Nikesoccer

Pro Combat Player Of The Week

DonJulio — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:11:51 GMT

Leader.
Everyone looks to him as the engine of a team. The guy stronger in the 90th minute than in the 1st.

Savior.
The guy who seems to always come up with the last ditch goal-saving tackle.

Attacker.
His goals are sheer effort. Nothing pretty, just grit and will.

Soldier.
He tackles hard but fair. Opponents get away with nothing.

This is the Pro Combat Player.

Every Monday, three players will be nominated as Combat Player of the Week. It's up to you to vote on which one came Prepared For Combat.

Through Twitter, or Facebook, vote on your Combat Player of the Week. We'll tabulate all the votes on Wednesday and announce your weekly winner.

To vote on Twitter, simply reply to @nikesoccer with your answer and use the hashtag filter #procombat.

Something like, "@nikesoccer Clint Dempsey's hard earned 2ng goal has to seal him as #procombat player of the week."

On Facebook, simply submit your vote via comment on the weekly nomination post.

Then go out and become your team's Pro Combat Player, come prepared for battle every time you step onto the field.

The Quick And The Dead

DonJulio — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:40:52 GMT

Second game against the Germans. Second goal from Navas.

In the first leg, the winger was the offensive mainstay of the team, pulling a goal out of this hat. At home, the Sevillian did not stop. With a burst of speed that ripped the numbers off his rivals' shirts, he buried the ball in the net.

Navas has proved he is fast, even to catch the final round of Europe's biggest cup, making it clear he is not merely a promise, but a leader.

Never Give Up

DonJulio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:35:29 GMT

Just 120 seconds to turn the game. 120 seconds to destroy the opponents.

You need character to continue believing after 85 losing minutes. But if you are Inter Milan you can’t give it up.

The first to believe is Wesley Sneijder, serving a perfect assist to his mate. Then he fights to reach the ball and score the second goal.

This crazy Inter Milan never gives up.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about Inter Milan at their team page.

Ambition Not Classified

DonJulio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:58:35 GMT

FC Porto’s commitment to victory is stronger than ever. While the other teams are still struggling to get to the final round, the Dragons have already accomplished it.

But such a team does not resign itself to qualify. It has a score to settle with the Blues and for sure it will. FC Porto warns: numbers have qualified the team, but not its ambition.

They want to be first in their group. This is how the great ones begin. This is what makes the difference.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

Ignition Point

DonJulio — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:26:18 GMT

Sometimes the most important goal is not the winner.

Six minutes left, losing 3-1. 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.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about Manchester United at their team page.

Young Gun Proves Deadly

DonJulio — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:29:03 GMT

When you're young, you think you can take on the world. Sometimes you're right.

With his team down 2-0 to Juventus, Marek Hamsik decided enough was enough.

In the 58th minute he slotted in at the far post to ignite the comeback. But that was just the beginning.

Less than 10 minutes to go, 2-2. Marek ran onto a perfectly cushioned ball and lashed a shot into the top corner for all three points.

Just wait until he's unleashed in South Africa next year.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

Bitter Rivals, Sweet Victory

DonJulio — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:08:39 GMT

Cesc Fabregas stands in the center circle. His first North London derby as captain. His team just went up 1-0.

Time to kill the game.

The match re-starts. Cesc bursts off the line and steals the ball, dances past one player, two, three. With just five touches he's at the edge of the penalty box. Then, with the keeper at his mercy, Cesc calmly strokes the ball home.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about Cesc Fabregas at his player page and the Arsenal team page.

Heatin Up

DonJulio — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:02:20 GMT

2 games. 2 goals.

An equalizer against the Blues and then a late game blast to put the nail in the Reds' coffin.

Clint Dempsey is catching fire and people are starting to notice. Fans voted him the top-rated player for the match.

His 7 goals last season tied him for the team lead. Can he do it again? Can he beat that mark?

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about Clint Dempsey at his player page.

Ready For The Battle

DonJulio — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:33:40 GMT

After a yearlong injury, it's time for Marco Borriello to be back on field. Saturday night against Parma he began to again make the difference.

Dinho invents and Borriello hits the target. A deadly breakaway slipped past the goalkeeper was only upstaged by what was the goal of the day: Ronaldinho dribbled through two defenders and served a fantastic ball in the center of the box where Borriello drops his body to catch the volley with a flying kick.

Borriello is just beginning his rise to success. He fears nobody and wants to be the best striker in Milan. With performances like this, he may just get there.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

Now It Matters

DonJulio — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:43:22 GMT

Two Teams. Two national team stars. One City.

The only Super Clasico in the U.S. never quite deserved the honor of that title.

That changes Sunday when USMNT stars Landon Donovan and Jonathan Bornstein go head to head in the most meaningful derby in the nation's history.

It's offense versus defense, the player of the year versus the Honduran Hero battling for the same ball.

Two games. Two chances to make the difference.

Who owns this city, and who moves on in the playoffs?

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about the national team stars on the USMNT page.

Super Mario Smashes It

DonJulio — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:51:00 GMT

Sometimes you witness the precise moment a promising talent moves up several gears into the major league.

For the man they call Super Mario, it happened in just 48 minutes. Last night, Balotelli scored two, created one and won the penalty for another. He even had to be dragged away from taking the spot kick by the regular penalty taker. Balotelli is not lacking confidence.

Watch the video to see how Balotelli hones his touch and dribbling.

Will his skills and growing confidence be enough to book him a ticket to South Africa?

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about Balotelli at his player page.

A CARD FOR CD9

DonJulio — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:37:01 GMT

When a teammate, a brother, a countryman goes down, you rally behind him. And that is exactly what the American soccer family has done for Charlie Davies after a car accident left him hospitalized earlier this month. More than 10,000 supportive emails poured into the inbox set up by US Soccer.

Now that the young striker is on the road to recovery, we at Nike Soccer want to send him something to show we're behind him on this journey back to the field. We decided a custom "get well soon" card would be best.

But before we send it off to DC, we want all of our family to sign the card, which means you. Here's what to do:

Log onto Twitter and send a reply to @nikesoccer using the hashtag filter #CD9 as part of your message for Charlie.

Something like: @nikesoccer Get Well Charlie! You're gonna be back on the field in no time. #CD9

To see all of the responses, simply search Twitter for #CD9.

Messages sent in before Monday, November 9, at 12pm EST will be incorporated into the design of the custom card, and we'll let everyone know what the final card looks like after we deliver it.

Thanks, we really appreciate your participation.

Not Today

DonJulio — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:25:51 GMT

After a long layoff, no matter how many hours you train, you never know what its going to be like back on the field.

Add in the defending world champions, their glossy new sold out stadium in Augsburg, and put the world #1 ranking on the line.

It could be a recipe for disaster.

But the USWNT went in as the world #1 and were willing to scrap and scramble to keep it.

A strong defense backed by the busy hands of Hope Solo kept the attacking Germans off the scoresheet, while in typical fashion Abby Wambach took her chance when it came.

A first half hardscrabble header from the stalwart striker proved to be the difference maker, giving her 101 goals in just 130 CAPS and the squad a 1-0 shutout.

They say the world is catching up to the US women. But not today.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about the USWNT at their team page.

Get Master Control on your iPhone

DonJulio — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:48:48 GMT

Master Control is a dedicated Nike Soccer training iPhone app, created to help you tighten your control.

Developed by the coaches at Barcelona, Master Control features video training drills from Iniesta, tips from Pep Guardiola and Signature Moves from Cesc Fabregas.

You can watch all the videos on your iPhone so you can practise game-winning control on any pitch.

Download the Master Control app from iTunes and start training.

Back To Business

DonJulio — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:10:00 GMT

Three months since the last game.

A solid month of training camp.

You can't wait to get out there and be the first to every ball.

Game Time. Finally. A stage that makes all the training worth while.

After a lengthy hiatus due to the inaugural season of the American domestic league, Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd, Shannon Boxx, and Hope Solo lead the #1 world ranked USWNT into Germany Thursday to take on the two-time defending world champions in Augsburg. Dependable veterans and youthful potential make up a reworked U.S. side looking to top off a so far undefeated 2009 (6-0-1).

Can they prove to the world that #1 is not just a number?

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about the USWNT at their team page.