Nike Football Great Britain

Keane has France in his sights

gareth.nettl — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:54:30 GMT

The Republic of Ireland are potentially just 180 minutes away from a place in South Africa next year. But it’s a tough 180 minutes.

Standing in their way are former joint world and European champions France. But eyeing them hungrily is Robbie Keane – desperate to play on the world’s biggest stage.

Can Robbie shoot the French down?

Ignition point

gareth.nettl — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:29:19 GMT

Sometimes the most important goal is not the winner.

Six minutes left, 3-1 behind. All heads down. Except one. Scholes rose high to nod in the cross, instill belief in his team and ignite the comeback.

Minutes later, they were level and through to the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition.

SEE THE MAN UTD PAGE

Cesc takes control on Facebook

DonJulio — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:31:54 GMT

Want to know the secret of Cesc’s game-winning control?

On Thursday 22 October at 6:30pm, he’ll be taking over the Nike Football Facebook page.

It’s your chance to see behind-the-scenes photos, hear his football insights and ask your own questions.

So we need you to get involved. Post your questions to the event wall. Cesc will pick his favourites and answer them on the night.

Join the event

Two minutes

DonJulio — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:45:48 GMT

In what was to be a routine match against Malawi, the Elephants left their biggest names on the bench and found themselves down 1-0 in the 63rd minute.

Enter Didier Drogba.

Two minutes on the pitch and the Ivorian superstar equalized, sending his homeland into the finals for the second successive time.

Two minutes.

Make the Difference.

In total control

DonJulio — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:26:13 GMT

The CTR360 is the ultimate control boot. Developed for players who pull the midfield strings. Players who specialise in killer through-balls. Players like Cesc.

On Sunday, Cesc wore the CTR360 for the first time, getting a chance to see how the boot would improve his game.

Over 90 minutes Cesc gave a stunning masterclass in the art of midfield play – setting up four of Arsenal’s six goals and netting one himself. No arguments who made the difference.

Want to dominate the game like Cesc?

Explore the CTR360

Start training now

Speed kills

DonJulio — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:16:46 GMT

Strikers are judged on goals.

But on Sunday, Drogba demonstrated the importance of every area of a centre forward’s game.

His electric pace and storming power laid on the two goals that gave his team all three points and left them standing at the top of the league.

Control is everything

gareth.nettl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:33:16 GMT

You don’t need to score to change games. It’s all about pulling the strings.

On Saturday, Cesc showed the impact of his game-winning control as his inch-perfect through-ball laid on the goal that won the three points.

Be the player, behind the player.

More Milestones for Rooney

gareth.nettl — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:22:58 GMT

For all the luck that plays into the game of football, it won’t alone take you to a championship. So sure, Wayne Rooney’s 25th goal for England, capping their 5-1 victory over Croatia on Saturday, was due in large part to a goal keeper’s blundered clearance, but lesser players would be caught off guard by the mistake without the controlled reflexes to do something with the gift. Not Rooney, whose 76th minute point-blank bullet came with the precision of a man taking no prisoners. It was his ninth goal in this qualifying campaign, a new record for England.

With two games left to play, Rooney and co sit at the top of the group, and are already booked for South Africa.

Arshavin At The Wheel

gareth.nettl — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:04:51 GMT

Sometimes the difference maker in a game doesn’t show up on the score sheet, but he always appears in the memories of those who bear witness to his artistry. In Russia’s 3-1 victory against Wales on Wednesday, Andrei Arshavin did both, displaying his footballing brilliance in the offensive half of the field the entire match and collecting the decisive assist for the first goal. Riding the Arsenal midfielder’s relentless attack, his nation is well positioned for a invitation to South Africa.

There is no part of a match Arshavin can not dominate. The road for any team to South Africa is strewn with obstacles, but for Russia, as long as their biggest star is driving, there always appears to be a path to victory.

Stamp your name on the team sheet

gareth.nettl — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:27:02 GMT

When everyone's fighting for your position, there’s only one response – go on the pitch and make it yours.

Aaron Lennon showed last night he can be the difference on England's right flank. An explosive run to earn the penalty, an inch-perfect cross for the second, fiendishly quick feet for the third, going agonisingly close to his first international goal.

In 80 glorious minutes, Lennon made his claim for the position. Try taking it off him.

From Being the Difference, to Making the Difference

gareth.nettl — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:00:04 GMT

Last November, Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner was wearing his Pink Mercurial Vapors when he scored the decisive goal in their match against Dynamo Kiev. A substitution that was the Difference in the 88th minute, securing Arsenal's advance into the Quarter Finals of Europe's elite competition.

Bendtner, who also plays for the Danish National Team, has a hearty resolve off the pitch as well.

This week, Nicklas and Team Rynkeby – a cycling team that supports Børnecancerfonden, a charitable foundation for children diagnosed with cancer – will auction his Pink Mercurial Vapors on eBay. All proceeds will go directly to this organization.

Nicklas and his Arsenal teammates have visited child cancer patients throughout England several times, and he quickly became an advocate for this cause.

“Our visits have touched me deeply. It is so hard for the whole family when children are affected by a disease like this. Therefore, it is also incredibly admirable, when organizations such as Børnecancerfonden takes on the responsibility for helping children with cancer,” says Bendtner.

Make The Difference - Wayne Rooney

gareth.nettl — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:24:23 GMT

You could stop at enough.
Just another name on the teamsheet.
Happy just to turn up.

Or you could become their worst nightmare.

The one who turns a game in an instant.
Sees the pass no-one else sees.
Turns desperate defence into decisive attack.

Be the one that they worry about days before kick-off.
Who blurs the line between hate and respect.
Who can never be stopped,
Only feared.

Train for The Difference on Facebook

Fast is never enough - Theo Walcott

gareth.nettl — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:00:32 GMT

Theo’s lightning pace terrifies defenders and turns games.

But it’s never enough. To Make the Difference, fast must be fused with an insatiable hunger to be better. To be more than any opposition can handle. Every single week.

Nice wins nothing - Franck Ribery

gareth.nettl — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:30:34 GMT

What is nice? What's it ever won? Let's see its medals.

Ribery knows that nice never Made the Difference. To yourself in training. To the weaknesses in your game. To every last opponent.

Own opening day

gareth.nettl — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:30:43 GMT

Cesc's pledge for the season was one word – trophies. While silverware may still be months away, Cesc showed how to Make the Difference in the first 90 minutes of the campaign.

His two goals and two assists helped Arsenal equal the record for opening day wins. And it proved when you need to nail the first game of the season, the difference is born in training.

Train on Facebook

Make your pledge