ZURICH, Switzerland -- It will be Cristiano Ronaldo vs.
[b]Jrue Holiday Jersey[/b] . Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a place at the World Cup. Portugal and Sweden were the first two teams drawn by FIFA on Monday for the European playoffs, though the pairing was talked about as a clash of superstar forwards in a two-leg series scheduled for Nov. 15 and 19. "World-class players like Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic, they do something extra to change the game," Sweden coach Erik Hamren said. "I am pleased we have one, too. But we need our team to be really good." Also, France will play Ukraine, with the return game in Paris; Greece was paired with Romania; and Iceland, the lowest ranked of the eight teams at No. 46 in the world, will host the first leg against Croatia, which fired its coach last week. The four winners will complete Europes 13 entries in the 32-team World Cup draw on Dec. 6 in Salvador, Brazil. Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic were consigned to the playoffs after their teams finished second in their qualifying groups behind Russia and Germany, respectively. "They will be evenly balanced and very competitive games," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "Ibrahimovic is an imposing figure, but the Swedes are more than that, they are good collectively." Portugal also had to advance to the 2010 World Cup through a playoff, after twice drawing 0-0 with Sweden in the group. France, the 2006 World Cup runner-up, also makes its second straight trip to the playoffs after defending champion Spain won its group. Four years ago, a notorious handball by Thierry Henry helped France beat Ireland in extra time. "(Ukraine) dont concede many goals and it will be a long away trip for us," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "But to have the return leg at home is a good thing." France and Ukraine last met in a 2012 European Championship match which was delayed several minutes after kick off by a torrential rain storm in Donetsk. France eventually won 2-0. Iceland, which has a population of about 315,000, is looking to become the smallest country ever to play at the World Cup. That record is held by 2006 qualifier Trinidad and Tobago, which had about 1.2 million. Though Iceland lacks the recent pedigree of Croatia, the 1998 semifinalist, the pairing pits a veteran coach against a novice. Iceland coach Lars Lagerback will be trying to reach his fourth straight World Cup with a third different team. He coached his native Sweden at the 2002 and 2006 tournaments, and Nigeria in 2010. Croatias playoff matches mark the coaching debut of 42-year-old Niko Kovac, who stepped up from the under-21 team to replace Igor Stimac, who was fired after poor results. "I met Niko a little when he took his (coaching) license," Lagerback said. "He looks like a clever guy." Kovac said he "did not expect this situation" and will work alongside his brother, Robert, another former World Cup stalwart for Croatia. "With him I am never afraid," said Kovac, who will be focusing on teamwork. "There was no team on the pitch. We have some good players but everyone working for himself." Greece coach Fernando Santos said he would have preferred to play the first match in Romania. "My message to the fans is that they should believe in the national team, go to the stadium, fill it, and put pressure on our opponents," Santos said.
[b]Nikola Mirotic Jersey[/b] .m. on Friday. Granger was acquired from the Indiana Pacers last Thursday for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen, but never played a minute for Philadelphia. The 76ers also received a 2015 second-round draft pick in the deal.
[b]Solomon Hill Jersey[/b] . PETERSBURG, Fla.LONDON - Manchester United benefited from an own goal and then a late strike by Wayne Rooney to beat Arsenal 2-1 on Saturday and climb into the top four in the Premier League.Kieran Gibbs own goal came in the 56th minute when a pair of United crosses created panic in Arsenals defence. Rooney scored in the 85th after a quick counterattack shredded Arsenals defence in a two-on-one. Angel di Marias pass to Rooney left the forward unmarked and he stroked the ball past substitute keeper Emiliano Martinez.Its a very important victory, Rooney said. We weathered the storm at times, especially first half. Then we knew we could hit them on the counterattack, we knew they were vulnerable on the break.Substitute Olivier Giroud, who recovered from a broken leg a month ahead of schedule, pulled a goal back for Arsenal during eight minutes of added time with a shot into the top left corner.The result left United in fourth place with 19 points, ahead of Newcastle on goal difference, and Arsenal slid to eighth place with 17 points.Its been an indifferent start for us, Rooney said. We hope now we can go on a good run of games and ... build a bit of momentum going into the new year.Arsenals defensive frailties were exposed once again in a match that the Gunners had been dominating up until the first goal.We were not efficient enough defensively or in the final third, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.A cross by Ashley Young from the left spooked Arsenals defenders, with Gibbs and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny both challenging for the ball. The left back clattered into Szczesnys ribs and Antonio Valencia crossed the loose ball from the right. Gibbs, who wwas still on the floor, stuck out a leg and the ball was diverted into the goal in the 56th.
[b]Jordan Crawford Jersey[/b]. Szczesny, who was also down when the goal went in, couldnt continue and left the field clutching his left ribcage. He was replaced by third-choice keeper Martinez. Minutes earlier, midfielder Jack Wilshere had to be replaced because of an apparent left ankle injury.Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez nearly equalized with a header in the 62nd, but United keeper David de Gea caught the attempt. Substitute Santi Cazorla also had a chance to level when Danny Welbeck headed the ball down for him in the area, but De Gea saved the shot in the 68th.When the match kicked off, it seemed like Arsenal would run away with the game.Arsenal laid siege to Uniteds goal in the first 20 minutes but a combination of fine saves from De Gea and poor finishing by Arsenal meant the visitors went into halftime with an unlikely clean sheet.Arsenals wastefulness showed in the statistics at halftime, with the Gunners taking 11 shots, five on target.Welbeck had two good chances in the first 10 minutes with Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain involved both times. Welbecks shot was blocked from close range in the fifth minute after a pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain, who ran unchallenged into the area. In the ninth minute, Oxlade-Chamberlain broke free of Rooney and crossed from the right, but an unmarked Welbeck headed well over the bar.Jack Wilshere then missed the chance of the half when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the 14th after a throughball from Welbeck, but the midfielders close-range shot bounced off De Gea and the ball rolled away out of danger.
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