MELBOURNE, Australia - Ange Postecoglous Australia squad will carry a home-field advantage and plenty of pressure to perform when the Asian Cup kicks off on Friday.Australia surprised football critics by closely challenging Chile and the Netherlands in the group stage at the World Cup in Brazil, with veteran Tim Cahill scoring one of the most acrobatic goals of the tournament before a youthful and untested team lost comprehensively to 2010 champion Spain.Postecoglou said his team is aiming to build on the fluid formation it used at the World Cup, with attacking players moving into non-traditional positions at times to confuse opposing defences.You can see it out on the pitch that we are still moving forward with the type of football we want to play, he said. We have tried to add more fluency into the front third and have been evolving since the World Cup.Australia lost the 2011 Asian Cup final to Japan and was among the four Asian teams that qualified for Brazil 2014, but the squad has slid down the world rankings recently, something Postecoglou wants to rectify with another strong run at the continental tournament.Australias chief rival in Group A is South Korea, which has been working to rebuild its team and confidence following a disappointing World Cup, where it finished last in its group and prompted coach Hong Myung-bo to resign.Now under the stewardship of former West Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Uli Stielike, South Korea — with the likes of Swansea Citys Ki Sung-yueng, Bayer Leverkusen winger Son Heung-min and TSG Hoffenheim defender Kim Jin-su — will be aiming to regain the form that saw it reach the 2002 World Cup semifinals.Kim, who is yet to play under Stielike, said hes still learning his new coachs style of play.I am trying to figure out his strategic styles, Kim said. I am trying to make quick adjustments to his system.Kuwait and Oman are also in the group, determined to push West Asias interests into the knock-out rounds.At the recent Gulf Cup, Oman reached the semifinals and Kuwait had a surprising win over Iraq and drew with the United Arab Emirates in the group stage.Australia, which features World Cup veterans Tim Cahill and captain Mile Jedinak, and Bayer Leverkusen forward Robbie Kruse, plays Kuwait on Friday in a litmus test for both teams prospects in the group. Assuming Australia lives up to expectations, the highlight of Group A will be its last preliminary round match on Jan. 17 against the South Koreans in Brisbane.We have to be ruthless. I dont care how we win, as long as we win, Cahill told the domestic media.South Korea last won the tournament in 1960, and Stielike seems to have modest expectations in Australia after recently being quoted as saying third place would be a good showing.An increasingly impatient South Korean public may disagree. .J. -- Kevin Gilbride retired Thursday as offensive co-ordinator for the New York Giants. . The motion to expand the stadiums capacity passed through by a count of 39-3, with Toronto mayor Rob Ford being among those in opposition.
http://www.cheapnfljerseyssale.net/. In an interview with La Presse this week, the five-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time NHL scoring leader specifically took aim at wingers Thomas Vanek and Max Pacioretty, saying they cant show up in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final and come up empty in Game 6. . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. . Torres scored the first goal by an English team in the knockout phase of the Champions League this season when he met Cezar Azpilicuetas cutback in the ninth minute of their first leg match in the last 16. But Chelsea failed to make the most of its counterattacks and the Turkish champions equalized in the second half after gaining in confidence and cutting out their defensive mistakes. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Blake Costanzo had been keeping busy re-tiling his bathroom back home in New Jersey and doing regular yard work. He remained optimistic he would land himself a job, even as free agency lingered into its fourth month. The linebacker and special teams standout rejoined the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, signing 2 1/2 years after leaving the organization to play for the Chicago Bears. He signed a one-year contract for the veteran minimum of $855,000 for players with seven to nine years of experience. "The biggest thing is this stadium right behind here," Costanzo said of what has changed, looking toward $1.2 billion Levis Stadium. "There are a lot of new faces, but there are also a lot of guys I played with. Its a good opportunity to come out here and play some football again. I was doing too much yard work at home." The 30-year-old Costanzo played 16 games for Chicago last season and finished with nine tackles and a forced fumble while also contributing on special teams. After flying cross country Monday, Costanzo participated in Tuesdays organized team activity, and was one of the last players to return to the locker room after a session in the weight room. He said he spoke to a couple of other teams, but "the timing was right here." "This was a good opportunity for me to come here, compete and maybe help some younger guys they have on the roster," Costanzo said. "My only competition is myself. Im going to try to find a way, whatever it may be." Costanzo is also learning some new aspects of the playbook from special teams coach Brad Seely, who also coached him in Cleveland and brought him to the Bay Area for the turnaround 2011 season, coach Jim Harbaughs first year. "Blake was here with us a few years ago. Hes a great guy -- a guy who comes to work every day and a great team player," linebacker Patrick Willis said. "The guy is going to go out there on game day -- or even practice -- and gives it everything hes got. Were very fortunate to have a guy like that on our special teams. We lost some guys who had been some key special teams players forr us, so to add Blake back is really going to help us out big time.dddddddddddd" San Francisco will count on the depth at linebacker that Costanzo helps provide given All-Pro NaVorro Bowman is recovering from a left knee injury sustained in the NFC championship game. Bowman could miss at least half the season. In addition, linebacker Aldon Smith might face a multiple-game suspension from the NFL for his off-field legal issues over the past two years. Last month, Smith pleaded no contest to three felony weapons charges and two misdemeanour counts of driving under the influence. He faces a sentence ranging from spending no time in custody to a maximum of four years and four months in jail. Smith is scheduled to be sentenced July 25, two days after the 49ers open training camp in Santa Clara. He left the facility Tuesday offering a thumbs-up. "For us, its not something we worry about. Hes out here working. Hes practicing every day," Willis said. "Hes working out every day. Hes been a great teammate. Thats our focus right now: worrying about the present. When that time comes, whatever is decided, thats what it will be. Well have to get better as a football team. If hes not out there, then as with last year, some of the guys will have to step into his place and play big time." Nose tackle Ian Williams believes he will be full strength or close to it by the start of training camp next month. A first-year starter, Williams 2013 season ended with a broken leg and torn ligaments in his left ankle in Week 2 at Seattle. He has had four surgeries since, the most recent in February to have a metal plate removed. "It took a lot out of me," Williams said. "Things happen for a reason. Im back, though, Im back." NOTES: Not on the field during team drills Tuesday: WRs Stevie Johnson, Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin, TE Vernon Davis and RG Alex Boone. The teams mandatory minicamp is June 17-19. ... New T Jonathan Martin worked out on the side and in the weight room as he recovers from mononucleosis. ... The Niners waived guard Al Netter on Tuesday. ' ' '
