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 Objavljeno: 27 Jun 2016 04:28 Naslov sporočila: . Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-2Season: 23.6 per cent PK: 2-4 |
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| GENEVA -- Brazil vs. http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Cristian-Zapata-Copa-America-Jersey/ . Italy. Twice a World Cup final, it could be the World Cup opening match in Sao Paulo on June 12. And the second match the next day could be a 2010 final repeat: Spain vs. the Netherlands. Thank the FIFA rankings that decide which teams are seeded if the World Cup receives such a blockbuster kickoff. The often-criticized rankings will surely be criticized on Thursday when they decide the eight top seeds in the World Cup groups being drawn on Dec. 6. The powerful Dutch, runners-up in 2010, and Italians, 2006 champions, should miss out despite going unbeaten through qualifying, according to unofficial calculations provided by FIFAs website. Belgium and Colombia are likely in, despite failing to qualify for the 2010 tournament. They will join Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina plus Uruguay, if it beats Jordan in a playoff. Also likely is Switzerland, which will spark questions about how FIFA grades national teams over a four-year results cycle. Indeed, Switzerlands surge up the rankings -- fueled by a 14-match unbeaten run in qualifying and friendlies -- might cast doubt on the value of being seeded. The intention of seeding is rewarding the best by ensuring they avoid the other strongest teams in the group stage. Host Brazil is automatically seeded in Group A. The decision to allocate the other seven seeds by the October rankings alone was agreed on by the FIFA executive committee only this month. That leaves the Netherlands, Italy and England -- all seeded at the 2010 World Cup when FIFA rankings were again decisive -- lurking as potential opponents for Argentina early in the tournament. England coach Roy Hodgson expects "two very, very good teams in every group," with FIFA set to allocate the other places by geographical spread rather than ranking. "Its pretty unnecessary to worry too much about whether we are the first or second out of the hat," Hodgson said on Wednesday. Still, Lionel Messi and Argentina might prefer to face Switzerland instead, after their 3-1 victory in a February 2012 friendly at Bern where the worlds best player scored all three. Switzerlands young team is certainly better since failing even to reach the 2012 European Championship. Euro 2012 was almost the perfect place to score ranking points in a FIFA system which gives greater weight to recent results, competitive matches, beating higher-ranked opponents, and wins against European and South American teams. So Italys slip beneath Switzerland is a little mystifying given its run to the Euro 2012 final, including beating Germany in the semifinals. However, Italy is penalized for drawing its final qualifiers 2-2, in Denmark last Friday and at home to 55th-ranked Armenia on Tuesday. Victory in either would have guaranteed a seeding in Brazil. "Im not disappointed. The goal was qualifying," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "At the European Championship we werent a top seed either and we finished second, so we shouldnt let it bother us. It doesnt worry me." Italy still carries an intimidation factor which the Swiss lack, and also comes with Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal and a Franck Ribery-inspired France. Both could join an illustrious group of unseeded European teams at the World Cup draw in Salvador de Bahia following an eight-team playoffs round next month. Portugal and France both could have fared better under FIFAs old system of seeding teams based on performances at recent World Cups. France being runner-up in 2006, when Portugal got to the semifinals, counts for nothing now. Though Portugal also reached the Euro 2012 semifinals and France was a quarterfinalist, both have dropped below a Swiss team which neither has played in the past four years. France has further gripes about FIFAs seeding by rankings, because it placed second to Spain in the only European qualifying group with five teams rather than six. Coach Didier Deschamps this week called it a "double punishment" that France had two fewer qualifiers to earn ranking points, and will likely be edged by Ukraine for seeding in the European playoffs being drawn on Monday. "From my point of view its not very logical," said Deschamps, whose route to Brazil could be directed through Portugal. The Netherlands, which took the top spot from Spain in the August 2011 rankings, did play Switzerland but drew 0-0 in Amsterdam in November 2011. The Dutch might yet be seeded if Uruguay slips up, but could have edged the Swiss by beating 88th-ranked Estonia in Tallinn last month. They needed a stoppage-time goal to draw 2-2. Switzerland, however, can also suggest one key result which raised its ranking and perhaps justifies its top-seed status. In August, when so many teams treat their friendlies lightly, coach Ottmar Hitzfelds team beat Brazil 1-0. http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Yerry-Mina-Copa-America-Jersey/ . -- Former British Open champion Darren Clarke has withdrawn from the Masters because of a hamstring injury. http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Roger-Martinez-Copa-America-Jersey/ .E.I. - Despite plenty of team restructuring on the Canadian mens curling scene in recent weeks, Team Jennifer Jones is vowing to remain intact for another four years. http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Farid-Diaz-Copa-America-Jersey/ . With their second-round pick in Saturdays NHL draft at No. 36, the Canucks took the highest-ranked goalie on the board, Thatcher Demko, as new general manager Jim Benning begins the process of replenishing the organizations goaltending depth.TORONTO – The backbone of many wins this season, special teams and goaltending were unable to lift the Leafs to victory once more in an otherwise forgettable performance Thursday night. Nashville scored a pair of power-play goals and Jonathan Bernier yielded four goals on 28 shots as the Leafs five-game home win streak came to an end in a 4-2 defeat. "We didnt play well enough," said captain Dion Phaneuf simply after the game. "I dont think you can say much more than that." While they scored first for the eighth time in 11 games at home – Peter Hollands first with the club – the Leafs seemed to fizzle out as the final two periods wore on at the ACC. A handful on the forecheck in the opening frame they were increasingly outworked and outmaneuvered by a pesky and relentless Predators squad. "I think our team, they all fit into the same category for us," said head coach Randy Carlyle following the loss, just the third at home for the Leafs this season (8-3-0). "We were flat after the first period. We didnt seem to have any energy, we didnt seem to have any enthusiasm and it just displayed that out on the ice surface." Seth Jones evened the score just over two minutes into the middle frame, his point shot on the man advantage redirecting off the stick of Jay McClement before beating Bernier. The goal marked the first of four straight for the Predators, who have now won three in a row. Matt Cullen would give Nashville the lead midway through period, capitalizing on lax defensive coverage. Craig Smith added a pair thereafter, including the second of two power-play goals for the Predators. Like their penalty kill – which allowed two goals for just the second time all season – the Toronto power-play (no. 1 on home ice this season) also endured a fruitless night, empty on just two opportunities. "It just seemed like the game turned and we couldnt get it back," Carlyle said. A source of so much success and stability for the better part of the season, elite special teams and terrific goaltending have propelled the Leafs to victory on many nights where it might not have been deserved otherwise. But on this night, those two elements could not propel an otherwise listless performance. Five Points 1. Stumbles on the penalty kill The second-ranked unit last season, the Toronto penalty kill hasnt been quite so dominant so far this year. Yielding a pair to the Predators, the special teams unit dropped to 15th best, successful to the tune of 82.4 per cent. Asked if hed been happy with the penalty kill, Carlyle replied, "Not lately. "Our penalty killing has been one of our stronger suits. I think that in the last couple of games weve been exposed. We havent cleared the puck when we have an opportunity – the oppositions been able to keep it in. Faceoffs, we havent got hold-ups at the proper times to get the puck down the ice to 200 feet. Those are the things that you look at and try to dissect and evaluate." Jones scored the first power-play goal on the aforementioned redirection. On the second marker late in that same period, it was Smith who beat Phaneuf to the front of the net before eluding Bernier. "My guy beats me back to the net," Phaneuf said. "Thats just a mistake that shouldnt happen, but they do and weve got to be better as a penalty killing unit. We know that." The Leaf penalty kill has actually been at its worst on home ice. The unit has allowed eight power-play goals on 36 opportunities (77.8 per cent). Certainly an aid to the group when healthy, Mark Fraser missed his second straight game with a left knee injury. 2. Berniers rare off-night versus Nashville Bernier played his 10th career game against Nashville on Thursday night – the most for him individually against any team – losing for just the second time (8-2-0). The 25-year-old, who shut out the Predators on Oct. 10 – his first as a Leaf – entered the night with a mighty .941 save percentage lifetime against a former Western Conference opponent, but was beaten on four of the final 19 shots. The final marker, the second from Smith, was fired innocently from along the boards, bouncing off the glove of Bernier and awkwardly into the net. "Ive got to make sure Im focused all game," said Bernier, who allowed four-plus goals for the third time this season. "It just happens. Those kind of goals will happen in my career. Ive just got to bounce back." Bernier still ranks eighth among save percentage leaders with a .934 mark this season. 3. Goalie dance The Leafs goalie tandem has been about the most successful aspect of the club through the opening quarter of the season. Still early, the tandem approach was worked about as well as general manager Dave Nonis could have imagined when he swung the trade for Bernier in the summer. "This isnt uncommon," said Carlyle of the tandem approach, always baffled by the constant attention surrounding the position in Toronto. http://www.teamcolombiasoccer.com/Carlos-Bacca-Copa-America-Jersey/. "Terry Sawchuk and Johnny Bower played together didnt they? ... Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog were a pretty good tandem in Edmonton in their dynasty years. So there are examples that you can go back to where there has been two goaltenders that have went in and played very well for their hockey club. I think its a sign of strength and I think its a great thing for the organization." Of late, the load in goal has leaned in Berniers direction. Thursday marked his fourth start in the past five games and fifth in seven games this month. 4. Kadri on the edge Former Marlies coach and Oilers bench boss Dallas Eakins often said that Nazem Kadri was at his best on the edge, most effective when enraging the opposition with a belligerent style. "Yeah I agree for sure," said Kadri, returning from a three-game suspension against the Predators. "Especially when things arent going exactly your way you tend to lean to that physical side to get you in the game. If its taking a big hit or a giving a big hit, whatever it is, it kind of wakes you up a little bit and gets you emotionally involved in the game. I think [Dallas] is right and I think he knows me pretty well as a player. I know myself as a player too and sometimes I do have to look to that area to get myself going." Kadri, who was suspended for accidentally running Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom on Nov. 13, said he often has to remind himself on the bench to activate such a game. "If Im not handling the puck or I feel like Im not getting some of the bounces I might just chip it in and go hard as an F1 and try and lay someone out – and hit em clean obviously," he said. "That doesnt just only get yourself going it gets the whole team going. Youd be surprised the reaction you get from the bench." The 23-year-old played 15 minutes in his return against the Predators, scoring a late goal, his sixth this season. Kadri started the game alongside Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk, but was flipped onto a unit with Mason Raymond and Colton Orr in the third. "I think he fit in with the rest of our group," said Carlyle of Kadri. 5. Hollands opportunity In his third game with the Leafs, Holland found the back of the net. Pouncing on a puck in the neutral zone, following board battle win from Nik Kulemin, Holland was able to sling one past Predators goaltender Marek Mazanec. With Kadri back from suspension and Tyler Bozak likely to return on Saturday, future opportunity for Holland is certainly in question. "How can it not be on your mind?" said the 22-year-old honestly. "Obviously Naz was back tonight and Bozaks coming back from injury. [But] Im just trying to focus on my game and help this team win." Concluding the night alongside Kessel and van Riemsdyk, Holland played just over 13 minutes against Nashville, dropping eight of 12 faceoffs. Carlyles looming decision at centre ice – at least in the short-term – will likely come down to Holland and Trevor Smith, who had a three-game point streak snapped on Thursday night. One of the two is likely to line up in the third line centre hole when Bozak returns. Bonus Point – Kessels status Thursday marked the fourth time in the past five games that Phil Kessel logged fewer than 16 minutes – 15:27 on this night. Though he scored a pair against the Islanders two nights earlier, Kessel has proven relatively quiet offensively in recent weeks. Asked if he was playing through injury, Carlyle sidestepped carefully. "I think all our players have bumps and bruises," he said. "They all have their ailments." Stat-Pack 2 – Number of times the Leafs have allowed two power-plays in a game this season. 8-2-0 – Career record for Jonathan Bernier against Nashville. 8 – Number of times the Leafs have scored first at the ACC this season. 77.8 per cent – Success rate for the penalty kill on home ice, fifth-worst this season. 8 – Points this season for Morgan Rielly, fourth among rookie defenders. Rielly had a pair of assists on Thursday, his second multi-assist game this season. 5 – Consecutive games with a point for Mason Raymond, who notched an assist on the goal from Kadri. 17 – Points for Raymond this season, second on the team and five back of the 22 points he had in 46 games last season. 59.8 per cent – Success rate for Jerred Smithson on the draw as a Leaf. Smithson went 8-for-9 in the circle against his former team. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-2Season: 23.6 per cent PK: 2-4Season: 82.4 per cent Quote of the Night "Maybe the luck and good fortune that weve enjoyed has turned against us in this game." -Randy Carlyle on the unlucky goals Nashville managed against his team on Thursday night. Up Next The Leafs continue a five-game home stand on Saturday night, playing host to former Leaf Mikhail Grabovski and the Washington Capitals. 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