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Front runner

DonJulio — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:00:10 GMT

All eyes were on Rooney and Fabiano. But Brazil's newest star in the making never turns down an opportunity to shine.

With a point to prove, Nilmar attacked England’s back line on Saturday and showed the game-changing pace that will cause destruction in South Africa.

Speeding through the defence, Nilmar arrived first and angled a precise header past the keeper to take victory for Brazil.

Brazil’s forwards will set alight the South African stage. Nilmar wants to be one of them.

Peerless Pato

DonJulio — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:24:08 GMT

Games don’t come much bigger. That’s why they call it ‘Europe’s derby’. If you can make the difference on this stage, you know you’ve got greatness flowing through your veins.

Over to you Pato.

As the Rossoneri went toe-to-toe with their old rivals in Spain last night, the red-hot Brazilian scored twice. A tap-in to take the lead. And a searing volley two minutes from time to seal the historic win.

Just 20 years old. And getting better every day.

SEE PATO'S PAGE

Always forward

DonJulio — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:14:19 GMT

After Brazil’s draw last night, they can look ahead to 2010.

Once they touch down in South Africa, there will only be one thing on their minds – progressing through to the final and lifting world football’s greatest prize.

Think they can do it?

Step up

DonJulio — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:50:10 GMT

Tonight, Gabby gets his first competitive start for England.

It’s his chance to prove his searing pace and clinical finishing can light up the biggest stage. To book a seat on the plane to South Africa next year. To transform potential into a first-team place.

Time to believe.

Two minutes

DonJulio — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:59:34 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.

Adriano's opportunity

DonJulio — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:55:29 GMT

Brazil face Bolivia on Sunday and with qualification secured, Adriano looks to step in and prove his worth for Brazil's number 9.

Leading scorer in Brazil's national championship, Adriano is firing on all cylinders. Now it's time to Make the Difference on the national stage.

The battle for a place in South Africa has been won. The battle to wear Brazil's number 9 in 2010 is just beginning.

Bendtner vs. Zlatan

DonJulio — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:39:05 GMT

Often football is most beautiful in its simplicity.

Sweden are 3 points behind Denmark. Win, and they could earn automatic qualification to South Africa.

Anything else sees them toughing it out in the play-offs. And that’s forgetting what happens in the other games.

Simple. Direct. Uncomplicated.

So both sides need goals. And each has a world-class striker poised to fire his team into the tournament. It’s Bendtner vs. Zlatan.

Get ready.

Arshavin vs. Özil

DonJulio — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:35:17 GMT

When the difference between automatic qualification for 2010 and scrapping it out in the play-offs is just one single point, a moment of genius is needed.

Two nations. Two born entertainers. Two moments of game-changing brilliance waiting to happen.

One spot to play for. It’s on.

Speed kills

DonJulio — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:30:23 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.

Ronaldo rewrites history

DonJulio — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:57:19 GMT

Didn’t take him long.

After just four games in the white of Madrid, Cristiano has stamped his name in the club’s record books. Last night he became the first player ever to score in all of his first four games for the club.

Who knows what he’ll do in the next 34.

Bombardero – not a nickname, a gift.

DonJulio — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:44:13 GMT

Most players ease their way back after injury. Feeling their way back to sharpness. Not the man they call the bomber.

Carlos Vela exploded back into Arsenal’s frontline with an assist for the first goal and a predator’s finish for the second against West Brom.

Look out, the Gunners have refuelled one of their most potent weapons.

Strike fastest

DonJulio — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:54:10 GMT

Great players can Make the Difference almost immediately.

Within two minutes on Saturday, Ibrahimovic pulled off an audacious flick with the outside of his boot to spark a 5-2 rout of Atletico Madrid.

Zlatan doesn’t do tap-ins.

Never give in

DonJulio — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:29:50 GMT

Speed, accuracy, control. All vital to winning games. But there’s something else. It turns a match on its own – that clenched-fist refusal to be beaten. You can’t train for it. You have to find it in yourself.

Arsenal found it when they dug deep to rescue European victory from the jaws of defeat. Eduardo found it to slot in the winning goal.

Find yours.

Business as usual

DonJulio — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:19:25 GMT

When all eyes are on you, what do you do?

If you’re Cristiano Ronaldo, you do what you’ve always done.

Just 27 minutes into his European debut, he fired in a trademark free kick. Then added another in the second half.

Same again next time?

Dead ball – buried

gareth.nettl — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:47:10 GMT

Sometimes you get a whole game. Sometimes a cameo. But when Ribery came on for Bayern, he took centre stage.

His inch-perfect free-kick put the German champions 3 up, kick-starting a 5-1 drubbing. Some players only need a second to make the difference.