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LISBON, Portugal — The encounter between Portugal and Sweden is the marquee matchup in the European playoffs to complete the con

in Neues 18.02.2019 04:36
von jokergreen0220 | 2.155 Beiträge

LISBON, Portugal — The encounter between Portugal and Sweden is the marquee matchup in the European playoffs to complete the continents 13 entries for next years World Cup. Nike Blazer Shoes Online . Portugal and Sweden finished second in their qualifying groups behind Russia and Germany, respectively. Here are five things to know about the first-leg game in Lisbon on Friday. The second leg is at the Swedish national stadium on Tuesday. ___ JUST ONE, NOT BOTH One of Europes most sensational goalscorers wont be thrilling the crowds in Brazil. Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo and Swedens Zlatan Ibrahimovic are two of the games top showmen, and prolific scorers, with the kind of talent that can light up stadiums. And both are in top form — they each bagged a hat trick for their clubs last weekend. Ronaldos third hat trick of the Spanish season for Real Madrid made him the top scorer in La Liga with 16 goals in 13 rounds. He has added another eight in four Champions League games. The 28-year-old winger, who was crowned FIFA world player of the year in 2008, is Portugals second-highest scorer after Eusebio, with 43 strikes in 107 appearances. Swedish defender Mikael Lustig has the job of marking Ronaldo — and says hell need some help, because "support is the secret in a game like this." Ibrahimovic is Swedens second all-time scorer, with 46 goals. He has racked up 15 goals in 16 games for Paris Saint-Germain this season, including seven in the Champions League. The 32-year-old striker was the French leagues top scorer last season and can swing a game in his teams favour. A year ago, he scored all of Swedens goals in a 4-2 win over England, with his late overhead kick counting as one of the sports greatest goals. "We can stop him," Portuguese centre-back Bruno Alves said, "but it means stopping the whole Sweden team because if he doesnt get the ball he cant do much." ___ OTHERS TO WATCH Nani has spent most of his international career in Ronaldos shadow. The Manchester United winger has struggled to make his mark over the past year, being sidelined by injuries that kept him out of four Portugal matches. He didnt find the net for 16 months up to Octobers qualifier against Luxembourg. With 14 goals in 70 appearances for Portugal, Nani is keen to claim his place in the limelight. "Its all about having the right attitude," he said. While the Portuguese focus their attention on Ibrahimovic, they face a big obstacle at the other end of the pitch where goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson is one of Swedens standout players. The 32-year-old is Swedens bulwark, often saving the day when the sometimes brittle Swedish defence cracks. Isaksson produced some spectacular saves in Swedens qualifiers against Austria and Ireland and memorably saved a stunning bicycle kick by Lionel Messi last February. ___ PORTUGALS PROBLEMS The Portuguese commonly play better against big-name teams than less famous ones. Their qualifying campaign was spoiled by home and away draws against Israel and a home draw against Northern Ireland. Inconsistency has dogged Portugal, which has won just eight of its 16 qualifiers and friendly games since the 2012 European Championship finals. This is the third time in a row Portugal has fallen short of automatic qualification for a major international tournament. It also went through the playoffs to reach the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Despite having Ronaldo on its team, it has struggled to make its superiority tell on the scoresheet. "Even when weve played well weve lacked something vital — effectiveness in front of goal," coach Paulo Bento said. Portugals joint second-top scorer in qualifying was central defender Bruno Alves, whose four goals matched those by Ronaldo. Helder Postiga was top with six. ___ SWEDISH SPIRIT While playing unevenly and sometimes coming up short in defence, Sweden showed an impressive fighting spirit in its qualifying campaign. Most remarkably, the team rallied from four goals down to draw 4-4 with Germany. It also turned around a game against Austria, fighting back from a goal down to win 2-1, and did the same against Ireland for a 2-1 victory. That record isnt lost on Portugal coach Bento. "Sweden is a team that never gives up," he said. "Well have to be totally concentrated." ___ HISTORY LESSONS Portugal is ranked 14th in world by FIFA. Sweden is at 25th. Though the Portuguese have risen to the occasion at international tournaments, reaching the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2012, their trophy cabinet is still bare, as is Swedens. Sweden has never lost in Portugal in seven visits. It also has a head-to-head advantage with six wins and three defeats against Portugal. But the Swedes havent beaten Portugal since 1984, and their last three meetings ended in draws. "Neither team can be said to be the favourite," Bento said. ____ Malin Rising contributed to this report from Stockholm. Nike Blzer Cheap .J. - Henrik Lundqvist has done more than set a couple of franchise records for the New York Rangers this week. Cheap Blazer For Sale .com) - No Sidney Crosby, no problem. http://www.wholesalenikeblazer.com/ . So he and his Toronto FC teammates say they will have no problem getting up for their Amway Canadian Championship final against rival Montreal Impact, even if the result doesnt count toward Major League Soccer standings.Orlando, FL - After scoring a touchdown on its first offensive play, the floodgates opened in No. 18 Clemsons 40-6 win over Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl. In relief of the injured star freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson, senior Cole Stoudt threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-36 passing with no interceptions to help the Tigers (10-3) complete their fourth season in a row with at least 10 wins. The Clemson defense dominated, forcing five turnovers and limiting the Oklahoma offense to 275 total yards. Artavis Scott caught eight passes for 114 yards, including his 65-yard touchdown on Clemsons first play. Mike Williams added nine catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. Samaje Perine totaled 134 yards on 23 carries, much of which came late in the game, for the Sooners (8-5). His fumble in the second quarter halted Oklahomas first drive in Clemson territory. Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight completed 17-of-37 passes for 103 yards and three interceptions with no touchdowns. After a Sooners three-and-out, Clemsons offense took the field and scored immediately on Stoudts screen pass to Scott, who got a block from Charone Peake and then made two defenders miss on his way to a 65-yard touchdown. I just knew this was my last game here, said Stoudt. I prepared to be my best. I just wanted to do it for the guys around me. Oklahomas defense bailed out Knight after one interception by blocking Clemsons field goal, but the Tigers did not need their offense the next time. Knights second interception in as many drives was returned by Ben Boulware for a 47-yard touchdown that put Clemson up 17-0. Down 20-0 in the second quarter, the Sooners appeared to have gotten back into the game when Charles Tapper tipped a pass in the air and then returned an interception for a touchdown, but an offsides penalty negated the score. Nike Blazer Shoes For Sale. Just three plays later, Mike Williams caught a screen pass, made a man miss and ran for a 26-yard touchdown. Im really disappointed in how we played, said Sooners coach Bob Stoops. The number of turnovers was so big. We finally make a play, get a turnover, we feel weve got a touchdown, and were offsides. Oklahoma did not reach Clemson territory until its eighth possession, and it did not last long. Perine fumbled to give the ball back to the Tigers, who led 27-0 at the half. While the Sooners went three-and-out on three consecutive drives to open the second half, the Clemson offense added two more touchdowns. Stoudt ran one in from the 2-yard line and threw another scoring pass to Germone Hopper in the closing minutes of the quarter. As Oklahoma moved the ball into Clemson territory for the second time on its next drive, Keith Ford fumbled to return the ball to the Tigers. The Sooners got on the board in the fourth quarter on Alex Ross 11-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, and Knight was picked off again on the next Sooners possession. Game Notes The all-time series between these teams is tied at two... Clemson improved to 19-18 in bowl games while Oklahoma fell to 28-19-1 ,,, Watson had surgery to repair a torn knee ligament earlier in December ... Williams 112 yards put him over 1,000 for the season ... The Tigers have won 38 in a row when leading after three quarters. 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