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The midweek World Cup qualifiers produced some extraordinary results and some brilliant individual performances. Here are the best.

GK: Craig Gordon (Scotland) - Stepping in for bad-boy Allan McGregor, the Sunderland back-up showed no ill-effects from his recent lack of first-team football, keeping Iceland at bay with some fine saves.

RB: Daniel Alves (Brazil) - After a disappointing draw against Ecuador, a 3-0 win against Peru was just what Brazil needed to get back on track, and Alves was his usual effervescent self down the right.

CB: John Terry (England) - It takes something special to get singled out for praise by Fabio Capello, but Terry's late winner against Ukraine prompted the Italian to laud his captain's telling contribution.

CB: Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) - Giampaolo Pazzini's fourth-minute red card left the Italians under pressure for much of their game against Ireland. Chiellini defended stoutly, despite Robbie Keane's late goal.

LB: Joan Capdevila (Spain) - The European champions made it six wins out of six with a gritty win in Turkey, and Capdevila contributed at both ends of the pitch in a hard-fought encounter.

RM: Dirk Kuyt (Netherlands) - You know you are going to get plenty of hard graft from Kuyt, but two goals against Macedonia were a real bonus as the Dutch maintained their 100 per cent record.

CM: Michael Ballack (Germany) - Why doesn't he play like this for Chelsea? The midfield general delivered a commanding performance at the Millennium Stadium as Wales were brushed aside - and thumped a stunning drive into the top corner.

LM: Franck Ribery (France) - Where would France be without Ribery? Not in South Africa next summer, that's for certain. The Bayern winger scored the only goal in the win against Lithuania.

FW: Ebi Smolarek (Poland) - Having lost to Northern Ireland on Saturday, the Poles took their anger out with a 10-0 obliteration of San Marino, with Bolton man Smolarek weighing in with four.

FW: Joaquin Botero (Bolivia) - The architect of Bolivia's extraordinary 6-1 win against Argentina, Botero netted a fine hat-trick as Diego Maradona's charges were run ragged in La Paz.

FW: Erik Jendrisek (Slovakia) - His late winner sealed a famous win away to neighbours Czech Republic, and was just reward for a superb all-round performance.

Eurosport