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| Remembering Nigel de Jong seemingly Kung Fu-kicking Xavi Alonso within inches of his life during an ill-tempered 2010 World Cup Final, it is hard to fully rationalize we now stand only a mere six months from the first ball to be kicked in anger at Brazil 2014. On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Brazil, though, will go into the 2014 World Cup Finals with the single mindset and firm view to finally remove the only significant un-removable stain on the host nations World Cup Finals legacy. Its been 64 years of tears, pain, anguish and embarrassment for the nation of 200 million. The source of which traces itself back to the 1950 Finals, the only other time Brazil has played host to the grandest and greatest show on mother earth. The scene was The Estadio do Maracana, without a doubt world footballs global shrine and likely the greatest sporting amphitheatre on the planet and the 1950 World Cup Finals. Now lovingly restored for next summers tournament for a cost well in excess of half a billion, Maracana was inaugurated this past spring when England were fortunately invited to attend. A joyous occasion and celebration last June, but that was not the case on July 16, 1950. Close to 175,000 packed in to witness what they thought would be World Cup fame, glory and honour for their beloved football nation. Sadly, Brazil forgot the script, completely botched their lines and went down to the stunning 2-1 defeat against fellow South Americans, Uruguay. Going 1-0 up early in the second half Uruguay hit back and scored the winner with just 11 minutes remaining on the clock. All 173,850 were left open mouthed in shock come the final whistle. Making the defeat all the less palpable was the format. The tournament called for a final group of four to determine the winners. In their previous two final group encounters Brazil had amassed an astonishing 13 goals against Sweden and Spain. A draw would have seen Brazil win its first World Cup and the rather magnificent trophy named after the World Cup Finals founding father, Jules Rimet. Instead, Uruguay were crowned champions for a second time at what was only the fourth Finals in FIFA history, this coming after a 12-year break due to War World II. Englands Dreaming … Or is it a Nightmare? An Englishman may liken that momentous Final to what happened in Germany in 1974 and South Africa in 2010, but the national team were rightfully put in their place. It was a match that still stands as the most significant shock in World Cup Finals history. Make that in all world football history itself. The English had held out from the previous three World Cup Finals afflicted with what could be best described as a decade-plus-long case of extreme snobbery, likely caused by the air of arrogance that in some ways still surrounds. Footballs founding nation, which celebrated its 150th birthday in late October, left London packing some of the most illustrious names ever for Brazil in 1950. They included Matthews, Finney, Nicholson, Milburn and a man who would go on to coach them to 1966 glory, Alf Ramsey himself. Following Joe Gaetjens lone marker late in the first half England trudged off the Belo Horizonte pitch with their heads held shamefully low after a 1-0 loss to the United States. To put into a correct and clear perspective when Pathe News sent the score to Fleet Street London newspapers incorrectly stated England had beaten the US 10-1. Speaking of the Americans… I had the utmost pleasure of speaking with the 1950 US captain Walter Bahr on TSN 690 during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa who, although at the time a spritely 83-years of age, had memories as vivid as if it were just yesterday. Bahr also disclosed in our chat that in the mid 1950s he played his football in Montreal and pointed out that not only was Canadiens goaltending legend Lorne “Gump” Worsley a teammate but that he was an exceptional central defender. High praise indeed from a man who captained America to its greatest-ever football victory, which could only be surpassed by winning a World Cup itself. That will certainly not occur next summer, after the Americans were handed a horrendous draw topped off with a frantic travel schedule. Their schedule is one that even the Rolling Stones - and all those millions they would command - would even baulk at. Drawn in a group along with the 1974 and 2006 hosts (Germany), it is of no relevance what U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said Friday afternoon. "I guarantee you Jurgen [Klinsmann] knows more about Germany than “Jogi” Low knows about the U.S." Nor does it matter the result of their recent friendly. More important is the fact that the Germans - like the rest of the world - are fully aware of who currently coaches the U.S. team. No one in World Cup Finals history prepares as successfully and efficiently as Deutschland. The Americans will play friendlies like all other Brazil 2014 nations as part of preparations including a showcase one which is scheduled against England in Miami. If the USSF have an ounce of genuine thought and desire about Brazil 2014 any England match should be rain-checked in favour of playing a nation whose football styles are more in keeping with the likes of Germany, Portugal and Ghana. Jet… With the wind in your hair An interesting sidebar to the last time Brazil hosted a World Cup Finals: Only 13 nations could be bothered to show up. Absent despite qualification were India, who were denied a request made to FIFA to play in bare feet. Imagine that, Cristiano. France was another to withdraw due to a requirement to play two of their three group stage games so far apart. The distance between matches would almost cover the entire length of Canada. You will be sure the U.S. will not be happy with their Brazil 2014 group, nor the fact no other nation will rack up the air miles like they have to. Continental Shift? As he rightfully did in Fridays draw Nelson Mandelas rightful and most honourable shadow will loom large over Brazil 2014 from Sugar Loaf Mountain to the beaches of Ipanema and beyond. Not ever before in the previous 19 World Cups to date has an African nation reached even the semifinal stage. Let alone a final. How wondrous it will be if the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon or Ghana can pull off the unprecedented. Get into the Final four and magic often occurs. Come next June I know who I will be cheering most heartedly for. Do you? Tune into TSN 690 when Noel Butler hosts a special edition of oranges at halftime which will include a significant tribute to Nelson Mandela. To broadcast Monday evening at 7:00pm Listen Live: TSN.ca/Montreal. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at: Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel Cheap Soccer Jerseys . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Jerseys From China . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. http://www.jerseysfromchinaauthentic.us.com/ . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. Cheap Jerseys From China . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Cheap NHL Jerseys . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July.INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis tried everything to move up in the AFCs playoff pecking order. The Colts still came up short. Andrew Luck threw for 282 yards and one touchdown, Robert Mathis won the NFL sacks title and Adam Vinatieri became the seventh member of the NFLs 2,000-point club Sunday as the Colts routed Jacksonville 30-10 before watching their longshot hope of earning a first-round playoff bye vanish. Not that the Colts cared much about what was going on with the Bengals or Patriots. "Were in the playoffs and thats what matters," Luck said before knowing next weekends pairings. "We get to play at home, so it will be fun to not have to wait around to play." That will have to suffice for now after Indy handed the Jaguars (4-12) their third straight loss. An Indy win coupled with losses by New England and Cincinnati would have vaulted the Colts into the No. 2 spot. A loss by either would have put the Colts in the No. 3 spot. But the Bengals beat Baltimore 34-17, the Patriots beat Buffalo 34-20 and the Colts wound up with the No. 4 playoff seed. They will host Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. Coach Chuck Pagano promised his team would not watch the scoreboard, and it was clear they didnt pay attention until the game ended. Instead, the Colts were focused on keeping their momentum. "They always talk about December being the second most important month in football and we went out and went 4-1," Pagano said before the late afternoon results were in. "I have no idea, unless you guys have any updates, but we know we have a home game. So well wait to see what happens." Indy (11-5) is now playing its best football of the year. After alternating wins and losses for six straight weeks, the Colts rebounded with three straight routs. Theyve matched their longest winning streak of the season and their 11-win total from last season, appear rejuvenated on offence and defence and seem to be enjoying themselves mightily. Luck was 26 of 37 for 282 yards, shattering Cam Newtons record for yards passing (7,920) in a players first two seasons and becoming the first player in league history to top 8,000 yards during that span. Luck finished his second season with 8,196 yards. T.Y. Hilton caught 11 passes for 155 yards, both career highs. Mathis, who led the league in sacks most of the season, retook the lead by sacking Chad Henne once in each half to give him 19 1/2. A third sack was awarded to Jerrell Freeman, though itt appeared Mathis made the initial contact.dddddddddddd St. Louis Robert Quinn fell 1/2 sack short of Mathis, who joined Dwight Freeney as Indys only sacks champions. Vinatieri, long dubbed the best clutch kicker in league history, delivered another strong performance. The 41-year-old made three field goals and scored 12 points to move into fifth all-time with 2,006 points -- passing George Blanda (2,002) and Matt Stover (2,004). Indy was darn near perfect. Jacksonville, meanwhile, never seriously challenged the Colts. Henne finished 30 of 51 for 331 yards with one TD and one interception but couldnt get the Jaguars into the end zone until hooking up with Kerry Taylor on a 14-yard TD pass with 16 seconds left. Taylor caught eight passes for 75 yards. Maurice Jones-Drew, who is now likely to hit the free-agent market, ran 13 times for 39 yards and caught five passes for 51 yards. Jacksonvilles defence couldnt get Indys offence stopped consistently either -- until the Colts let off the gas pedal in the second half. "We didnt execute very well today," first-year coach Gus Bradley said. "Everybody took their turns. We missed some reads. We missed some route combinations. We missed tackles. We missed some assignments." It didnt take long to notice what was wrong. Donald Brown scored on a leaping 1-yard TD run, Trent Richardson followed that with a 2-yard TD run and Vinatieri booted a 23-yard field goal to make it 17-0 after one. Jacksonville looked like it would get back into the game after a 37-yard field goal and Henne got them into scoring position late in the first half. But Henne was picked off by Antoine Bethea, which set up Vinatieris milestone field goal. Luck opened the second half with a 7-yard TD pass to former college teammate Griff Whalen. That was good enough for the Colts. "Im glad were playing decent football going into the post-season," Luck said. "We know the post-seasons a whole different ball game and one-and-done. But to finish the regular season strong with these wins has been good." Notes: Indy lost starting cornerback Vontae Davis with a groin injury, defensive lineman Aubrayo Franklin with a knee injury and linebacker Bjoern Werner with an ankle injury during the first half. Pagano said all three would undergo further evaluations. ... Jacksonville finished the season with 1,260 rushing yards, a second straight single season low for the franchise. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' ' |
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posted on: 12/18/2015 01:37:11 AM
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