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Hitting the ball while it's still in the air, before it bounces. Harder than it looks - you don't have the stability of controlling it first. Side volleys, half-volleys (hit just after the bounce), and bicycle kicks are all variations. When volleys go in, they usually end up in highlight reels.
Marco van Basten's volley in the 1988 European Championship final remains one of football's greatest goals - he struck an acute-angle volley from Arnold Mühren's looping cross, sending it into the far corner with perfect technique.
Robbie
Jan 21, 2026
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