01-20-2020, 12:55 AM
NEW YORK, N. Ed Brown Jersey .Y. - Defending champion Spain and stars Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta will train in the Washington, D.C., area next week. England and Wayne Rooney arrive Sunday for a week of workouts in Miami. Ivory Coast and Didier Drogba have games in St. Louis and Texas. But instead of preparing for the World Cup against top teams and global stars, the United States arranged a sendoff series against No. 85 Azerbaijan, No. 39 Turkey and No. 44 Nigeria. Not that U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann didnt try to schedule tougher opponents. "Youre trying to find the best teams that suit you. Its not that easy anymore," he said leading to Sundays exhibition against the Turks at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. When the U.S. contacted high-profile teams, Klinsmann said they backed off. "Has to do a little bit with our results of the last two years," he added. Since Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley in July 2011, the U.S. beat Italy for the first time in 11 games over 78 years, defeated Mexico in Mexico for the first time in 75 years and qualified for its seventh straight World Cup. Klinsmann chose Stanford University for a two-week training camp that opened May 14, and the Americans started their prep schedule Tuesday with a 2-0 win over the Azerbaijanis — coached by Berti Vogts, a special adviser to Klinsmann. The American defence and goalkeeper Tim Howard were hardly tested, and the U.S. offence seemed to be slowed by heavy legs following a physically demanding training camp. "Now the teams start progressively getting harder," defender Omar Gonzalez said. "I think its a great three games for us, and its just an opportunity for us to shore things up, to gain a little bit of confidence." Turkey hasnt appeared at the World Cup since 2002, when the Crescent-Stars finished third after losing to eventual champion Brazil 1-0 in the semifinals, then lost to Germany in the semis of the 2008 European Championship. The Turks finished fourth in their qualifying group for this World Cup, behind the Netherlands, Romania and Hungary. Preparing for the start of 2016 European Championship qualifying, Turkey won 2-1 at Ireland last weekend on goals by Ahmet Ilhan Ozek and Tarik Camdal, then beat World Cup-bound Honduras 2-0 Thursday at Washingtons RFK Stadium when Mevlut Erdinc scored in the 70th minute and set up Caner Erkins goal on a counterattack in the 83rd. "Turkey is an unpredictable team. Its a team that has a lot of individual skills and they are good players that can make a difference in half a second," Klinsmann said. "We need games that really keep us on our toes. We need games that especially for our back line ... that challenges them not to lose focus and concentration, not even for one moment in our game. Otherwise you get punished, and that costs you badly." Four years ago, the U.S. rallied to beat the Turks 2-1 in Philadelphia, getting second-half goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey in the Americans final game before they headed to the World Cup in South Africa. The Turks have been without Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan, who missed last weekends Champions League final against Real Madrid because of a sore hip, but Borussia Dortmunds Nuri Sahin is on the roster. After this, the only pre-World Cup exhibition left for the Americans is on June 7 against Nigeria at Jacksonville, Florida. Thats followed by a scrimmage in Sao Paulo against Belgium on June 12. One question is whether Klinsmann changes his back four of right back Fabian Johnson, central defenders Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler and left back DaMarcus Beasley. "Were not worried about the results," Klinsmann said. "Even if we would have a negative result in these preparation games, we would take it the right way." Guy Chamberlin Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. Jesper Horsted Jersey . As if he had been rehearsing it, Vasquez looked around with a grimacing stare as he clinched two fists and flexed his muscles. What do you think of DeMar DeRozans face after he hits a big shot, he was asked moments earlier. http://www.custombearsjersey.com/custom-...2856t.html . He never mentioned anything about his hitting. The 33-year-old right-hander had success with both Sunday, pitching six solid innings and helping the offence-starved Mets with an RBI single as New York salvaged a doubleheader split with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.ORLANDO, Fla. -- With possibly two lottery picks in next years draft, the Orlando Magic clearly have an eye toward the future. They may already have their two building blocks now. Arron Afflalo scored 21 points, rookie Victor Oladipo added 15 points and eight assists off the bench, and the Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks 109-102 on Sunday night to give them back-to-back victories for just the third time this season. Oladipo, the No. 2 pick in last seasons draft, also had five rebounds. "Hes pretty impressive and hes just starting this thing," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. "You get a pulse from him and a sense from him that he wants to do something special." The Magic have shied away from giving Oladipo a specific role. "His versatility is why weve stayed away from saying hes a point guard or a shooting guard," Vaughn said. "Hes a basketball player, and theres nothing wrong with saying that." Afflalo is no newcomer to the NBA. He entered the league in 2007 with the Detroit Pistons. But in his second season with the Magic, hes emerged as a star player. His game-time status, due to a turned ankle Friday night, was uncertain. But Vaughn said he didnt hesitate to play Afflalo after the guard told him pregame that his ankle was fine. "As soon as a player tells me theyre ready to go, then Im ready to go," Vaughn said. "So no trepidation." Jeff Teague scored 22 points for the Hawks in their second game without two-time All-Star Al Horford, who is out indefinitely with a torn right pectoral muscle. The Hawks were also coming off three straight, grinding overtime games, the latest off which was Saturday night at home against Charlotte. Gale Sayers Jersey. While Afflalo and Oladipo led the way for the Magic, their victory was helped along by the kind of balanced team effort that would please any coach. All five Magic starters scored in double figures, as did two players off the bench. "Across the board, we had a lot of guys contributing," Vaughn said. "That all starts with guys sharing the basketball." The Magic overwhelmed Atlanta both inside and in transition, outscoring the Hawks 46-26 in the paint and 22-13 on fast breaks. The Hawks were coming off three consecutive overtime games, including one just the night before, at home against Charlotte. The Magic led most of the game, and held a 12-point lead several times in the second half. But the Hawks made a fourth-quarter run, eventually taking a three-point lead. But a 9-0 Magic run midway through the final quarter was too much for Atlanta to overcome. "I dont know when fatigue comes in," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Obviously, we had enough to come back and take the lead. I think you have to give Orlando credit more than anything. They made some plays and their defence picked up and we werent able to execute. We couldnt attack. They got deflections and steals." NOTES: It was Kyle Korvers 100th consecutive game with at least one 3-point shot made, extending the Hawks forwards NBA record. . The Magic had a season-high 30 assists. . It was the first time this season that the Magic won when the opposing team scored 100 points. Entering the game, they were 0-14 whenever the other team scored in triple digits. ' ' '