Player of the day
Arjen Robben, Netherlands
It could come back to benefit the Dutch after their star playmaker missed the first two and a half matches of the World Cup with a hamstring strain. Robben made his first start of the tournament and used his signature cutback — everyone knows it’s coming, but it still can’t be stopped — to set up his first goal in South Africa and help topple Slovakia, setting up a quarterfinal showdown with Brazil.
Goal of the day
Luis Fabiano, Brazil
Ruthless counterattacks are soccer’s new black. The 2010 Brazil squad may not be the epitome of jogo bonito, but they can still be brutally decisive. Three minutes after their first strike against Chile in the round of 16, the Brazilians doubled their advantage on a blazing run by Robinho, who in turn found Kaká for a one-timed push forward to Fabiano. All that was left was a quick touch and jump over Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to finish into an unguarded net. Samba for everyone.
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