RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen inspires with dream goal against Serbia

First a dance performance at a wedding, then a dream goal in the Nations League: RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen wowed friends and soccer fans alike in his native Denmark with his physical finesse. After his artistic overhead kick to make the final score 2:0 for the Danish national team against Serbia, the 30-year-old striker was aware of the special nature of his goal.

"It's not that often that you get to see and score a bicycle kick goal," said Poulsen. Only a few players manage something like that during their career - "so of course it was spectacular."

However, Poulsen did not want to crown the feat as the single best goal of his career. "The goal is in the top two," he said. "I scored a really good goal against Augsburg a few years ago, which was just as technically difficult." The Dane was presumably referring to a direct volley in Augsburg in October 2020.

Poulsen or Ronaldo?

His fellow Danes were full of superlatives after the goal against Serbia. "For a moment I was in doubt as to whether it was Yussuf Poulsen or Ronaldo," said national team captain Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Interim coach Lars Knudsen said: "It's one of those moments why we love soccer so much." And Poulsen himself also said: "I would probably have grabbed my head too if someone else had done this."

By his own account, he had been at a good friend's wedding two days before the game, where he took part in a dance competition - but he did not want to make a connection between his dance rhythm and the goal.

RB sporting director recently suggested a ban on bicycle kicks

On the last matchday in the Bundesliga, Poulsen's club Leipzig had a completely different experience with bicycle kicks. Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface hit Amadou Haidara in the head with a failed attempt in the penalty area. Haidara had to be substituted and missed the international matches with Mali due to concussion.

RB sporting director Marcel Schäfer therefore suggested banning overhead kicks in the penalty area. "We're currently operating in a gray area. The DFB doesn't have a clear regulation, you could also say: We prohibit overhead kicks because it can always happen in the penalty area that someone splashes into you," said Schäfer.