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?

A battle for first

DonJulio — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:37:10 GMT

Before you wade into combat, you must be prepared – mentally and physically.

Rooney is ready. Ready to take on the in-form blues and ready to take United to the top of the table.

Prepare for combat.

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.

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Can you stand it?

DonJulio — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:44:17 GMT

Pressure. It changes everything.

On Sunday, Fernando was only 80% fit, burdened with expectation and desperate to end a four-game losing streak for his club.

But when your back’s against the wall, there’s only one way to go.

El Niño burst into the box, shrugged off his man and fired into the roof of the net.

Pressure – tastes good.

Expect surprises

DonJulio — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:00:30 GMT

One side invented Total Football. The other invented Aussie Rules Football. One's consistently labelled as under-achievers. One's billed as a surprise package.

Can Australia take the next step and cause some damage in South Africa? Will Holland finally fulfill their potential?

It was goalless when the teams met in a friendly. But maybe they're saving their big guns for the big stage.

Torres on fire

gareth.nettl — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:17:26 GMT

A record-breaking first season for your new club. Winning your country’s first major honours for 44 years. Taking on the world again and again.

You could be forgiven a slow start to the season. But El Nino never goes cold.

Two stunning goals on the weekend. Five goals in six league games. You’d better believe he’s back.

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.

Better than a Derby

gareth.nettl — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:01:30 GMT

Back and forth action featuring the precise passing of Arsenal and the muscled management of Manchester United. Fans got what they asked for in the first meeting of the season for two English powerhouses.

A long range strike from Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal’s newest all star, finds the top corner, powering through the keeper’s hand to start the scoring. A solid penalty from Wayne Rooney, Manchester’s now unquestioned offensive leader, brought the match even. It was edge of your seat madness for 90 minutes.

United took the lead with their second goal in a 5-minute span, which sealed the home victory for Rooney and crew, and left Arsenal forced to look forward. The rematch in London, exactly 5 months from now, will again put the players in the pressure cooker, right where the fans want them, with a much better idea of how the league table is shaking out. January 30th can’t come soon enough.

Lay it on the line

gareth.nettl — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:46:19 GMT

The pros have made their pledges on how they will Make the Difference. What are you saying?

This is your chance to lay down a marker for your season. Five more goals than last season, win every 50-50 ball, never lose your man.

Whatever your aim, make it public on Facebook.

Then get on the pitch and make it happen.

Make your pledge on Facebook

T-90 Ascente Testing - Juventus

gareth.nettl — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:32:06 GMT

Date: 09.02.09
Location: Vinovo, Italy
Weather conditions: Sunny, light wind. Perfect training conditions.
Pitch conditions: Wet. A few heavy patches of water and some sandy sections.
Players and staff: Christian Molinaro, Claudio Marchisio, Amauri Carvalho de Oliveira. Some of the team were away on international duty.

Tester’s notes:
Sunny day, soft breeze. Ideal. Long and short-range passing led by Coach Schincaglia. Team session: keep ball lasted for over an hour. More than 100 touches on the ball. Schincaglia pleased with every one of them: “It’s great for tight control and one-two passes.” Shooting session: finishing drills for the strikers. Ball flight is clean. Barbetti Luigi: “I like this. It’s great.” Goals look good with this ball. And so do the players. “Fans will love it. They’ll see great goals.” Molinaro’s right.

T-90 Ascente Testing – Arsenal

gareth.nettl — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:31:29 GMT

Date: 04.02.09
Location: London Colney
Weather conditions: Extremely cold. Temperature range from -5C to +5C. Conditions changed from sunny, blue skies to cloudy with snow and rain.
Pitch conditions: Ploughed snow. Ground soggy but firm.
Players and staff: Abou Diaby, Nicklas Bendtner, Jack Wilshere, William Gallas, Denilson, Eduardo, Mikael Sylvestre, Carlos Vela, Alexandre Song, Lukas Fabianski, Manuel Almunia, Arsene Wenger.

Tester’s notes
Freezing conditions. Heaviest snowfall in 18 yrs. Balls inflated to 12.5 psi exactly. Arsene had a juggle & some one-touches w Paul Johnson. “It’s good, it’s lively.” The keepers... Almunia worried. “Not good for goalkeepers. Again!” Sorry Manuel. (Great for fans though.) Team session. Wilshere : “Yeah, it feels good on the touch.” Shooting session: Ball flight and rotation were true. Some spectacular long-range shots. Get ready Premier League – spectacular goals are coming.

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T-90 Ascente Testing – Man Utd

DonJulio — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:56:00 GMT

Date: 05.02.09
Location: Carrington
Weather conditions: Very cold and windy. Conditions ranged between cloudy, snowing and sunny. Temperature range 0-1C without wind chill. Well below freezing with wind chill. 0-20 mph winds throughout.
Pitch conditions: Good, short grass.
Players and staff: Full first team, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Wes Brown, Edwin Van der Sar, Ben Foster, Rafael da Silva, Tomasz Kuszczak.

Tester’s notes:

Freezing cold. And more snow. Balls topped off to 12.5psi.

Team session: 15-mins shots on goal from 20 yards. 8 vs. 2 one-touch keep-ball drill. Fast, one-touch session.

Shooting session: Players hammer the ball, Rooney hits hardest – like a sledgehammer: “Feels nice to strike. Especially when you strike it true.” More finishing drills. Shooting from 3 different spots. Players love shooting with it. All-around accuracy improvements.

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T-90 Ascente Testing – Barcelona

DonJulio — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:49:02 GMT

Date: 28.01.09
Location: Ciutat Esportiva
Weather conditions: Clear blue skies, no wind, sunny. Temperature of 15C.
Pitch conditions: Short grass (1.5cm). Good conditions. Pitch was sprayed 10 minutes before training.
Players and staff: The full squad took part, except Gai Yigaal Assulin. Head Coach Luis Enrique led the session.

Tester’s notes:

Warm, clear skies. Perfect conditions. Balls filled to 11psi.

Team session: Running with ball in pairs. Short passes. Headers, chests, volleys. Busquets, coached the keepers: “The touch is perfect.”

Accuracy contest: all players on 16 metre line. Who can land the ball in the centre circle? Puyol took it. Who can hit the cross bar, repeatedly? Iniesta walked away with this one. They say he always does. I like to think the ball helped. Massip: “There’s no wobble, the ball goes straight at its target.”

Shooting session: led by Assistant Coach Joan Barbara Mata: “The ball bends nicely when you shoot.” Next stop Arsenal.

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In pursuit of accuracy

DonJulio — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:20:15 GMT

Watch the innovation story behind Nike’s most perfectly engineered ball: the T90 Ascente. Hear how the designers have accomplished the ultimate in accuracy. Watch the world’s greatest players put the ball through its paces.
And get yours now at Nikestore.com.

A ton of accuracy for Wayne

gareth.nettl — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:18:27 GMT

It all started against Arsenal on October 19th, 2002. That was strike number 1 and the day the world first bellowed the name - Wayne Rooney. Just six years later on November 30 2008, Wayne crashed home his 100th club goal so far.

That goal against Newcastle, the hat-trick on his European debut, the sublime chip against Pompey – choose your favourite.

Joining the 100 club by scoring the winner in the Manchester derby was especially sweet for Wayne.

That's 29 match winners, 11 equalisers, 5 Goals of the Month. A ton of accuracy.

Next 100 please.