ekansekans's blog: "df"

Five thoughts from Day Seven at EURO 2012: 1. John Abraham Jersey . Pirlo is crucial to Italys success Aside from scoring a wonderful free kick, Italys Andrea Pirlo was at the heart of everything they did going forward against Croatia. His influence on the Italian team will play a key role in determining how far they go in the tournament. Croatian head coach Slaven Bilic clearly understood that stopping Pirlo was important for his teams chances of success against Italy, as Mario Mandzukic was asked to drop into midfield to pick up Pirlo in the first half. The Republic of Ireland will do well to take that into consideration before taking on the Italians on Monday. 2. Early goals have ruined Irelands chances The Republic of Ireland has played two games at Euro 2012, losing to both Croatia and Spain. While most expected the Irish to finish at the bottom of Group C, conceding goals early has made success an uphill struggle. In fact, Ireland conceded goals within the opening four minutes of each half of football that they have played at Euro 2012. Head coach Giovanni Trapattoni must be infuriated with his team for being so sloppy. The Irish have clearly forgotten one of the unwritten rules of football – maintain concentration in the first and last five minutes of each half. 3. Are we now going to see the Fernando Torres of old? Fernando Torres opened his Euro 2012 account against Ireland, pouncing on a loose ball in the box in the 4th minute, skipping past a challenge and driving it over the head of Irish keeper Shay Given. He then added a second after the break before begin replaced by Cesc Fabregas. Despite scoring a brace, it will take a string of fine performances from Torres to convince me that he has recaptured his best form. Torres has endured a difficult time in front of goal since moving from Liverpool to Chelsea in 2011, and despite winning the Champions League with Chelsea this year, his confidence has taken a massive hit due to his inability to hold down a regular place at the club level. 4. Can Croatia (or anyone, for that matter) get the better of Spain? Croatia goes into their final group game against Spain on Monday knowing that they likely need a result against the defending champions in order to reach the knockout phase. Have they got enough in their team to pull it off? I dont think they do. Spain will employ the same tactic against Croatia that has brought them success over the last four years – they will pass the ball to death, frustrate the Croats into making defensive mistakes, and punish them accordingly. While Spain were frustrated in their 1-1 draw with Italy, this tactic worked to perfection against Ireland. Unfortunately for Croatia, they dont have the same defensive discipline as the Italians. While Croatia has some punch up front in Nikica Jelavic and Mario Mandzukic, I dont believe they are good enough defensively to live with Spain. 5. Irish fans are the best With their 4-0 defeat to Spain, Ireland became the first team to be knocked out of the competition. As disappointing as that must be for Irish fans, they can take heart from the fact that they underlined their reputation as being the best fans in Europe. Down 4-0 late in the game, Irish fans broke into song – belting out The Fields of Athenry at the top of their lungs. Kudos to them for supporting their team; win, lose or draw. Pink Julio Jones Jersey . -- Everett Golson and Andrew Hendrix have emerged as the front runners to be Notre Dames starting quarterback. Limited Julio Jones Jersey .Y. -- Good news, Jets fans. http://www.theatlantafalconsgear.com/julio-jones-jerseys . He hopes he wont have to wait too long to do it again. Yakupov arrived in Edmonton to prepare for training camp ahead of a season in jeopardy of a possible lockout as NHL labour talks continue in Toronto. Pink Gonzalez Jersey . -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan hopes he never has to endure another five-interception game. Dunta Robinson Jersey . Following the qualification round of the mens sprint, Briton Jason Kenny is ranked in the number one spot with a 9.713 second time trial result.PARK CITY, Utah -- Canadian skeleton rookie Cassie Hawrysh showed shes ready to contend with the worlds best, racing to fourth place in just the second World Cup of her career Friday. The 27-year-old from Brandon, Man., finished in a two-run combined time of one minute 41.27 seconds on the Park City track, the skeleton venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics. "Finishing fourth for me in just my second race is great so not getting on the podium doesnt matter at this point," said Hawrysh, who was 11th last week in Lake Placid. "I was in the mix in training this week, but training is training and you just never know on race day. I was really pleased with how it went." American Katie Uhlaender won the gold, but was a bundle of nerves as she stood in the finish area, waiting for one final challenger to cross the line. "It was like watching a scary movie and not wanting to really look," said Uhlaender, the reigning world champion. When she did, she almost couldnt believe her eyes. She had won gold, edging Britains Elizabeth Yarnold by one-hundredth of a second, her combined time down the 15-curve course 1:40.93 seconds. Yarnold was second in 1:40.94. Germanys Anja Huber (1:41.21) took bronze. Mellissa Hollingsworth of Eckville, Alta., was seventh. Calgarys Sarah Reid, who won the World Cup opener in Lake Placid last week, had a poor first run and finished 11th overall. "Im telling you I broke the curse when I won worlds," Uhlaender said of Februarys competition in Lake Placid, N.Y. Before that the two-time Olympian was dealing with so much emotional upheaval, she had a hard time coping. "I was in a really bad place for a long time," the 28-year-old Uhlaender said Friday. She shattered her left kneecap in a snowmobile accident after the 2008-09 season -- about the same time she was dealing with the loss of her father, former major league outfielder and scout Ted Uhlaender. Red Tony Gonzalez Jersey. . He had spent eight seasons with Minnesota, Cleveland and Cincinnati as a player, and died of cancer in February 2009. After losing what she called her "foundation," she persevered through even more operations and a lengthy rehabilitation. In May she was still in tears, telling her coach that she feared shed never be the same again. "I didnt have strength in my left leg, I couldnt do a single-leg squat, then all of a sudden in June, I started hitting the numbers I hit in 2007," said Uhlaender, who dominated the World Cup circuit with five golds during the 2006-07 season. As Fridays race showed, she is back and building momentum. "Im finally healthy. I have no hip pain, no knee pain," she said. The five-foot-three, 136-pound Colorado resident also has no more pain in her heart. "When I won worlds, I felt like I was finally able to let go of the fact that my father is no longer here. Its motivated me even more to keep his legacy alive," she said. That she does by wearing his 1972 National League championship ring around her neck, taped to her sports bra during races but visible along her collar as she accepted a bouquet of flowers atop the podium. What would his reaction be to Fridays down-to-the wire win? "Hed be jumping in his boots," Uhlaender said with a huge smile. Uhlaender finished a disappointing fifth last week in Lake Placid, N.Y., in the seasons first World Cup event. But she hadnt participated in the team selection trials by virtue of her world victory, and wasnt familiar with the three-heat format. She was primed Friday, and was second after the first run, then held on as Yarnold couldnt match her speed. "Its so close right now, it could be anyones day," Uhlaender said. ' ' '