Meister der Farbe » y has he been delivering all year for a team

As Brazil awoke last Monday morning with a sizeable Confederations Cup hangover, Armenias Shirak FC were going through their final paces ahead of their July 2 encounter with San Marinos SP Tre Penne. Remarkably, and only a little over five weeks since Arjen Robbens late Wembley marker the 2,000-odd fans packing out Shiraks Arnar Stadium this past Tuesday evening were witnessing the opening salvo of the 2013-14 competitive football season in Europe. The qualifying stages of the UEFA Champions League were underway and come the final whistle the first hat trick of the competition was in the books. Take that Cristiano. As the so called minnows of European football fight amongst themselves the elite of European football began unlocking the padlocks on training camps and David Moyes was altering the speed dial numbers of Sir Alex Fergusons office phone. Moyes first official day in the job saw him put the final touches of the coaching jigsaw in place. The new Old Trafford supremo didnt need Google to map out his search as the English champions announced coaching roles for Ryan Giggs and old boy Phillip Neville. The London bookies reacted immediately - some installing Giggs as the favourite to succeed Moyes. Giggs, who signed a one-year extension just as Sir Alex Ferguson was putting the finishing touches on yet another BPL title, made his club debut back in 1991 as a fresh faced 17-year-old. By sheer coincidence, Uniteds opponents at Old Trafford that early March day was Moyes old club Everton. Installed as player-coach, Giggs spent the offseason in the classroom continuing his coaching education which is due to culminate next summer when the club expects the 39-year old Welshman to receive his UEFA Pro License. Alongside the well-respected Neville, who retired at the end of last season after finishing as a player under Moyes, United could not have wished for better ambassadors to act as the conduit in the dressing room with the new gaffer. Moyes, who came under the media spotlight for the first time earlier last week, was his usual defiant self when informing the assembled throng Wayne Rooney was not for sale. Although Moyes let it be known he has already conducted several productive meetings with a player he helped nurture at Goodison Park this will do nothing to dampen the heightened speculation of where Rooneys future lies. The Rooney speculation is not just a media invention, as future Barcelona captain and ex-team mate Gerald Piqué got in on the act when saying earlier today he thought Rooney would slot in very nicely alongside Messi and Nou Camp new boy Neymar. The two uber-stars who team up officially next week when Barcelonas training camp opens have spent time hanging out together as the Messi and Friends series of charity matches got underway. On Tuesday night in Lima, Peru Neymar completely outshone Messi and capped a mesmerizing performance with the most audacious of 45-yard lobs. Its lucky for the people in attendance Neymar did not join Arsenal as if he did its quite likely following his MVP performance at the Confederations Cup Wenger would have wrapped the 21-year old up in cotton wool and packed him off to a health farm for a month of rest and recuperation. Messis charity tour - that culminated in a date at Soldier Field, has had its fair share of controversy including the last minute cancellation for Wednesdays planned date in Los Angeles. Added to this, many of the high grade talent including the likes of Aguero, Fabregas, Alves, and Prince-Boateng withdrew from the wrap in Chicago as they prepared to meet up with their clubs for training camp. AC Milan, who get underway at one of world footballs grandest of training complexes Milanello on Monday only managed to finish third in Serie A last season will themselves have to qualify for the this seasons Champions League. Before that early next month along with Chelsea, Valencia and Internazionale, the Rosonerri will take part in the New York leg of the International Champions Cup, a brand new pre- season tournament which also counts amongst its participant Real Madrid and the Carlos Tevez-strengthened Juventus. The unique concept calls for games in Indianapolis, Los Angeles and even Valencia where the competition will kick off July 27 before concluding in a show piece final at Sun Life Stadium, Miami August 7. Its hardly surprising that with the likes of Real Madrid off on a European jaunt prior to flying to Los Angeles, Liverpool playing in Australia, Manchester United jetting off to the Far East where Chelsea will also play prior to arriving in New York - it is the worlds airlines which have leapt to the top of world footballs sponsorship table. Barcelona, who will tour Asia this pre-season, recently announced a global partnership with Qatar Airways. With the Qatar Foundation already installed as jersey sponsor the Spanish champions have considerably strengthened their ties with a nation that will host the 2022 World Cup Finals. The pre-season also affords the perfect platform for clubs across Europe to launch their new jerseys. One of the grandest events took place a few summers back when AC Milan took to Times Square and live television to unveil their new road jersey. Mercifully for Liverpool fans, the club spared them the embarrassment of live television when they unveiled their new alternate jersey yesterday and one that would not look out of place down the local bowling alley. For a club that has tested the patience of their phenomenal fans starved of domestic league success for over two decades, Liverpool are certainly doing their level best to invoke their great history with a jersey that was inspired by the one they wore back in 1995-96. According to club legend Jan Molby, the five-time European champions are now preparing for life post Suárez. With Real Madrid the most likely destination for Suárez, it certainly increases the possibility when the curtain comes down on this seasons UEFA Champions League at the Estádio do Sport in Lisbon on May 24, Los Blancos may finally have claimed their 10th European title. Magnificently Madrids pre-season gets underway about as football far removed from the prestige and glamour of a date in the Champions League Final when on July 21, they travel to Goldsands Stadium for a date with AFC Bournemouth. A once in a lifetime David and Goliath encounter which will certainly have the locals talking about for many generations to come. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca@TheSoccerNoel http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Eric-Tomlinson-Jersey/ . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Leonard-Williams-Jersey/ . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Demario-Davis-Jersey/ . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Muhammad-Wilkerson-Jersey/ . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/T-Shirts/ . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Coaches and well-trained players will tell you that every win is worth the same.Theyre wrong.No better examples can be found than the way Seattle, Dallas and Denver won on Sunday. Those victories are the kind that can define a season, catapult you to special things.Most impressive was the Seahawks 31-24 win at Foxborough, a place visitors rarely leave with smiles on their faces. Particularly after settling for three field goals, missing an extra point kick and a dubious 2-point conversion attempt.But in one of the most bone-rattling games imaginable -- look for Earl Thomas hit on Rob Gronkowski for proof -- Seattle re-established its credentials as an opponent to be reckoned with. The Seahawks often come on in the second half of the schedule, and the way they punished the Patriots and also handled the hits they were given in return bodes very well for Pete Carrolls club.It says exactly what our creed is: We fight until we cant fight no more, said safety Kam Chancellor, whose tight coverage on Gronkowski resulted in an incompletion from the Seattle 1 to end New Englands chances. No matter what the circumstances are, we never look back. We keep pushing forward and we keep fighting.Seattle (6-2-1) won on Russell Wilsons arm (348 yards, 124.6 passer rating), Doug Baldwins mitts (three TD catches) and that fierce defense. It won even though Wilson remains almost stationary (for him) in the pocket because of bothersome leg injuries.Its been a tougher year in the sense of obviously, the injuries, and havent faced that (limitation) before, Wilson said. But there was no way I was going to let that stop me. And the mentality was to do whatever I could to play the games, and get ready, And just continue to battle, and continue to have that mulish approach, and continue to stay steadfast.Denver, like Seattle, has had plenty of success recently, albeit with a certain No. 18 at quarterback. It is now 7-3 thanks greatly to its still-staunch defense.And, of course, to a special teams play for the ages.Justin Simmons leaped over the offensive line and blocked a potential go-ahead extra-point kick by Wil Lutz. Will Parks grabbed the loose ball, retturning it 84 yards for a defensive 2-point conversion with 1:28 left.dddddddddddd The defensive 2-point play was only added to the rules prior to the 2015 season, and this was the first time the winning points came on such a play.Ive never had an ending like that, especially on special teams, DeMarcus Ware said, and hes been in the NFL for nearly 12 seasons. It was just big, a big victory. I mean usually a game ends from the defense because of a forced fumble or interception or something like that. But seeing it happen from special teams, you never see that.The effect it could have, particularly with two rookies combining for such a brilliant and rare play, is immeasurable.The significance of an eight-game winning streak powered by two other kids -- quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott -- is that Dallas is thinking big. After its 35-30 comeback sizzler in Pittsburgh, the Cowboys have earned the right to think as big as, well, Big D itself.Asked if hes been around a team where two rookies have had such a quick impact, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones replied, Not two that are so in sync to where theyre feeding off each other and the team feeding off them. I havent seen that.What the world saw at Heinz Field was the kind of determination and resilience that can lead to championships. Every time the more-veteran Steelers delivered a haymaker -- including a touchdown off a fake spike by Ben Roethlisberger -- Dallas responded.Elliott burst through a defense he said parted like the Red Sea and streaked to the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown to win it with 9 seconds remaining, and it might have been the most impressive act the fourth overall draft pick has delivered. And boy has he been delivering all year for a team that hasnt been a true championship contender for decades.If the Broncos, Cowboys or Seahawks find their way to the Super Bowl, they surely can point to Week 10 as a catalyst.---AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '