SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari announced his World Cup squad on Wednesday without any major surprises, choosing most of the players who won last years Confederations Cup. Scolaris 23-name list includes 16 players who were in the team that won last years warm-up tournament by beating world champion Spain in the final. It will be a squad inexperienced in World Cups, however, with only six players who featured in past tournaments. "We will have to pass our own experience to these players," said Scolari, who led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title. The team will mix talented young stars such as Neymar and Oscar with more experienced players such as Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, David Luiz, Thiago Silva and Hulk. "We know that not everybody will agree with all the names, its normal," Scolari said. "But now that we have the 23 players, we would like to ask that our fans support all of them so together we can focus on our goal of winning the World Cup." The squad announcement was a high-profile event in Brazil, with television stations juggling their programing to broadcast it live. The Brazilian football federation said 870 journalists, many from overseas, were accredited for the event at a traditional concert house in Rio de Janeiro. The stage where Scolari spoke was set up in front of a Brazilian flag the size of a four-story building, according to the federation. "My childhood dream came true," Neymar said on social media site Instagram. "Today was one of the most anticipated days of my life. Its time to represent the entire country. Im completely moved, anxious and nervous. I want it to arrive soon." Five players from this years list were in the 2010 World Cup -- Cesar, Silva, Alves, Maicon and Ramires. Fred didnt make it to South Africa but was in the squad for the 2006 tournament in Germany. "I dont think this lack of World Cup experience will play a big part," Scolari said. "Our players have been gaining experience in their leagues in Europe and I dont think they will be affected by this too much, although in certain World Cup situations, having that experience would be important. But I fully trust these players." Veterans Kaka and Robinho -- the stars in the 2010 tournament -- still had hopes of playing in the tournament at home but were left off the list, as were former AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato and 34-year-old Ronaldinho, the 2002 world champion who missed out on his chance of making it to one last World Cup. Also missing were Atletico de Madrid defenders Miranda and Filipe Luis, as well as Liverpool midfielders Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva. Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Lucas Moura, who played in the Confederations Cup, also was left out. Scolari had already confirmed nine players on the squad -- Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Paulinho, Cesar, Silva, Fred and Neymar. He said there were only two spots remaining in the team, with the doubts related to the third goalkeeper and the fourth central defender, positions that were filled by Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper Victor and Napoli defender Henrique. "We know we have a big responsibility and we know that there are a lot of expectations," Fred said. "We have to turn that into motivation so we can go after this sixth world title." Seven alternates will be announced in the coming days. Brazils starting 11 in the World Cup will likely be the same that played in the Confederations Cup. Brazil has won 13 of its last 14 matches, the only loss coming in a friendly against Switzerland after the warm-up tournament. "Its important that today everybody can name most of the Brazilian starters," Scolari said. "We cant know for sure if we will use exactly the same team, it will depend on how these players will show up, but nine or 10 are certain to be in the starting lineup again." Brazil is in Group A with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon. It will open against Croatia on June 12 in Sao Paulo. . Masahiro Tanaka has touched down in the United States and the courting of the Rakuten Golden Eagles stud pitcher has begun in earnest by a bevy of MLB teams interested in the Japanese ace. . Among the six changes: Drivers are now eligible if they have competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR or turned 55 in the calendar year before nominating day. Previously, drivers were not eligible until they had been retired for three years, so drivers can continue to compete and still reach the hall.
http://www.cheapphilliesjerseysauthenti ... x-jersey.J. -- John Elway says Peyton Manning cannot stamp himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history even if he wins the Super Bowl on Sunday. . Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution. . Raonic, the mens No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., needed more than three hours to overcome Frenchman Gilles Simon 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 and become the first Canadian man into the fourth round at Roland Garros.SSNHQs cricket correspondent Tim Abraham helps document the beginnings of Englands five-Test tour of India... Part two of Englands long winter on the sub-continent is under way.India has a completely different feel to Bangladesh in every way. Its more relaxed and laid back, which is saying something for India as it still has such hustle and bustle, and chaotic qualities. Arriving in India you notice a definite change from Bangladesh... Were in Rajkot, in the state of Gujarat for the first Test. This is the city where Mahatma Gandhi went to school, and its a dry state, meaning no alcohol.Its a new city for me, and new Test venue for India, let alone England, though one-day internationals have been played at the impressive Saurashtra Stadium.Its another state of the art modern cricket facility in India, on the outskirts of town, with a feeling of home for the England players as the media centre is a mini version of the spaceship-like Lords media centre. Just like HQ... the media centre at Rajkot looks strangely familiar We are once again staying with the team, and theres no mistaking the hotel are just so delighted England are staying with them.Theres a massive facade on the outer walls, featuring the players, and when you step inside the lobby, pictures of the players adorn the walls, even in the lifts the England players are poster boys.On top of that, theres a specially designed room service menu For the England team and in the main restaurant the players can use their own mugs, with their pictures on. Poster boys... Englands presence is felt off the pitch, as well as on it When Joe Root, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes got their hundreds in this Test, the hotel specially baked cakes in time their return.While there is security around the players, as there always is in this part of the world, it all just seems so much more laid back. No road blocks or armed convoys speeding through the streets here like in Bangladesh.That tour was a big success for the ECB, even though the team lost the final Test in dramatic circumstances.One of our last jobs in Dhaka, just before we left, was to shoot a security review story with the man who said it would be safe for England to come here, Reg Dickason - a security advisor who has been around the team for years, and a man the players trust. Staff at the Rajkot Hotel surprise England cricketers Moeen Ali and Joe Root with a cake after their impressive innings against India My travel day to Mumbai did not get off to the best of starts.dddddddddddd I was on the team flight (a big mistake!) and upon arrival at the airport, there was team manager Phil Neale checking in all the players bags and kit.Row upon row of kit bags and cases that stretched right back through the check-in area. The players dont do it themselves, you know, they just turn up and walk into the plane.Of course its a massive job, and Phil took up one check-in desk completely, with only one other desk open for the rest of us.I had loads of gear myself, as I was taking all of our equipment on with me, and it was touch and go as to whether I would check-in on time.The first few days in Mumbai were chill-out time for the players, so with this cushion of no interview access, it was a good chance for me and cameraman, Jake Utley, to shoot a colour piece around the city.England may have been having a few days off but cricket does not stop in this city and we headed straight for the Oval Maidan, where on a long strip of park land, bang in the middle of the city, there are so many games of cricket going on side by side. India vs England November 12, 2016, 3:45am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Its quite a sight when full. I have shot this scene so many times down the years but you never tire of seeing the passion and the chaotic nature of so many games going on at the same time, with balls so often hit into the playing area of another.This was a good chance to catch up with the locals and get them to talk about the series and Englands chances. The agreed consensus; England were the overwhelming underdogs against the best team in the world, particularly after that defeat in Bangladesh.But given Englands good start to the first Test in Rajkot, a fantastic five-match series appears to lie ahead.Watch all five Tests between India and England live on Sky Sports 2 and across Sky Sports digital platforms. Also See: First Test blog Scorecard D3 highlights Cricket videos ' ' '
