07-02-2019, 12:42 AM
TORONTO -- Understandably, Ryan Nelsen is torn about Jermain Defoe and the World Cup. Talk to the Toronto FC manager and he lists off the reasons why his star striker should go to Brazil. But he better than anyone knows that Englands gain would be his loss. "Look, for Toronto FC Id love him to stay obviously, because hes a quality player," said Nelsen, who captained New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup. "But for Jermain, if I was the England manager, I probably would pick him. Because you know what youre going to get with him -- you absolutely know what youre going to get with him." Defoe, who played at the 2010 World Cup, offers England experience and a scoring touch off the bench. He has potted goals everywhere he has played -- including 19 in 55 appearances for his country. The 31-year-old striker says he is in the dark, waiting for the phone to ring. "Its down to the manager," said Defoe, referring to England boss Roy Hodgson. "He picks the squad. "Im sure he knows what every player can do. And even before he was the England manager, he probably knew all the players anyway. So Im sure that the manager knows his squad. And he probably knew his squad a long time ago -- maybe just one or two additions that youre not sure about. "I dont know. Its up to the manager. As players, you just concentrate on playing for your club and then, like you said, you wait for the call." Hodgson has apparently made up his mind. He is set to announce his 23-man squad Monday as well as seven standby players. "Ive known for a while," he is quoted on Englands Football Association website. England will travel to Portugal on May 19 for a training camp that runs through May 23. The squad will reassemble May 27 with a friendly against Peru at Wembley on May. 20. The 23-man World Cup squad will be confirmed June 2. England has friendlies June 3 against Ecuador and June 7 against Honduras, both in Miami, before heading to Brazil for its World Cup opener June 14 against Italy. Realistically Defoe is hoping to land a spot as a reserve striker with Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck of Manchester United, Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool and perhaps Rickie Lambert of Southampton ahead in the pecking order. Given that, some argue that it would make more sense to take a younger player over Defoe. The argument there is that it would be an investment in the future. Nelsen sees the other side to that coin, suggesting his man has the seasoning and mental toughness to survive the England spotlight. "Probably the Brazil and the England national team are the hardest teams in world sport to play for, in terms of expectation and pressure," he said. "You know Jermain can handle that. On the worlds biggest stage, you want to kind off knock out the variables. And I think Jermain does that." "With my TFC hat on, I hope he doesnt (go). I hope he stays here," Nelson added with a laugh. Barring injury, U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley and Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar will leave Toronto for the World Cup. Nelsen expects Cesar to leave his team after the May 23 game against Sporting Kansas City. "Jermain, if he does (go), (will be) roughly about the same time," he added. "(U.S. manager Juergen Klinsmann) Juergen wants Michael now. Or tomorrow," Nelsen said with a smile. "But were trying to hold that. I think for Michael, it will probably be the 19th or the 20th that we lose him." The World Cup runs June 12 to July 13. DeAndre Hopkins Jersey .com) - Devan Dubnyk stopped all 30 shots fired his way and made several big saves down the stretch for his third shutout of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Tuesday. J.J. Watt Jersey . -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft wanted to keep Logan Mankins with the team for a long time. http://www.cheaptexansjerseysauthentic.c...ete-jersey. Anor had not scored since getting his first two goals of the season vs. Philadelphia on March 22 but struck with laser precision from distance in the 56th and 75th minutes. Montreal (3-10-5) lost its third straight and Impact coach Frank Klopas said it literally was a case of his players not stepping up. Martinas Rankin Jersey .S. Olympic hockey management team have been making what he called "ghost rosters" since August. Ira Savage-Lewis Jersey . The Toronto Blue Jays general manager made a series of bold moves that reshaped the club ahead of what would turn out to be a disastrous 2013 campaign.NEW YORK -- California Chrome went home to the West Coast on Sunday with a bandaged right front foot -- and no Triple Crown -- after bumping another horse leaving the Belmont Stakes starting gate. Steve Coburn, who co-owns California Chome, was still smarting, too. He was irked Belmont winner Tonalist didnt run in either of the first two legs of the Triple Crown. After the race, he complained others took "the cowards way out" by skipping the Derby and/or the Preakness. A day later, Coburn was unrepentant. "Its not fair to these horses that are running to entertain these people in all three legs of the Triple Crown," he said. "Its not fair to them to have somebody just show up at the last minute and run. I may have gone off half-cocked yesterday, but thats the way I feel." Under Coburns premise, there would have been just three horses in the $1.5 million Belmont, making it unlikely the third-largest crowd of 102,199 would have shown up or that a record $19,105,877 would have been wagered on-track. California Chrome, General a Rod and Ride On Curlin were the only horses to run in the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. General a Rod finished seventh and Ride On Curlin did not finish. Art Sherman, the 77-year-old trainer of California Chrome, distanced himself from Coburns comments. "Horses arent cowards and the people arent cowards," he said. "He was at the heat of the moment. Dont forget hes a fairly new owner. Sometimes your emotions get in front of you. He hasnt been in the game long and hasnt had any bad luck." Coburn and Perry Martin named their racing operation Dumb Ass Partners, with California Chrome the lone horse in their stable. The chestnut colt has earned $3,317,800 this year and brought a six-race winning streak into the Belmont. California Chrome had smooth trips in winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness to set up a shot at racings first Triple Crown in 36 years. But he had a rough trip in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont on Saturday, getting a chunk of flesh torn from his foot after bumping with Matterhorn coming out of the starting gate. California Chrome finished in a dead heat for fourth with Wicked Strong. "It was kind of scary. You come back and see a horse bleeding from the foot," Sherman said. "Hes never had anything wrong with him. Weve been awful fortunate." Sherman said California Chrome has a superficial wound that should heal in two to three weeks. The colt will then rest for six to seven weeks after a tough Triple Crown campaign that involved running in three races at different tracks and distances over five weeks.dddddddddddd His camp plans to point him toward the Breeders Cup this fall at Santa Anita. Sherman thought Coburn would apologize for his comments. Instead, the outspoken co-owner went even further Sunday. "It wouldnt be fair if I played basketball with a child in a wheelchair because I got an unfair advantage," Coburn said. "If your horse is good enough to run in the Belmont, where was he in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness? It says Triple Crown, not one out of two, one out of three or two out of three." Sherman said, "I cant make excuses. Thats not really what you should do in these type of races." Frenchman Christophe Clement, who won his first Triple Crown race with Totalist, declined to comment on Coburns remarks. Coburn had predicted California Chrome would win the Triple Crown. "If they want to call me a sore loser, I dont care," he said. Horses are made eligible for the Triple Crown races in January. Owners and trainers of horses not nominated can pay a late fee of $6,000 in March to get in. The 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby is decided by a points system, with horses earning points for running in prep races. The Preakness and Belmont have maximum fields of 14, but no points system is used. Its common for horses to drop in and out of the Triple Crown series. In 1978, when Affirmed won the Triple Crown, the Belmont had a five-horse field. Two of the colts rivals did not run in the first two legs and one only ran in the Derby. In 1977, Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown. The Belmont had eight horses, and five did not run in the first two legs. One ran only in the Preakness, and one other besides Slew raced in all three legs. On Saturday, second-place finisher Commissioner was new to the Triple Crown series. Winner Tonalist wasnt ready for the Derby, so trainer Clement prepared him for the Belmont. "California Chrome was running with tough, fresh horses that were waiting in the wings, and thats what happens," Sherman said. "We all know when youre on this trail you got to have an iron horse." The veteran trainer hopes California Chromes owners will keep him running next year as a 4-year-old. He credited the colt for having a lot of talent and taking his handlers on an exciting ride. "This is one of them races that we couldnt win," Sherman said, "but he didnt disgrace us any." 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