Brazil wary of Chile threat (TSN 1050, TSN 690, TSN 1200, TEAM 1410) South
American rivals Brazil and Chile open up the second round of the World Cup at
the Estadio Mineirao on Saturday in an intriguing contest.
http://www.voetbaltruitjebelgie.be/dedryck-boyata-belgie-voetbalshirt.html
. It is also a matchup that Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari believes will
be a serious test for his side. "If I could choose another opponent, I would,"
Scolari said a few days ago when asked about playing Chile. "I think theyre the
trickiest side we could have been drawn against. They have everything." Chile
advanced to the knockout round from a difficult Group B that included the
Netherlands, Spain and Australia. La Roja started its tournament with wins over
Australia and Spain to book a place in the next round before sitting a few key
players in the group finale against the Netherlands, which topped Chile, 2-0, to
win the group. One of the players that Chile head coach Jorge Sampaoli decided
to rest against the Dutch was midfielder Arturo Vidal, who underwent knee
surgery prior to the start of the tournament and who is expected to come
straight back into the lineup against the hosts on Saturday. Vidal, along with
Alexis Sanchez and Charles Aranguiz, will provide the biggest offensive threats
for Chile, which will hope to exploit a Brazil back line that tends to get
forward a lot and could be susceptible to counter attacks. As expected, Brazil
finished atop Group A after wins over Croatia and Cameroon and a 0-0 draw with
Mexico. The Selecao netted seven goals in three group-stage matches, including
four from star forward Neymar, despite not appearing to hit top gear. Now,
Scolari knows his team must take its play to the next level to get past a tough
Chile side. "I hope that Chile dont qualify for the last 16," the coach said
back in December after the draw for the World Cup. "I would prefer to face any
other side. They are intelligent and their style of play doesnt suit us. It
would be better to play against a European team." Scolari didnt get his wish,
but his team may be able to exploit a height advantage against Chile to get to
the quarterfinals. Against Australia in the group stage, Chiles shorter
defenders struggled to cope with the aerial threat of Tim Cahill, while the
Dutch scored on a header from Leroy Fer in the second half of the group finale
to take the lead. Brazil should be a real threat from any set-piece opportunity
in the attacking third with players like Fred, David Luiz and Thiago Silva able
to get on the other end of crosses. Neymar has been as good as advertised so
far, while Brazils threat in the air will also pose a stiff challenge for the
Chileans. A win for Chile would give the club its first berth in the
quarterfinals at a World Cup since 1962, and Sanchez is confident that his side
will make history. "We have respect for them [Brazil] but I think we are going
to beat them," he said. "We came to this World Cup to make history. We beat the
world champions and, although we had a slip-up against Holland, we are going out
to try and win the Cup." Colombia squares off with Suarez-less Uruguay (TSN
1050, TSN 1200, TEAM 1410) Uruguay has attracted plenty of attention at the 2014
World Cup, and not always for the right reasons, but the team will attempt to
put its distractions aside against an impressive Colombia outfit at the Maracana
on Saturday in the round of 16. Uruguay forward Luis Suarez has been a lightning
rod for attention in Brazil, first sitting out his teams 3-1 defeat to Costa
Rica after knee surgery, and then making a triumphant return against England
that saw him score twice in a 2-1 Uruguay win. But the Liverpool striker stunned
the soccer world by biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in the second half
of Uruguays 1-0 win in the group-stage finale to book a place in the second
round. Suarez was not punished on the field, but FIFAs Disciplinary Committee
came down hard on him after reviewing the incident, banning Suarez for nine
international matches and from all football-related activity for four months.
The loss of Suarez will put added pressure on forward Edinson Cavani, whose only
goal so far in the tournament was a penalty kick in the opening match. Veteran
Diego Forlan is expected to come in for Suarez, but this team has so far looked
like a much different side with Suarez in the lineup than without him. Uruguay
needed a win over Italy in its final Group D match to advance, and it wasnt
Suarez who provided the difference, rather it was defender Diego Godin. The
Atletico Madrid man scored the goal that clinched La Liga for his side in the
final game of the season in May, while he also put Atletico ahead with a goal in
the Champions League final. And he popped up once again to head home the winning
goal against Italy in the final 10 minutes. "We didnt make it easy for
ourselves, starting the way we did, and it was a miracle that we pulled it off
in the end," Godin said of his team finally securing a place in the knockout
round. "Now we can start thinking about the last 16, but no further. We respect
everyone but fear no one." Godin will need to be on top of his game defensively
if Uruguay is to reach the quarterfinals because his team is coming up against a
Colombia side that has been one of the most impressive at the tournament so far.
The Colombians won all three of their group-stage matches by a combined score of
9-2, with midfielder James Rodriguez turning in an especially impressive
performance. The 22-year-old Monaco man has netted three goals with three
assists so far, and along with Juan Cuadrado, Teofilo Gutierrez and Jackson
Martinez, Godin and Uruguay will have their hands full. Colombia has also
enjoyed some incredibly vocal support from its fans, making its three group
matches feel like home games according to 21-year-old midfielder Juan Quintero.
"Its like were playing in Barranquilla," Quintero said of the support Colombia
has received. "The fans are 100 percent behind us and that makes us feel great.
Were playing for our people and we want to make them as happy as we can." A win
over Uruguay on Saturday would no doubt please Colombian supporters, especially
since it would mark the first time that Colombia has ever advanced to the
quarterfinals at a World Cup.
http://www.voetbaltruitjebelgie.be/t-shirt-ontwerpen-online.html
. Charlotte announced the move Tuesday, but did not release contract terms. A
person familiar with the situation had said the deal is worth $18 million over
three seasons with a player option for the third season.
http://www.voetbaltruitjebelgie.be/romelu-lukaku-belgie-voetbalshirt.html
. "It was one of the best shows ever," said the Raptors guard, disagreeing with
the critics. "Its really what people wanted to see. You couldnt see those dunks
without three players on the court so it worked out for the best I think.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Kevin Durant said the mutual admiration between the Thunder
and the Trail Blazers only goes so far. "We respect this team and they respect
us, but we dont like them and they dont like us," Durant said after Oklahoma
Citys hard-fought 98-95 victory over Portland on Tuesday night. "Point blank."
Durant had 36 points and 10 rebounds as the Thunder evened the series against
the Blazers 2-2 in their final regular-season meeting this year. Jeremy Lamb had
19 points, including a key 3-pointer with 1:38 left for the Western
Conference-leading Thunder, who have won 14 of their last 16 games.
Nicolas Batum had 18 points for slumping Portland, which has lost five of seven
but still ranks third in the conference behind San Antonio. Robin Lopez finished
with 17 points and 14 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season.
LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed a mid-range jumper in the final seconds that could
have salvaged the win for Portland, was asked what he thought of Durants
comment. "Were not trying to make friends out there," he said. "Were trying to
win games." Portland led by as many as 13 points in the first half and held a
55-45 advantage at the break, but the Thunder kept chipping away and the teams
went into the fourth quarter tied at 80. Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer and Lamb
made a layup to put the Thunder up 85-84. Portland reclaimed the lead on rookie
CJ McCollums running shot, but Durant re-tied it at 91 with a long hook. The
teams wrestled for the lead until Lambs 3-pointer gave the Thunder a 96-95
advantage. Damian Lillard missed a 3-pointer for Portland with 45.9 seconds
left. Portland got the ball with 12.3 seconds left after officials reviewed an
out-of-bounds call, but LaMarcus Aldridges mid-range jumper with 2 seconds left
was off and Reggie Jackson hit free throws for the final margin. "We fought
hard," Durant said. "Were a resilient team. Weve kept our heads up through
adversity and tough times. Im proud of our team." Portland won two of the first
three meetings between the two teams, but the Thunder won the last 105-97 in
Oklahoma City last month. Durant paced the Thunder with 42 points in that one.
Aldridge was a game-time decision because of soreness, but he started and
finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Blazers are the only team that has
started the same five players in all of their games this season.
http://www.voetbaltruitjebelgie.be/divock-origi-belgie-voetbalshirt.html.
Aldridge was disappointed with the loss -- and especially his final missed shot.
"I couldnt throw a rock in a lake tonight," Aldridge said. Portland jumped out
to a quick 18-6 lead, but the Blazers were hurt late in the opening quarter when
reserve forward Joel Freelands right knee buckled underneath him and he had to
be helped off the court. The extent of the injury was not immediately known, but
the Blazers depend on the 6-foot-11 Brit to spell starting centre Lopez. The
Thunder closed to 25-21 on Lambs 12-foot jumper early in the second quarter.
Portland held them off, but Lambs dunk narrowed it to 34-32 and the Thunder
finally pulled ahead 41-39 on Lambs 3-pointer. The Blazers answered with a 16-4
run to take a 55-45 lead into halftime. The Thunder again threatened when
Kendrick Perkins jumper got them within 66-63. Serge Ibakas jumper with 2:18
left in the third finally gave Oklahoma City a 76-75 lead, their first of the
second half. Jackson led the rally with 13 points after going 0-for-6 in the
first half. The teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 80. "It was a
physical game, but I like the fact that we kept competing and didnt let anything
bother us," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We just competed, possession by
possession. And thats what good teams do." The Blazers were coming off a 2-2
road trip, including 117-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on
Saturday. Following the loss to the Thunder, they were headed to Los Angeles for
a game against the Clippers on Wednesday night before the All-Star break. The
Thunder were coming off a 112-100 victory over the New York Knicks, with Durants
41 points leading the way. NOTES: Portland was without guard Mo Williams, who
had just returned from attending to a family matter. It was hoped that Williams
could travel with the team to face the Clippers on Wednesday night. ... Aldridge
and Lillard were presented with their All-Star jerseys before the game. ...
Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha appeared to injure his right hand in the first
half, but he returned to start the second half with his hand taped. ... Freeland
was scheduled for an MRI on his knee. ... The Thunder had three technical in the
game, and the Blazers had one.
Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '