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but scored 14, 17 and 17 points over the
LONDON - Starting out at the Canadian Consulate in rather exquisite Grosvenor Square, my day Tuesday concluded with a visit to one of the most unique football settings there is in all of English football. Chukwuma Okorafor Jersey . As the land which invented modern day Association Football and with that ticket to Rio on the line, it seemed Prince Harry included, the entire nations focus was entirely fixated on a sold out Wembley Stadium in North London Tuesday evening. Not mine. Leafy London, SW6 and a football stadium constructed in the 1890s on prime real estate nestled alongside the banks of the River Thames be my destination. The history of the venerable Craven Cottage dates all the way back to the 1780s, where the original cottage existed until burning down in dubious circumstances in the late 1880s. Modernized with great care and expense over recent seasons, Craven Cottage has been Fulhams home stadium for close to 120-years. On a chilling London Tuesday evening, the Cottage, as its affectionately known in these SW6 parts, played host as Canada took on a World Cup Finals bound Socceroos. A so termed friendly and the culmination of a 10-day London camp for our Mens National Team. Conceding the softest of goals from the opening whistle within the same time frame Usain Bolt takes to win three gold medals, was not the idealist of starts. However following the goal, the 3,500 or so in attendance witnessed a spirited first half performance from our latest creation of a mens team. A performance which could best be described as putting into applied practice, in a live setting, Benito Floros 10-day football theory master class staged over at QPRs training complex - located some 10 miles due west and within close proximity of Londons Heathrow airport. With a high energy and some outstanding movement in the attacking half of play, the mens national team created gilt edged opportunity over the next 44 minutes as they strove with Canadian-like endeavour to tie it up. Losing Julian de Guzman early on due to hamstring problems didnt dent enthusiasm or guile. The back of the net though remained as elusive as it has been over recent times and if it continues for much longer, the only trophy our MNT could win is if they give out prizes for goalless seasons. Were all now well aware the storm in a tea cup which erupted here in London Thursday in regards to a certain aspect of Roy Hodgsons half-time pep talk in the Wembley World Cup qualifier Tuesday night. What though happened in that Canadian dressing room at the interval remains a mystery. Yes a number of not fully bled youngsters were introduced. So what? They knew their roles going in. Woefully though and almost to a man, including the more experienced players, any manner of enthusiasm and forward thinking was left in that 115-year old dressing room. Lethargy took over and tracking back became a thing of the past. Speaking to captain Dwayne De Rosario post match he had an explanation. "Well obviously in the second half guys a lot of guys who havent got a lot of caps came in. Benito did tell us at the start of the game we would be coming off to give opportunity to the young guys to see them in this environment and test the waters." Break water they certainly did not. Australia were so dominant in the second-half, thoughts of San Pedro Sula came racing back as the Roos added two more easy goals. It finished 3-0 in favour of a nation which only four days before Tuesdays match unceremoniously jettisoned their head coach. One who only recently delivered Australia to yet another World Cup Finals. Anyone know when Roman Abramovich took up his role with the Australian Football Federation? My gosh Holga. Yes youd overseen two matches against Brazil and France where combined your team leaked in a humbling 12. No room for that in Frank Lowrys world. Lowry the maverick Australian multi-millionaire who almost single handedly has dragged Australian football from the dark ages to where they are today. Such is his influence that Australia was able to navigate out and away from the more challenging Oceania Continental Conference and transferred over to lightweight Asia. Not sure if this transfer came in the summer or January window. De Rosario was very matter of fact about the defeat. "Its disappointing, as its another loss in a game where yet again we did not score." Adding, "We have got to continue to work, and work and work. We got a long road ahead of us as you see tonight. Lets stay positive, lets make sure the group stays positive and learn from our mistake and hopefully every game we get better and better. I still see there is quality out there, despite the result." For many a veteran, this could be the cue to hang up the international boots. Not for this 2011 MVP, whose club season has been so pitiful, DC United have even managed to make Toronto FC appear enthralling like. De Rosario disclosing, "No it never crosses my mind. I still enjoy wearing the Canadian jersey, Im still proud to be called up. Its a huge honour for me, I still love the game. I believe I still have something to offer and I think I proved that in the first half." Disappointed with the outcome Tuesday the match itself was the curtain drop to the vital 10 days spent in camp with QPR playing the role of very gracious hosts. "I didnt see Harry, but the first team were training and it was a great environment for the young guys." The "Harry" De Rosario refers to is not Prince Harry but that old scoundrel himself Harry Redknapp. Which bought back memories of the first time I attended a professional football match - I was a snooty nosed little five-year old urchin in tow with my parents and two brothers. Craven Cottage was the venue as Fulham entertained West Ham. A West Ham team resplendent with the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters with a very youthful looking Redknapp playing in midfield that day. Fulham had a world cup winner in their ranks too, George Cohen. De Rosario himself was left suitably impressed with the venue. "The young guys see this stadium on TV and to have that experience they got tonight was valuable." Marooned in likely the hottest metropolis in the globe right now didnt faze the veteran when asked if he had chance to get out and enjoy the host city of last summers Olympics. "Not really. The focus was camp, and the game. We got out for a little bit for four hours or so but I know what this city is all about. The main thing was this game today." Next Week Part II: Julian de Guzman – provides insightful thoughts on Floro, and The Kids during Camp London. Plus De Guzmans rather candid and strained thoughts on his hometown club, Toronto FC. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca@TheSoccerNoel Mason Rudolph Steelers Jersey . Weise will have his hearing with the NHL head office over the phone, while the league has requested an in-person hearing with Kassian. Oilers centre Sam Gagner suffered a broken jaw after getting hit with a high stick from Kassian in Edmontons 5-2 win. Sean Davis Jersey . 1 overall pick in the draft by the Houston Texans, is recovering from sports hernia surgery.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Oklahoma City Thunder are back on the road and will take on the New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. The Thunder are scheduled to visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and went 3-2 on a recent road trip. They returned to Chesapeake Energy Arena for Mondays showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves and recorded a 92-84 win. With Kevin Durant out with a left big toe issue, Russell Westbrook handled scoring duties with 18 points and both Anthony Morrow and Reggie Jackson scored 14 points off the bench. Serge Ibaka had 13 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for OKC, which won for the fifth time in seven tries. We continued to fight and scrap and find ways to get stops, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. Oklahoma City will try to improve its 10-15 road mark tonight and hope to have Durant back in the lineup. Durant leads the team with 25.6 ppg. The Knicks were slated to host the Sacramento Kings on Monday, but a snowstorm forced the league to postpone the game. The contest has been rescheduled for March 3. New York had a three-game wiinning streak stopped with Saturdays 76-71 setback to the Charlotte Hornets, as Tim Hardaway, Jr. James Washington Jersey. posted a game-high 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting to go with six rebounds and five assists. Lance Thomas scored 16 points for New York, which played without star Carmelo Anthony (knee/rest) and made only 35.4 percent from the field. The Knicks held a 23-16 lead after the first 12 minutes, but scored 14, 17 and 17 points over the next three quarters. We just couldnt generate enough offense down the stretch, said Knicks coach Derek Fisher. The Knicks are only 3-17 in the last 20 games, but have won back-to-back contests at Madison Square Garden. They are 5-17 as the host this season. Anthony is questionable Wednesday, while Jose Calderon (knee) is questionable and Amare Stoudemire (ankle/wrist) is doubtful. The Thunder crushed the Knicks, 105-78, at home on Nov. 28 and were paced by Westbrooks 32 points on 12-of-17 shooting. Durant and Anthony did not participate in that matchup. OKC has won three in a row and nine of the last 11 games in this series. Cheap Ducks Jerseys Cheap Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Bruins Jerseys Cheap Sabres Jerseys Cheap Flames JerseysCheap Hurricanes Jerseys Cheap Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Blue Jackets Jerseys Cheap Stars Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Oilers Jerseys Cheap Florida Panthers Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Cheap Wild Jerseys ' ' '
- Created: Aug 16 '18
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