SHENZHEN, China - Top-seeded Li Na advanced to the second round of the Shenzhen
Open by beating Vera Zvonareva of Russia 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday.
PJ Tucker Suns Jersey . Monica Niculescu of
Romania also advanced, beating Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Also,
Yung-Jan Chan of Taiwan defeated Zhang Shuai of China 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 and Timea
Babos of Hungary advanced when Nadiya Kichenok of Ukraine retired while trailing
6-0, 2-0. In the second round, Peng Shuai of China beat Silvia Soler-Espinosa of
Spain 6-3, 6-3.
Swingman Shaquille ONeal Jersey . The Habs
open up the 2013-2014 NHL season at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on
October 1 and even though camp doesnt start until September 11, all players were
on hand with the exception of Tomas Plekanec and Davis Drewiske.
Dan Majerle Jersey . Louis Rams had some fun
during the coin toss of Sunday’s game at the expense of the Washington
Redskins.There he was once again in space in the middle of the field. He took
one quick look to the left, before firmly fixing his wide eyes on to his
team-mate with the ball. He didnt just want the ball, he demanded it and his
team-mates knew it too. A look from him and they knew they should give him the
ball. The ball rolled towards him incredibly slowly in his mind, so slowly he
was able to take a quick look to his right before he felt the ball grace against
his right boot. Immediately he took a touch forward, keeping his head up to see
the run, although he already knew it was coming, and as he dribbled deep into
the opponents territory he waited until the perfect moment to supply the pass
through the defenders and on to the rushing teammate. The pace of the pass was
so precise, Jordi Alba only had to touch it once to settle himself before
slotting home. 2-0 Spain. In the 41st minute that night in Kiev, Xavi Hernandez
became the first player ever to assist in two different European Championship
finals, but the pass that cemented that stat meant so much more than achieving a
football first through an assist statistic. Xavi knew what the world knew at
that moment. Spain, who hadnt given up a single goal in any of their previous
nine knockout games at the Euros or World Cup, certainly were not going to
concede twice to Italy that night. Xavis magnificent pass had secured their
victory and put them amongst the greatest national teams to ever play the game.
Spain would go on to win 4-0 with Xavi again providing a key assist for the
third goal. Andres Iniesta, who is far more than a teammate to Xavi, rightly was
handed man of the match to cap a marvellous tournament, but in terms of raising
his game for the big occasion no one did it better than Xavi that night. Xavi
and Spain had spent most of the tournament in third gear but when the midfield
maestro stepped it up, so did the team. It has been the story of Xavis career.
The previous summer in the Champions League final at Wembley, a theatre he loved
because of how much be embraced the sports history, Xavi had the keys to unlock
the opposition. Once again he had found space, this time between the lines, but
as he attacked Manchester United had his options covered. Still Xavi waited,
ever the ball treasurer, the Spaniard let Lionel Messi make a run to drag
Patrice Evra central, exposing a bit of space for Pedro to run into. Xavi saw
the space first and placed another perfect ball that allowed the eventual
goalscorer to take one simple touch before firing home. Another assist and
another completely masterful performance on the games biggest stage. In the
summer of 2010, Xavi made more passes and more accurate passes than any player
at the World Cup (599/669), yet his most crucial one comes from a corner against
Germany in the semi final, one that landed on the head of Carles Puyol, to help
power Spain into their first ever World Cup final. A few days later, Xavi lifted
the World Cup after his footballing soul mate, Iniesta, scored the games only
goal. After that win in South Africa, UEFA President Michel Platini did not ask
for Iniestas winning shirt. He asked, and received, the shirt of Xavi. The same
Xavi who in the summer of 2009, again in the Champions League final, placed a
magnificent ball on to the head of Lionel Messi who nodded it past Edwin van der
Sar. Messi did not win man of the match that day, Xavi did. The same Xavi, a
summer earlier, that got it all started for Spain, who changed their identity
from perennial underachievers to winners, when he placed a wonderful ball
through to Fernando Torres to score the games only goal. Xavi has been around
long enough to know what it was like when both his teams struggled, yet he, more
than any other player, helped them both reach the top of the sports mountain.
When the footballing genius eventually calls it a career his legacy will be
reflected by the incredible impact and importance he had for his teams in big
games. Xavi is simply not just a player who won everything there is to win with
club and country. He is a player that dictated their identity; an identity and
style that helped both Barcelona and Spain dominate. Two days prior to his Kiev
display, the artist stood in front of the worlds media and had to answer a
question on whether that style was boring. "If we are boring but we are winning,
that is fantastic for us. We will keep playing our game, we are not bored." How
could he be? The victory in Kiev was Xavis 17th winners medal in four years. In
between the Euro 2008 and 2012 victories, he and Iniesta had won a World Cup,
two Champions League titles, three Spanish league crowns, three Spanish Super
Cups, two Spanish CCups, two European Super Cups and two World Club Cups.
Swingman Penny Hardaway Jersey. Since he has
won another league title and a Spanish Super Cup all done in a style far from
boring. "We go out from the first moment looking for the ball and looking to put
pressure on the opposition. If you are not going to pass the ball then why play
the game. That is not football in my opinion," Xavi explaind. ‘For another coach
— someone like (Javier) Clemente or (Fabio) Capello — they may have another idea
of football but it is good that the Barcelona idea works. What were Holland
looking for in the World Cup final? A Robben counter-attack? Penalties? We won a
lot of games 1-0 but it was the opposition that were boring, not us." Xavi
turned 34 last month and played in his 700th game for Barcelona. He has played
more games in the five-and-a-half seasons than anyone yet there are very few
signs of weariness. "I dont want to miss any games, but I see the need to dose
my efforts a bit more," he said recently. "Maybe in Spain people get carried
away when a player reaches 30, but this is the best I have felt in my career.
More mature, physically better. It is because I have learned things." Xavis
football brain will carry him into his senior years and well beyond his playing
days, likely into a job as Barcelona coach one day, but while he has his legs we
still have opportunities to watch him play. It is these opportunities, as
football lovers, that we must grab. We are the guardians of future history and
when we are asked in years to come what was Xavi like? it will be down to us to
explain to the next generation what a magnificent, complete player he was.
Unfortunately, in Canada we are robbed of seeing him play every week on domestic
television but next week the Champions League presents us all with another
opportunity to watch him. There, of course, is one other window of opportunity
that could burst open for North American fans. "Rumours about moving to Qatar
or New York this year? My wish is to stay here until the end of my contract. Im
not moving," said Xavi recently. That would take him to the summer of 2016, by
which point he will be 36. Xavi is smart enough to know that will likely be too
old to be a major player in such a technical style that both his club and
country play. However, a move to MLS when he is 36 would give him a great
opportunity to compete for a couple more winners medals while playing into his
late thirties. Xavis path to the United States could be boosted by what his
friend and mentor, Pep Guardiola, decided to do when he took a sabbatical from
coaching last season and came to New York. Xavi, who was kept out of the side by
Guardiola when he was young and almost moved because he couldnt get in ahead of
him, went on to be a very different player (occupied further forward to make
those key assists) thanks to Frank Rijkaards progressive thinking but has always
had a special bond with his former teammate and coach. Ferran Soriano and Txiki
Begiristains primary job is to succeed with Manchester City, but the former
Barcelona executives will play a crucial role in the success of new MLS team,
New York City FC, as 80% of that club is owned by the Premier League club. Xavi
has every right to stay focused on the tasks at hand in his homeland right now.
After all, in the next four months, he has a Champions League and a Spanish Cup
to try and regain and a La Liga and World Cup to try to defend but when he is 36
he will have a decision to make and it is difficult to imagine him choosing
retirement. He would be magnificent in Major League Soccer. Of all the current
players in the game today, not named Ronaldo or Messi, he would be the one I
would want to watch play in North America. A recent twitter poll of this
question saw just 2 of 100 answer Xavi (with Zlatan Ibrahimovic being the
overwhelming popular answer) but then again the Spanish maestro is used to being
in the shadows of the true superstars. Less than 18 months ago I went to
Barcelona to watch them play, excited to see Messi and my favourite, Iniesta,
play. Not for the first time, Xavi crashed the party putting on a passing clinic
in midfield. Enjoy him while he is still playing at a high level, folks. Spain
have created many wonderful footballers, but on January 25th, 1980, Xavi
Hernandez i Creus, the greatest of them all, was born. He grew to be a
footballing giant at 5ft 7 inches, who played a major role in the way the game
was played. One can only hope the last chapter of this fabulous footballing life
can one day be written in North America. Just think of the ways the league and
its players could benefit.
Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys
Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '