12-14-2019, 07:36 AM
SAO PAULO - Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar said Tuesday he arrives for the World Cup at home a lot more prepared than he was four years ago, when his mistake played a part in the teams elimination in South Africa. Cesar said the difficulties he went through after the 2010 World Cup helped him become "a better professional" and made him "more focused" on his career. He admitted that he took things for granted before the World Cup in South Africa, when he arrived considered the worlds top goalkeeper. The 34-year-old Cesar said he joined Toronto FC because it was the only team that wanted him, but said his preparations were not affected by playing in a less-traditional league. He called his time with Toronto "excellent" and said he is "100 per cent" ready. "I arrive a lot more prepared than I was four years ago," Cesar said at Brazils training centre in Teresopolis, outside Rio de Janeiro. "During bad times you have to try to find some positive things, and I did. It wasnt only the elimination against the Netherlands, I also had to deal with problems at Inter Milan and then at Queens Park Rangers. I needed to find a lot of strength to come back." Cesar failed to clear a cross during Brazils quarterfinal against the Netherlands in 2010. That led to the equalizer for the Dutch, which eventually went on to beat the South Americans 2-1. Cesar said he thought about quitting football at the time, and things only got worse after he faced problems both at Inter Milan and then at Queens Park Rangers, where he was sidelined and played sparingly. "I became a better professional after the 2010 World Cup," he said. "When things are going your way, you end up relaxing a little bit more. I was very confident in 2010 because of everything that had happened until then, and I think that too much confidence can hurt. Now I can say that from personal experience." Although Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari named Cesar the World Cup starter long time ago, many still consider the goalkeeper the weakest link in Brazils squad, especially because of his lack of play in recent months. "I dont think there is pressure," he said. "I know many people are questioning me and why I was selected, but the coaches have the confidence in my game and I know that I can add a lot to this group." Cesar conceded nine goals in seven matches with Toronto in the run-up to the World Cup, but said he was able to take advantage of the time he spent in Major League Soccer. "My preparations were excellent, I feel Im 100 per cent ready for the World Cup," Cesar said. "Toronto was the only team that opened its doors for me. I talked to several clubs, including in Brazil, and the negotiations were not successful, many times because of the salaries here. But I knew I had to be playing so I could arrive well psychologically, it would have been hard if I hadnt been playing anywhere." ___ Follow Tales Azzoni at http://twitter.com/tazzoni Nate Archibald Jersey . - After a back-and-forth battle throughout the season, Alex Guenette has earned the 2013 rookie of the year award for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 by just one point over Ryley Seibert. Jason Terry Jersey . The 20-year-old overager has appeared in 35 games for the Ontario Hockey Leagues Erie Otters this season, scoring 41 goals and adding 27 assists with a plus-28 rating. https://www.cheapbucksonline.com/ . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. Giannis Antetokounmpo Jersey . - Mike Magee converted two penalty kicks in a 10-minute span of the first half and the Chicago Fire beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Sunday. Dave Cowens Jersey . Greece was on the wrong end of a 3-0 rout to Colombia in its first game of the tournament. They surrendered a goal in just the sixth minute of the contest, and despite some promising attacking play, failed to crawl back into the match. Japan, on the other hand, struck first in its match with Ivory Coast, with Keisuke Honda putting his side into the lead in the 16th minute.INDIANAPOLIS -- Trailing after the first half, the Pacers fell back on what they do best, upping the defensive pressure to frustrate the Pelicans and pull out the victory. Paul George scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead four Pacers in double figures and Indiana rallied from a seven-point, second-quarter deficit for a 99-82 win over New Orleans on Saturday night. George said the Pacers had to get after Eric Gordon after the former Indiana University star repeatedly drove the lane in the first half to score 17 of his 21 points. "Hes a tough matchup," the 6-foot-9 George said of the 6-4 Gordon. "Hes so quick. He has a great centre of gravity. He has great second and third moves. "I did what I do: use my length and crowd him." George said the Pacers knew they had to defend better after New Orleans shot 52.5 per cent (21 of 40) in the first half. Despite getting good looks, the Pacers shot 41.9 per cent (18 of 43) before intermission. "We knew eventually that the shots we were going to fall," George said. "We just play so well defensively, we know thats going to keep us in the game. We just stuck to our defence." Lance Stephenson scored 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, Danny Granger came off the bench to score a season-high 13 and George Hill added 10 for Indiana. Alexis Ajinca scored a season-high 17 points, reserve Tyreke Evans added 12 and Anthony Davis 10 for New Orleans. Pelicans shooting forward Ryan Anderson remained in a Boston hospital after sustaining a cervical stinger when he collided with the Celtics Gerald Wallace and fell hard to the floor Friday night. Five different Pacers scored as Indiana went on a 14-0 run over a 4:12 span of the third quarter. The Pelicans, meanwhile, missed seven straight field goals. The frustrated Pelicans also drew three technical fouls during the Pacers third-quarter run -- one each to Davis, Jrue Holiday and assistant coach Dave Hanners -- the last two after a foul call on Holiday. Gordon scored just two points in the third quarter. Ajinca converted both of his field goals in the period, but the rest of tthe Pelicans missed 12 of 14 attempts.dddddddddddd "We just didnt play that well," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. "Basically, they took it to us on the defensive end, and I thought offensively Stephenson was the catalyst for them. "We just got out of sync on the offensive end, and that led to them getting a number of offensive opportunities. They just picked up, and we did not." Indiana made 11 of 16 field goals (68.8) in the decisive quarter. "They came out and played a great first quarter, and we buckled down the rest of the way," said Pacers coach Frank Vogel. "We wanted to mix up the matchup on Gordon, give him a different look. "We adjusted our offensive package a little bit to get more efficiency. What we showed in the third quarter is who we are: were a high-powered offence with some shot-makers." The Pelicans put together a 12-0 run over a 3:08 span in the first quarter to push a two-point lead to a 27-13 advantage 2:30 before the break. Davis hit a jumper and drove the baseline to pace the surge. Watson hit a 15-foot jumper, Luis Scola sank a jumper from the right side and Watson made a 19-footer as Indiana responded with a 6-0 burst in under a minute early in the second period to close to within eight points. Gordon scored his 17 first-half points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc as the Pelicans led 49-44 at the half. NOTES: Earlier Saturday, the Pacers recalled rookie forward Solomon Hill from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA D-League. He averaged 19 points and 3.5 rebounds in two games there. . The Pacers comeback went against the Pelicans grain. Going into Saturdays game, New Orleans had been 9-1 when holding its opponent to fewer than 100 points and 11-5 when it had the halftime lead. . George has scored more than 20 points in 24 of the Pacers 32 games. ... The Bankers Life Fieldhouse crowd rose for a standing ovation when the score of the Colts 45-44 comeback win over Kansas City at nearby Lucas Oil Stadium was announced at the half. "Im really happy for Indy sports fans," Vogel said. "A clean sweep tonight." ' ' '