Goal.com World Player of the Week: Jermain Defoe

Join us in saluting another global player worthy of recognition...

6 Sep 2010 10:30:00

By Subhankar Mondal

More On :  England, Tottenham, Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe,England vs Bulgaria - EURO 2012 Qualifier (Getty Images)

Welcome to Goal.com's regular feature: Goal.com World Player of the Week. Each week our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for achieving something special that matchday. It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not usually - but whoever we nominate will have done something amazing. It might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question deserves special attention...

Don't Miss

Goal.com World Player of the Week #68: Jermain Defoe
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Country: England
Age: 27
Role: Forward
Achievement: Scoring a match-winning hat-trick against Bulgaria

England had a disappointing World Cup in the summer and when the Three Lions took to the pitch against Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday for their first competitive game since losing to Germany 4-1, there were a few nerves.

However, Jermain Defoe rose to the challenge and gave the former world champions the lead as early as third minute from just five yards. A minute after the hour mark came the Tottenham Hotspur striker's second from close range, and four minutes from time Defoe accomplished his first hat-trick in national team colours with a powerful strike.

The hat-trick was also the first by an England player since Theo Walcott netted thrice against Croatia two years ago. Defoe's international credentials have always come under scrutiny and although it was only against a modest side like Bulgaria that the former West Ham United striker found the net three times, perhaps coach Fabio Capello will be more inclined to use the 27-year-old more regularly.

Congratulations to Jermain Defoe, Goal.com's 68th World Player of the Week!



Honourable Mentions:

Fernando Torres - Spain

The 26-year-old had struggled at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa but showed no signs of nerves as he scored twice against Liechtenstein on Friday evening. The Liverpool striker lobbed the opposition goalkeeper for his first in the 17th minute and eight minutes into the second-half found the target again with a powerful shot.

Antonio Cassano - Italy

The Sampdoria trequartista restored parity for the Azzurri against Estonia on Friday with a well-taken header from inside the penalty box and then four minutes later provided a sensational back-heel pass for Leonardo Bonucci to score Italy's winner.

Aliaksandr Hleb - Belarus

The Barcelona midfielder on loan at Birmingham City wasn't always in the game against France but when he was, he gave the French defenders a torrid time. His ball-possession ability and passes were brilliant on Friday night and so was his burst to the byline and cut-back that eventually led to the winner.

Sergei Kislyak - Belarus

The 23-year-old came on as a substitute against France at the Stade de France with just a quarter of an hour remaining on the clock, but found the target on 86 minutes. It has gone down as one of the most famous goals of all time for one of Europe's less illustrious nations.

Mamadou Niang - Senegal

The new Fenerbahce forward was on form for the Teranga Lions as they overcame DR Congo 4-2 in an AFCON qualifier away from home. Niang bagged a glorious hat-trick against his Congolese opponents.

Leave your notes of congratulations for Jermain Defoe below, or discuss who else deserves a place in the sun this week...

Our  provides the best breaking news online and our  football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!


Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
 
play pause open close
Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 2-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.

Hosted by Joe Doyle
19:38 BST
Here's Roy Hodgson's reaction to the result and some injury chat: "I'm very pleased, it's been a hard week and we've used a lot of players. There was a lot of disruption in the second-half with substitutions – some forced upon us, some we wanted to do. But it's still a very good end to the week playing against a good Belgian team here. Arguably even stronger than the Norwegian team we played last week and I've got to be more than happy that we've come out with another victory."

"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."

Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
19:35 BST
And another point from today: Eden Hazard wasn't great. Don't think you can judge him on one performance though. What do you think? Is it just a case of too much hype around the Chelsea-bound Belgian?
19:32 BST
We're getting plenty of people saying it was boring. PLENTY. But Spain scored seven goals in eight games at the World Cup and I didn't hear too many of their fans complaining. Or as Fran Stinchcombe points out on Twitter: "If we had lost but played free flowing attacking football would these people still have moaned?"
19:24 BST
No, no, no. I'll have none of that Emile Heskey shouting anymore! Hello, it's me, it's me, it's that D-O-Y-L-E. Yes, I'm Joe Doyle, and I'll be here for all the reaction to that England game. First things first, how did everyone see that game? Good performance? A touch boring? Let me know on Twitter.
19:17 BST
Right, that’s me, Danny Hart, done. Joe Doyle is itching to retain his LIVE! crown for the evening. England reaction, Netherlands-Northern Ireland updates and much, much more - Doyle will be across it all. England are gonna win the Euros! And remember: EMILE HESKEY. Cheerio!
Inside Goal.Com
  1. The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution

    The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market

  2. Cartoon: Hodgson takes a cautious approach after injury pile-up Cartoon: Hodgson takes a cautious approach after injury pile-up

    Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day

  3. Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job

    The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday

  4. Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms

    The Northern Irishman inevitably expressed his delight at landing the Reds job but evidenced plenty of the steely resolve which could see him become a success at Anfield

  5. The definitive timeline of FSG's hunt for new manager The definitive timeline of FSG's hunt for new manager

    Kenny Dalglish's sacking at the end of the season sparked a massive hunt for the next Anfield boss, and the former Swansea man has been chosen after several turned the job down