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A battle for first

DonJulio — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:35:58 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

DonJulio — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:57:08 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

Can you stand it?

DonJulio — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:11:17 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.

International standard

DonJulio — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:12:55 GMT

A hat-trick in his last international game. A last-gasp equaliser in the previous match. Gilardino knows how to make the difference at international level.

He led his nation to victory in 2004’s European under-21s tournament, becoming that team’s all-time top scorer.

Then in the dying seconds of the 2006 semi-final in Germany, Gilardino played the pass to set up his team’s second goal and a place in the final of world football's greatest competition.

Now it’s time to defend that title. Will Gilardino be the striker to fear in South Africa?

Have your say on the Nike Football Facebook page

Expect surprises

DonJulio — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:44:32 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.

Keep believing

DonJulio — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:56:42 GMT

You’re deep into injury time and you’re drawing. Not a bad result. Your legs are heavy and you’ve given it everything. Do you settle for what you’ve got?

Not if you’re Wesley Sneijder.

The Dutch star fired in the winning goal deep into injury time to give Inter a vital three points in the dying seconds of their game.

Because that’s what champions do.

Defenders: read it and weep

DonJulio — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:21:35 GMT

Four league hat-tricks in three seasons.

Five goals in his last two league games.

Fernando’s got his eye on the 2009-2010 golden boot.

Be warned.

Torres on fire

DonJulio — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:01:17 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 09:42:04 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.

Ghana strike early

DonJulio — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:09:29 GMT

Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari know how to get the job done. And when the world football’s biggest tournament is in your back yard, you want to do it in style.

Be undefeated in your group, win all your games and concede none. Become the first African team to qualify.

Strike fear into your opponents before the finals have even begun.

Better than a Derby

DonJulio — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:39:31 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 20-meter strike from Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal’s newest all star, finds the upper 90, 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.

The red devils 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

DonJulio — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:20:14 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

Fabio Cannavaro: 127 and counting

DonJulio — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:38:49 GMT

When Italy faced Switzerland on Wednesday 12 August, Fabio Cannavaro added yet another award to his trophy cabinet. The Italian defender became the most capped player in his country’s history.

To mark the occasion, Fabio donned a specially customised pair of T-90 Laser II.

New boots, same deadly accuracy.

Congratulations Fabio.

In pursuit of accuracy

DonJulio — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:02:03 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.
Get yours now at Nikestore.com.

T-90 Ascente Testing – Juventus

DonJulio — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:27:29 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.

Get yours at Nikestore