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Sat Dec 21, 2019 3:40 pm
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CAMPINAS, Brazil -- Cristiano Ronaldo again wore a brace on his troublesome left knee Friday, triggering a new wave of questions over his health as his Portugal team held its final World Cup training session before departing for a crucial game against the United States. Chicago Blackhawks Pro Shop . The reigning world player of the year took part in some light workouts with the first team, followed by stretching. He was smiling and appeared at ease at practice at the team base in Campinas, northwest of Sao Paulo, as he took part in a playful game of keep away from teammates. The team was set to leave later in the day for Manaus for its matchup with the U.S. on Sunday. Portugal was humiliated in a 4-0 defeat by Germany in their opener. Another loss and the fourth-ranked team in the world could be eliminated even before its final Group G game against Ghana. Ronaldo has been hampered by tendinitis and a muscle injury since before the tournament, creating plenty of speculation about how he would perform in Brazil. He was doubtful to play before the Germany game, but declared himself fit and went on to produce a subdued performance that only added to the usual drama and scrutiny surrounding the player. Team officials dismissed reports suggesting that Ronaldo could be risking his health by playing, saying they were tired of having to deny every rumour about a player many consider to be the worlds best. They noted, however, that he often plays with a brace and said hes healthy and would play against the U.S. Teammate Helder Postiga also expressed frustration over the media circus around Ronaldo. "I have already answered so many questions about Cristiano Ronaldo. Actually we speak about him every day. If I am sick of it, imagine how he is feeling," Postiga said. "If he is available enough to train with us thats probably because he is feeling well. Hes been training with us all these days and as usual he always gives his best. Hes just fine." Ronaldo has been one of the best players in the world for about a decade, and last year he even passed Lionel Messi by ending the Argentina forwards streak of winning the FIFA Ballon dOr. He has also excelled on the world stage, helping Portugal reach the 2004 European Championship final and the 2006 World Cup semifinals. The team also advanced out of the group stage at both Euro 2008 and the last World Cup, and then reached the semifinals at Euro 2012. Although he is Portugals all-time record scorer with 49 goals in 111 appearances, Ronaldo scored just twice in the last two World Cups. Fake Blackhawks Jerseys .com) - The Vancouver Canucks recovered from a fluke goal early last time out to knock off one of the top teams in the league. Custom Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys . Bryant underwent an operation in December to correct an irregular heartbeat. His season ended with four games left because of a rapid heartbeat, a condition he has known about for several years and had been treated for in the past. https://www.cheapblackhawks.com/ . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday.COLUMBUS, Ohio - Through the first two games of the season, the Dallas Stars had trouble scoring.Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn closed that gap in a hurry.Seguin scored three goals, including the tiebreaker with 7:44 left in the third, and Benn added a goal and three assists to lift the Stars to a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night for their first win.That was an awesome display, said Lindy Ruff, who collected his first win as Stars coach after an 0-1-1 start. I thought both guys played well. Seggy had a heck of a game and Benny the same thing.Seguin redirected Benns shot to give the Stars the lead then added an empty-netter. Seguin also opened the scoring in the first.Asked about Benns goal, which made it 2-0, Seguin cracked, I was wide open, actually.The Stars matched their goal total in their first two games. Kari Lehtonen had 33 saves, including several highlight stops in the closing minutes.Dallas wasnt exactly desperate for a win, but the victory sure was welcome.It would have (stunk), Benn said of the potential for a winless three-game start. But our goalie played good and we found a way to win, to get the two points.More than just the victory was how the Stars won it: On the road, against a team that had started 2-0-0 after a breakthrough season a year ago.It was a big thing, for sure, Seguin said. Our first win, especially on the road.Both teams traded scoring chances until Benn gathered the puck near the middle of the blue line and fired a low, hard shot that Seguin got a stick on.Seguin then had empty-net goal with a second left.It was quite a breakthrough night for Seguin, who had three hat tricks a year ago but was scoreless coming in.The 1-2 punch was nothing new, of course. Benn is coming off a season in which he had 34 goals and 45 assists and hadd a plus-21 rating. Blackhawks Jerseys China. Seguin, who always seems to be in the right place with the puck, had 37 goals and 84 points a year ago.Its stuff we built and were going to keep on building, Seguin said of the pairs rapport on the ice. (Benn) kind of asked me after the last game (a 4-1 loss at Nashville on Saturday) if we were panicking. We definitely werent but we thought we needed to do better. We had a better compete level from the drop of the puck (tonight).Benn, without a point and, like Seguin, a minus-3 plus/minus in the first two games, passed from the right wing to Seguins tape at the left doorstep, where he was able to jam the puck in past a defenceman while beating Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky just 3:36 in.Benn then ended up with a loose puck and no one near him in the high slot. He skated in and lifted a wrister inside the far post and past Bobrovsky for a 2-0 lead.That wasnt the start we wanted, said Ryan Johansen, who had both goals for the Blue Jackets. They were trying to get to 3-0 for the first time in the franchises 14 seasons.Jack Johnson added two assists and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 31 shots for Columbus.They were hungry. They came out and put us on our heels, said Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards, who attributed the loss to the poor first period. Then it came down to battles and with their speed they won most of them.NOTES: Dallas was without RW Valeri Nichushkin (groin/hip pointer), who was replaced on the top line by Colton Sceviour. ... The Stars are now 14-4-3 in their last 21 trips to Nationwide Arena. ... Columbus placed C Brian Gibbons earlier Tuesday. ... Linesman Brad Kovachik took a puck to his left leg and had to be helped off the ice early in the second period.___Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP ' ' ' |
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