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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 5 2017, 11:17 AM (40 Views) | |
| riluowanying123 | Dec 5 2017, 11:17 AM Post #1 |
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Scotland will look to keep up their recent good form with a double-header against two of the favourites for Euro 2016, starting with Italy on Sunday. Despite a disappointing qualifying campaign which saw them finish fourth in their group, Gordon Strachans side are seen as good warm-up opposition for some of the sides who will be in France.That sees them face incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Contes side in Malta before a meeting with the European Championship hosts in Metz next Saturday. The games in the next few days will be the Scots first against the Italians and French since both only just prevented them from reaching the 2008 tournament.As Strachan and his players seek some kind of retribution, they will do so coming off the back of three consecutive wins over Gibraltar and, more recently, the Czech Republic and Denmark.Scotlands assistant manager, Motherwell boss Mark McGhee, said: I hope the motivation is that they want to play against these good teams again regularly. Mark McGhee wants Scotlands players to be motivated by facing big-name sides ahead of the World Cup qualifiers I think it will be when they sit down to watch the Euros themselves and that will make them even more determined to be part of it next time.We have no control over what the Italians will do or what side they will pick - but they could pick any 11 from the squad they have and I think it will be a fairly robust challenge for us.Team newsWith the season ending and no competitive games internationally until the World Cup qualifiers begin in September, it is perhaps not surprising the Scots have been hit with withdrawals.Rangers defender Lee Wallace is among the latest to pull out along with Derbys Chris Martin and Aston Villa right-back Alan Hutton. Lee Wallace is out of the squad but his Rangers team-mate Barrie McKay (above) remains involved Wallaces Ibrox team-mate Barrie McKay remains in the group, however, and is expected to make his first senior appearance for his country over the coming days.Goalkeepers Allan McGregor and Scott Bain are both missing with back injuries so Scott Fox and Jack Hamilton have been selected as replacements.Swanseas Stephen Kingsley and Derby midfielder Craig Bryson are also in but Andy Robertson, Robert Snodgrass, Shaun Maloney and Barry Bannan all miss out.Each of them will be at Wembley for the Championship play-off final between Hull and Sheffield Wednesday but they will join Scotland at their Maltese training camp ahead of the France match. Swanseas Stephen Kingsley has been called into the group after a number of withdrawals Opta statsScotland have only beaten Italy once in their history, winning 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in November 1965 (D2 L7).The last meeting between the teams came in November 2007, when Italy ended Scotlands Euro 2008 qualifying hopes in a 2-1 victory through a 90th-minute winner from Christian Panucci.Gordon Strachan has lost just one of his last nine friendlies as Scotland manager (W6 D2). Antonio Conte will take charge of Chelsea after he takes Italy to Euro 2016 in France The only Scottish player to score in an away from home against Italy is Kevin Gallacher, back in October 1993.The Tartan Army are looking to keep three successive clean sheets away from home for the first time since September 2007.Italy havent won any of their last four internationals since qualifying for Euro 2016 (D2 L2).Italys last eight international goals have all been scored by different players, with only one of those goals coming in the first half.Graziano Pelle has scored more goals than any other Italian player during Antonio Contes reign (four). Graziano Pelle has scored more goals for Italy than any other player during Contes reign as manager BettingScotland go up against odds of 17/4 to secure the victory on Sunday evening as Sky Bet rate Italy 4/6 favourites, while the draw priced at 13/5.The Italians are, however, up against odds of 16/1 to win Euro 2016 while Scotland are given a 4/1 chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup after failing to book their place in this summers finals.Southamptons Pelle is rated Italys main threat at 9/2 to net first, while Steven Fletcher heads the betting from Scotlands side of the first goalscorer betting at 8/1.Follow Italy v Scotland with our live blog on skysports.com and the Sky Sports apps. Authentic Thunder Jerseys .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. Black Friday Thunder Jerseys .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. http://www.cheapthundersjerseys.net/ . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Cheap Thunder Store .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Cheap Thunder Jerseys . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. OXON HILL, Md. -- If Bryce Harpers representatives have had real discussions about a long-term contract with the Washington Nationals, general manager Mike Rizzo is not tipping his hand.Meeting with reporters Monday at baseballs winter meetings, Rizzo deflected a question about whether hes engaged Harper or agent Scott Boras about an extension for the slugger who was the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year and 2015 NL MVP.Its not like us to discuss anything that we (say) when were talking to players about anything, so Im not going to answer any of those kind of questions, Rizzo said. Those are private discussions between us and the players.Harper -- who is coming off a down year, hitting .243 with 24 homers and 86 RBI for the NL East champions -- is under Washingtons control for two more seasons.He can become a free agent for the first time after the 2018 season.With every player that you acquire, its a possibility that you may lose them in their specific time frame. With Bryce Harper and every other player that has a contract expiring, you better make plans, Rizzo said, when asked about preparing for the chance that Harper could leave in 2018. And its not just Bryce Harper; its everybody on the roster.Rizzo said he speaks weekly with Boras -- and other agents. That the GM would be in regular contact with Boras is hardly surprising, given that he represents several Nationals in addition to Harper, including pitchers Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasbuurg and third baseman Anthony Rendon.ddddddddddddere constantly talking to him throughout the year, throughout the winter, during the season, Rizzo said. Theyre not specific negotiations, but theyre discussions about strategies and philosophies and all those things that come into it.Among other topics touched on by Rizzo:- Things just didnt work out with closer Mark Melancon, who was acquired by Washington at the trade deadline last season and agreed to a free-agent deal with the San Francisco Giants. Rizzo said the Nationals offered market value, but the Giants offered him more.- With Melancons departure, Rizzo acknowledged the obvious, saying: The bullpen is something were going to have to address.- On the possibility of trading for White Sox starter Chris Sale or Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen, Rizzo said: Weve had ongoing discussions with a lot of different teams. The White Sox and the Pirates have been two of them. But weve got a lot of lines in the water. Weve got a lot of irons in the fire. ... Were going to be aggressive if the occasion arises, but were going to be prudent and smart about it.- On whether he feels a sense of urgency to improve his roster, Rizzo responded: I think urgency is a mistake. Were coming off a 95-win team with a good young core of players and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' ' |
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