导出博客文章MANCHESTER, England -- With a third straight win in qualifying, defending
champion Germany is enjoying a comfortable ride on the road to the 2018 World
Cup in Russia.Things just got a bit tougher for England, though.While Englands
winning start to Group F ended with a poor display in a 0-0 draw at Slovenia on
Tuesday, Germany maintained its 100 percent record after three rounds by beating
Northern Ireland 2-0. Only three other teams -- Belgium, Greece and Switzerland
-- have opened European qualifying with three successive victories.Goals in the
first 17 minutes from Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira gave Germany a commanding
lead that was never really threatened in Hannover. Joachim Loew tied Sepp
Herbergers record of 94 wins as Germany coach and it couldnt be going much
better for the world champions settled team: Three wins from three games, eight
goals scored and none conceded.England also leads its group but the displays are
hardly encouraging for its fans. Three days after a tedious 2-0 win over Malta,
England required a brilliant performance from goalkeeper Joe Hart to earn a
point in Ljubljana.One of Harts saves was sensational, when he tipped Jasmin
Kurtics header onto the bar off a corner and then clawed the loose ball away
from the line in his next movement. Hart also denied Slovenia in two one-on-one
chances, gifted by slack England back-passes.Englands national team is in a
state of flux, just a few months after an embarrassing last-16 loss to Iceland
in the European Championship. Gareth Southgate is in interim charge after Sam
Allardyce left as coach last month -- after just 67 days in the job -- following
a newspaper sting, and captain Wayne Rooney was dropped against Slovenia because
of poor form.Englands young team is still the favorite to qualify from Group F
and has a two-point lead after three games.Heres a look at the rest of the
action on the final night of qualifiers in this latest period of
internationals:---GROUP CThe only team close to Germany is Azerbaijan, which
settled for a 0-0 draw against the Czech Republic in Ostrava after opening with
two wins.In the other match, Norway defeated San Marino 4-1 in Oslo for its
first points in qualifying. There was still time for celebrations for the
201st-ranked visitors, who scored their first away goal in World Cup qualifying
since 2001 when Mattia Stefanelli equalized nine minutes into the second
half.Norway scored three goals in the final 13 minutes, through Adama Diomande,
Martin Samuelsen and Joshua King.---GROUP ERobert Lewandowski struck five
minutes into stoppage time to earn Poland a 2-1 victory over 10-man Armenia and
keep the team on pace with Montenegro at the top of the group.It was the eighth
consecutive qualifier that Lewandowski has scored in, with his latest goal
coming three days after a hat trick in a 3-2 win over Denmark.Armenia lost Gael
Andonian in the 30th minute after two yellow cards in two minutes. Hrayr Mkoyan
netted an own goal to put Poland 1-0 up in the 48th minute before Marcos
Pinheiro equalized in the 50th.Montenegro beat Denmark 1-0 away thanks to Fatos
Becirajs 32nd-minute goal and is well-placed to challenge Poland and qualify for
the World Cup for the first time. Both Poland and Montenegro have seven points
from three games.Romania was held 0-0 by Kazakhstan in the other game.---GROUP
FSlovenia stayed two points behind England after three games and was joined on
five points by Lithuania, which beat Malta 2-0 for its first win in the
group.Fiodor Cernych and Arvydas Novikovas, from the penalty spot, scored in the
final 14 minutes to leave Malta without a point so far.In the other game, Robert
Mak scored two goals and set up the third for Adam Nemec as Slovakia beat
Scotland 3-0 to earn its first points in qualifying. It was Scotlands first
loss, coming three days after a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Lithuania.Only
two nations, Portugal in 1985 and England in 2001, have recorded wins over the
Germans in their 86 World Cup qualifiers.
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. Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference
semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with
several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi
Sarkodie. NFL Nation reporters provide preseason predictions -- from rookies who
will win position battles, to players who will break out, to injured veterans
who are finally healthy and ready to succeed -- for the teams they cover.AFC
West | AFC North | AFC South | AFC East NFC West | NFC North | NFC South | NFC
EastAFC WESTDenver BroncosCoach Gary Kubiak will be asked about the?quarterback
competition at least once a day until a decision is made.In the face of that,
Kubiak will not rush the decision, and he will not waver in his stock answer
that he is confident the Broncos will pick the right guy. After the early work
in camp, however, its clear Mark Sanchez will have to lose the job before he is
passed on the depth chart. Despite Trevor Siemians quality work behind center,
it looks like only a significant stumble in the preseason would?keep Sanchez
from starting the Broncos regular-season opener. -- Jeff LegwoldKansas City
ChiefsSafety Eric Berry wont sign until the preseason is underway.The Chiefs and
their franchise player failed to agree on the terms of a multi-year contract by
the July 15 deadline, which made Berrys only option to play the season to sign
the teams obligatory, one-year offer worth about $10.8 million. Berry, who
overcame cancer to have one of his best seasons in 2015, has too many good
reasons to play this year, so its likely he will eventually sign the contract.
However,?unhappiness about not reaching a long-term deal will delay his signing
until after the Aug. 13 preseason opener. -- Adam TeicherOakland RaidersMenelik
Watson will beat?Austin Howard for the starting right tackle job.Watson, a
former second-round draft pick who is coming back from a torn Achilles tendon
suffered last preseason, was getting the first-team reps in offseason workouts,
while Howard, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14 last season,
was breathing down his neck. This should be the most entertaining position
battle of camp. -- Paul GutierrezSan Diego ChargersWide receiver Tyrell
Williams?will?steal the show in training camp.Fans rightly will focus on
emerging star?Keenan Allen, but Williams, a second-year pro out of Western
Oregon, came on late last season?and should emerge as a deep threat for the
Chargers, along with Travis Benjamin.?The retirement of Malcom Floyd means?San
Diego must find playmakers, and the 6-foot-4, 205-pound wideout will get a
chance to take Floyds place. -- Eric D. WilliamsAFC NORTHBaltimore RavensWide
receiver Breshad Perriman will return before training camp ends and be ready to
start the regular season.Cue the eye roll now. Perriman proved to be a slow
healer with a knee injury last season, when he missed his entire rookie year,
but he was expected to miss only eight weeks after partially spraining his ACL
this offseason. He is showing progress in his rehab and should be ready by the
middle of August, which would give him enough time to get up to speed for the
regular season. Perriman, a first-round pick in 2015, has a chance to be an
impact playmaker early in the season. -- Jamison HensleyCincinnati BengalsTyler
Boyd will electrify Bengals fans who have the chance to watch training camp
practices.After an impressive spring, No. 83 will be one player to keep an eye
on. The second-round rookie was dubbed Cadillac by veteran cornerback Adam Jones
during organized team activities for the way the wide receiver?seemed to
seamlessly hum into a second and third gear while running routes. Jones was
complementing the smooth nature with which the receiver ran. Well be paying
close attention to how Boyd performs in one-on-one situations throughout camp,
particularly when matched up with Jones and fellow rookie William Jackson III.
-- Coley HarveyCleveland BrownsIsaiah Crowell will reward the faith shown in him
by coach Hue Jackson.Crowell has looked quick, active and in shape in the early
part of training camp. His cuts are crisp, his running fluid and he has also
made nice catches out of the backfield. Hue Jackson did not bring in a high
draft pick or free agent RB, which indicates he believes Crowell can be
productive. He has some really unquestionable ability, Jackson said. With
Jacksons faith and if Crowell maintains what he starts, he could have a much
better season than many expected. -- Pat McManamonPittsburgh
SteelersLittle-known slot receiver Eli Rogers will emerge as a key player in the
Steelers receiver rotation.In the process, Rogers will take reps from either
Sammie Coates or Darrius Heyward-Bey. Rogers is the only true slot receiver on
the roster, and the team is pleased with his progress. -- Jeremy FowlerAFC
SOUTHHouston TexansJadeveon Clowney will complete his first full training camp
and preseason slate.Clowney, who has 4.5 career sacks, has been injury-riddled
during his?first two seasons in the NFL. He has?had a concussion, groin injury,
torn meniscus, ankle injury, back injury and Lisfranc sprain. He and the Texans
are hoping his slew of bad luck is over. -- Tania GanguliIndianapolis ColtsJosh
Ferguson will be Frank Gores backup at running back.The Colts thought about
selecting Ferguson in the middle rounds of Aprils?draft?but passed because of
more pressing needs. They got lucky when they were able to sign?the running back
out of Illinois as an undrafted free agent. Indianapolis wants to lightened
Gores workload because hes 33 years old and last season had 227 more carries
than his next closest teammate. The Colts look at Ferguson as a dual-threat
back. -- Mike WellsJacksonville JaguarsKelvin Beachum will beat?Luke Joeckel for
the starting left tackle job.Joeckel, the No. 2 overall pick in 2013, has been
average at best in three seasons. The Jaguars really like free-agent addition
Beachums quick feet, and that allows him to better handle speed off the edge,
which is Joeckels biggest problem. -- Mike DiRoccoTennessee TitansMarcus Mariota
will throw some interceptions in training camp.In his first training camp last
year, Mariota?went 13 practices and threw 230 passes before he was intercepted.
There was great national debate about its importance. It certainly indicated how
cleanly he practiced. As Mariota?works with some new receivers and against a
secondary that includes more ball-hawking types, a long interception-less
practice streak is far less likely. -- Paul KuharskyAFC EASTBuffalo BillsHold
the fireworks: The Bills will be boring this summer. I hesitate to predict this
because the Bills, especially under Rex Ryan, have been a magnet for bizarre
developments in recent years. But that unlike last year, the Bills dont have a
quarterback battle (Tyrod Taylor is their unquestioned starter), their
first-round draft pick wont be on the field (Shaq Lawson is out until likely
October after shoulder surgery), and their top two offensive playmakers, LeSean
McCoy and Sammy Watkins, will be kept in protective bubbles as much as possible
during camp. I think fans will buy less into Rex Ryans hype this August than
they did last preseason, and Buffalos faithful will wait until September to see
if this?team can back it up on the field. -- Mike RodakMiami DolphinsReceiver
DeVante Parker will be the star of training camp.The 2015 first-round pick
finished last season on a high note and will carry that momentum into this
summer. The Dolphins were cautious with Parker in the spring, in an effort to
make sure he stays healthy, but Parker will shine once the coaching staff turns
him loose. -- James WalkerNew England PatriotsJoe Thuney will win the starting
job at left guard.The third-round draft choice from NC State worked with the
first unit for most of spring camps and is primarily competing against
fourth-year player Josh Kline and second-year player Shaq Mason for the top
spot. Returning O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia seems to like Thuney quite a bit.
-- Mike ReissNew York JetsThe Jets will go against conventional NFL wisdom and
keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.The QBs: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno
Smith, Bryce Petty and rookie Christian Hackenberg. Itll be cumbersome, for
sure, but they have to manage short- and long-term goals. Fitzpatrick and Smith,
both of whom will be free agents after the season, are the short-term guys.
Petty and Hackenberg provide long-term options. The downside: The development of
Petty and Hackenberg will be stunted because they wont get enough practice reps.
-- Rich CiminiNFC WESTArizona CardinalsFirst-round pick Robert Nkemdiche will
drop jaws throughout training camp.Nkemdiche is starting?training camp with a
sprained ankle, but when hes at full strength, hell show just how talented,
quick andd powerful he is -- and hell make a lot of teams regret passing on him
in Aprils draft.dddddddddddd. The Cardinals, however, will bring him along
slowly, making sure the injury doesnt linger. -- Josh WeinfussLos Angeles
RamsTwo rookie fourth-round picks will earn prominent roles in the offense.While
most eyes will be on No. 1 overall pick?Jared Goffs progression, keep an eye on
wide receiver?Pharoh Cooper?and tight end?Tyler Higbee. Cooper?might already be
the teams best true slot receiver and should find himself getting plenty of work
during camp, even if it isnt in a starting role. The same goes for Higbee,?who
has a chance to emerge as the teams best pass-catching tight end to complement
do-everything Lance Kendricks. -- Nick WagonerSan Francisco 49ersA?healthy
Carlos Hyde will emerge as the focal point of Chip Kellys offense.Although most
of the talk will be about the quarterback competition between Colin Kaepernick
and Blaine Gabbert,?Hydes progression is worth watching. The tempo of Kellys
offense often leads some to mistake it for a pass-heavy operation, but Kellys
system works best when the running game is the foundation. When the Eagles
finished second in yards per game in 2013, they led the league?in rushing by
more than 16 yards per game. As long as Hyde is back to full strength -- and the
Niners are cautious with him -- he should leave camp positioned to step into a
starring role. -- Nick WagonerSeattle SeahawksThe Tyler Lockett buzz will reach
epic levels.The second-year wide receiver is probably the favorite to be the
star of this years camp. He had an excellent rookie season and put in work with
quarterback?Russell Wilson this offseason. Dont be surprised if Wilson connected
with Lockett deep becomes a daily observation from those in attendance at
training camp. The hype on Lockett will be especially meaningful if hes able to
make plays downfield against Richard Sherman. -- Sheil KapadiaNFC NORTHChicago
BearsMark it down: Wide receiver Kevin White will shred Chicagos
secondary.White, who missed his entire rookie season because of injury, excelled
in the Bears offseason program against?the clubs suspect secondary. Expect the
No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 draft?to thrive once again in training camp,
where defensive backs are at a disadvantage because they cannot hit offensive
players. Big, fast and strong, White should dominate in 7-on-7 or full-team
drills without the fear of getting hit. Now, whether Whites performance
translates to the regular season is another story, but in camp, expect him
to?look elite. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsMatthew Stafford, again, looks good
in the preseason.This has been a common theme the past few years, and it hasnt
always translated to regular-season success. But Stafford has a good rapport
with offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and has a familiarity there that cant
be overlooked. Stafford is?going to be adjusting to new offensive pieces -- most
recently Anquan Boldin -- but hell continue carrying momentum from the end of
last season, when he played like a top-10 quarterback. Whether that carries to
the regular season is -- and always has been -- the question. -- Michael
RothsteinGreen Bay PackersThe Packers wont play Jordy Nelson in any preseason
games.After experiencing what he called a hiccup with his left knee while
rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee this summer, Nelson will be lucky
to even practice before the regular-season opener at Jacksonville. Even
quarterback Aaron Rodgers seemed prepared for that possibility when he said,
Were going to need a little bit of time -- not necessarily game reps -- but just
some reps in practice to be ready for Week 1. -- Rob DemovskyMinnesota
VikingsThe Vikings will give Adrian Peterson more work.Why more training camp
work for a veteran such as Peterson? To help him become more compatible
with?Teddy Bridgewater in shotgun sets. Theyd prefer to not use Peterson in
preseason games, but coach Mike Zimmer admitted after last season that he should
have done more to get Peterson acclimated with the Vikings changing offense when
the running back returned from his 2014 suspension. The Vikings will put their
time to good use this year, as they seek to improve the fit between their
31-year-old running back and 23-year-old quarterback. -- Ben GoesslingNFC
SOUTHAtlanta FalconsRookie DeVondre Campbell will solidify his role as the
starting weakside linebacker.The fourth-round pick?started camp strongly by
showing his speed in coverage. Now he has to make sure he gets a full grasp of
the defense. But athletically, no one should challenge him at the spot. --
Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersJames Bradberry will earn the starting cornerback
spot opposite Bene Benwikere.The Panthers are looking for a replacement for Pro
Bowl cornerback Josh Norman, and what better player to replace him than the
player who?took over Normans No. 24? Bradberry, at 6-foot-1, is about the same
size as Norman. The rookie second-round pick?is more disciplined than Norman was
as a rookie. Bradberry?worked with the first team throughout the offseason, and
I expect him to remain there through camp. -- David NewtonNew Orleans
SaintsSheldon Rankins will earn?a leading role.The Saints do a lot of rotating
at defensive tackle, so its no big deal that veteran Nick Fairley has been
working with the starters ahead of rookie Rankins so far. Chances are, theyll
spend a lot of time together in the lineup. But if Rankins, the No. 12 overall
pick in Aprils draft, lives up to his lofty potential once the pads come on
Saturday and once preseason games begin, it?might be hard to take him off the
field, especially for a defense that desperately needs to get more disruptive.
-- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersRookie defensive end Noah Spence?will make a
strong case for the starting job.In the first practice in training camp, while
lining up with the second-team defense, Spence blew past veteran right tackle
Gosder Cherilus. He affords the Bucs some flexibility with their fronts because
he can dip back into coverage too. Plus, he and Robert Ayers make a great tandem
when Ayers lines up inside, where he had about half of his sacks with the
Giants. With Jacquies Smith at left defensive end and Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy in
his usual spot, that has the makings of a scary pass rush. -- Jenna LaineNFC
EASTDallas CowboysCornerback?Morris Claiborne will make it through a training
camp healthy.The former top-10 pick?has not been able to do that in his first
four seasons with the Cowboys, thanks to wrist, knee and hamstring injuries.
Claiborne, who re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year deal, is coming off his
best offseason in part because he has been healthy. He was able to focus on
football and not rehab for the first time. Theres this?prediction too: Not only
will Claiborne?make it through camp, but also he will be a starter in Week 1
against the Giants. -- Todd ArcherNew York GiantsThe annually injury-riddled
Giants will remain healthy this summer.Call this a hunch, but already the
results of a new strength and conditioning program appear to be paying off. The
Giants had only three players on the physically unable to perform list (Damon
Harrison, J.T. Thomas and Jay Bromley) when practices began, and none was
dealing with a long-term injury. Something tells me this trend will continue
throughout the summer and the Giants will enter the season one of leagues
healthier teams. It would be much-needed because of their lack of depth on the
roster. -- Jordan RaananPhiladelphia EaglesCornerback Eric Rowe will work his
way back into the Eagles plans.The former second-round pick?slid down the depth
chart during OTAs and wasnt mentioned by coaches as training camp began. But
Rowe explained that he had trouble with one specific technique that he hadnt
been asked to do in college at Utah or with the Eagles as a rookie. Once he gets
that worked out, his size and athleticism should make him a factor in Jim
Schwartzs defense. -- Phil SheridanWashington RedskinsThe Redskins starting
cornerbacks will emerge as one of the best duos in the NFL.The continued
improvement of third-year player Bashaud Breeland makes this possible. Breeland
is a smart player who has always studied the game and adjusted, but now hes
playing with?Josh Norman, who can help his game develop even more. Breeland has
already incorporated various techniques from Norman, including how to use his
hands at the line of scrimmage. -- John Keim ' ' '
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