~TheFuriousX~ » nowhere near enough of a sampling to pass judgmen

Defensive frailties reared their ugly head once again for Canadas mens national team, as they conceded a third-minute goal to the Czech Republic on their way to a 2-0 defeat in Olomouc on Friday. The game was the first of two international friendlies that Canada is playing during the international break, with the second game against Slovenia set for Tuesday in Celje. Canada looked uncomfortable defensively throughout the game, and every free kick that came into Canadas penalty box looked like ending up in the back of the net. They were fortunate to go into the break only trailing 1-0. At the other end of the pitch, Canada had chances to equalize in the first half. 30 minutes into the game, after a well-worked free kick, Tosaint Ricketts saw his shot blocked by Petr Cech. Minutes later, Canada was awarded a dubious penalty kick after Dwayne De Rosario fell in the box under pressure from Marek Suchy. De Rosario picked himself up to take the kick, but his effort was pushed around the post by Petr Cech. It was the last time that Canada would genuinely threaten Cechs goal. In the second half, only the Czechs looked like scoring, and it was no surprise that they got a second goal to put the result to bed. Some will try to put a positive spin on the performance by suggesting that a 2-0 loss was a reasonable showing against the 27th ranked team in the world. The reality is that the score remained respectable due more to the wastefulness of the Czechs and to the performance of Lars Hirschfeld in Canadas goal, rather than to anything Canada did to influence the game. Its becoming a tired narrative. Canada concedes sloppy goals and, when combined with creating very little scoring chances, come away with their tails between their legs. Which brings about the usual questions: When is Canada going to have a competitive mens team? When are we going to become legitimate contenders to qualify for the World Cup? Spaniard Benito Floro was hired to coach the team in July, and has only had four games in charge of the team. Four games is nowhere near enough of a sampling to pass judgment on Floros ability to take the program forward - he is still, in many respects, coming to terms with the size of the task before him. But it is enough time to make some observations about what he has done so far. Defensively, Ive never seen Canada look more fragile. Whenever we come up against decent opposition, defensive errors and organizational mistakes are our undoing. That is partly down to the players failing to take responsibility on the pitch, but it is also down to the coach. Against the Czech Republic, the first goal was conceded because Canada were far too deep defending a free kick. In fact, Canada dropped right onto the edge of their own 6-yard box - a cardinal sin when defending - before the ball had been played. This left no room for Hirschfeld to come and claim the ball and, coupled with poor marking from Marcel de Jong, left Ondrej Celustka with an easy header to give the Czechs the lead. If this had been a one-off, you could put it down to individual errors. But it was a theme that was prevalent throughout the first half, and worryingly, it continued into the second half, as well. This tells me that the problem was never properly addressed at the half by the coach. Floro did acknowledge after the game that the team "needs to improve" when defending set pieces, but there was little evidence to suggest that he addressed the issue during the game or at the half. This isnt a problem that has magically appeared though - Floro should have spent more time addressing it in training in the camp leading up to the game. Canadas lack of creativity at the other end of the pitch was not unexpected; it is the norm for scoring chances to be as rare a sighting for Canadian forwards as Halleys Comet. When Ricketts and De Rosario did have a sight of goal, they couldnt find a way past Petr Cech. Its hard to be critical, as Cech is one of the worlds best goalkeepers. But when you get a penalty kick, regardless of the opponent, you need to find the back of the net. De Rosarios penalty kick was poor, and Cech easily parried it around the post. Floro was hired to take Canada forward into World Cup qualifying in 2016, to give them the best chance possible of reaching the final qualifying round, the Hex. While that process wont begin for another three years, in the short-term, Floro needs to show tangible signs of progress. Otherwise, the little hope that Canadian soccer supporters have for a brighter future will fade away to nothing. Jalyn Holmes Vikings Jersey . The Mercedes duo of three-time Canadian Grand Prix champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has won all six races to start the season, finishing one-two in the last five. Randy Moss Jersey . Jannero Pargo scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help the Charlotte Bobcats erase a 21-point deficit and rally for an 83-76 preseason victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. http://www.officialauthenticvikingsshop.com/authentic-mike-remmers-jersey.html . -- Josh MacDonalds second goal of the game kept his team alive as the Peterborough Petes edged the host Kingston Frontencas 6-5 in overtime on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. Brian ONeill Vikings Jersey . Not Peyton Manning. Hes holding on to the heartache to stoke his competitive fire. Brian ONeill Jersey . Ellis had a season-high 37 points and two key assists late, Dirk Nowitzki led a fourth-quarter rally with 14 of his 35 points, and the Mavericks spoiled Howards best offensive night in Houston with a 123-120 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday night.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Even though the Green Bay Packers got a bargain the last time they signed Jordy Nelson to a contract extension, the veteran wide receiver said Tuesday he still would prefer to sign another deal before the season rather than playing out the final year of his contract. Nelson, who caught 85 passes for 1,314 yards last season, both career bests, said he doesnt know if his agent, Vann McElroy, and the Packers have had any meaningful conversations about an extension. "Hes not going to just bug me with it," he said. "Hell let me know when it gets close." The last time Nelson, a second-round pick in 2008, was in a contract year was in 2011, when he signed a three-year, $13.989 million extension in October. That deal included $5 million in guaranteed money, including a $3.5 million signing bonus. That deal paid Nelson a base salary of $2.7 million last year, and calls for him to make a base salary of $3.05 million in 2014. In terms of annual average salary, Nelson currently ranks 34th on the wide receiver pay scale league-wide entering 2014. But he indicated Tuesday that hes anxious to get a new deal simply because he wants the peace of mind. "You want it done so you and your family are comfortable, you want it done so you dont have to worry about it," he said. "I think on both sides. They get it done they can start working on someone else.ddddddddddddquot; That someone else is fourth-year wide receiver Randall Cobb, a second-round pick in 2011 who is going into the final year of his rookie deal. Cobb missed 10 games last season with a leg injury, but he returned in time to catch the playoffs-clinching touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers on a fourth-down play at Chicago in the regular-season finale last year. "Im not a businessman so I dont really know that side of it," Cobb said of his situation. "Thats what I have an agent for - for him to handle that kind of thing. Thats for the Packers to decide and figure out." It appears Nelson is the priority, and after Chicagos Brandon Marshall signed a four-year, $39.3 million extension ($22.3 million guaranteed) with the Bears last month, Nelsons market should be set. Marshall caught 100 passes for 1,295 yards and 12 TDs last season for the Bears. Marshall turned 30 in March; Nelson turned 29 last week. Asked if he feels additional pressure in a contract year, Nelson replied, "No. I dont think so, not at all. I didnt feel that last time, and I dont think Ill feel it this time. I think were a long ways from that anyway. 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