of Xavi and Iniesta came to the fore and they almost stole the game in the final minute of extra time.
It went to penalties, where we were treated to 12 exceptional penalties before a Leonardo Bonucci miss allowed Jesus Navas to send Spain into the final. If you only watch one penalty shootout this year make it this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzhdaByUiWU
Bayern Munich 2 Dortmund 1
A Champions League final that lived up to the hype. The all-German affair was teed up to be a great game and so it proved. The quality of both sides play was sensational. Bayern were kept in it early by Manuel Nueur but Bayern slowly got a foothold and began to attack. They eventually broke through on the hour mark when Arjen Robben set up Marco Mandzukic for an easy tap in. Marco Reus was booted in the stomach by Dante and Gundogan levelled the game.
Bayern were still on top though and Subotic made a fantastic goal-line clearance to keep his side in it before a man that has suffered so much misery in fianls, Robben, finished off a fine move in the 89th minute to earn the trophy for the German giants. You'd need to have a heart of stone not to empathise with his tears of relief at the end.
Manchester City 2 Liverpool 2
An exceptional game with exceptional goals. The standard of goals went up with each effort in a game that put the pulse into pulsating. An intricate move finished off by Edin Dzeko put the home side in front before a great strike by Sturridge and a stunner by Steven Gerrard had the Reds ahead. But only minutes after Gerrard's effort, Sergio Aguero topped it with an outrageous goal.
Bask in the outrageousness here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYeDyG5Y350
Portugal 3 Sweden 2
The second leg of this World Cup play-off was billed as Ronaldo v Zlatan and so it proved. Ronnie opened the scoring, putting Portugal 2-0 up on aggregate. Then Zlatan stormed back to score twice and put the game back in whatever the Swedish is for mixer. But Ronnie would not be denied and he went and scored two crackers to send his country to the World Cup. Big players proving why they are big players. Wallow in the wonderfulness
here
Manchester City 6 Arsenal 3
The most open Premier League in years has produced some of the most open football in years too and it was capped off with this crazy game at the Etihad. City have been remarkable at home all season and they demolished the league leaders in a game that included great goals, penalties, one-finger salutes and more great goals. A fine end to a great year of football
