Kritik und Lob » two on and no outs in the

BORDEAUX, France -- Theyre Europes most successful soccer nations. Theyre arguably the form teams at this European Championship. Theyre the two countries that almost always rise to the occasion in major tournaments.Germany vs. Italy: Its a game fit for a final.Except one of them wont even get past the quarterfinal stage at Euro 2016.The continental heavyweights -- owners of eight World Cups and four European Championships between them -- collide in Bordeaux on Saturday in a match that stands out for many reasons.Firstly, theres the skewed history of their meetings in major tournaments. Germany and Italy have played each other eight times at the highest level and, bizarrely, the Germans havent recorded a single victory.We still have a score to settle with the Italians, Germany goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke said.Then theres the nations current standing in soccer. Germany came into Euro 2016 as the world champion and, to many people, the tournament favorite. Italy arrived with what many back home were saying was the worst team in years.The Germans have largely lived up to their billing, conceding no goals in four matches and hitting their stride with a 3-0 win over Slovakia in the round of 16. The Italians have silenced the critics with arguably the best two displays of any team so far, 2-0 wins over highly fancied rivals Belgium (in the group stage) and then Spain (in the round of 16).Im not singing with the choir that wrote us off (after a 0-0) against Poland and is now branding us absolute favorites after the win over Slovakia, Germany coach Joachim Loew.Theyre not the Italians that we normally know, Loew added. Theyre not only focused on defense but they play very, very well going forward. So ... I believe well have a very interesting, highly charged game on Saturday.While Italy is battle-hardened after a tougher-than-average group stage and then a match against defending champion Spain, theres a sense that Euro 2016 really starts here for Germany.Loews side strolled through its group and Slovakia didnt prove to be a real test.The Italians certainly will be.Loew had his biggest disappointment as Germany coach when his team lost 2-1 to Italy in the Euro 2012 semifinals. He was assistant manager to Juergen Klinsmann when Italy beat Germany in extra time in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup that Germany hosted.Germanys barren run against the Azzurri in major tournaments started with a 0-0 draw at the 1962 World Cup.You dont prepare a game saying we won the one before, well win the next one, Italy midfielder Alessandro Florenzi said. We went to work immediately after Spain, we watched the video and tried to find weaknesses in a team that doesnt have many.The facts speak for themselves, theyre world champions, theyve won so many matches, thats what gives them confidence.Italys chances of continuing its impressive streak in this fixture are being undermined by a midfield crisis. Already without Claudio Marchisio, Marco Verratti and Riccardo Montolivo because of pre-tournament injuries, Italy coach Antonio Conte is without the suspended Thiago Motta and Antonio Candreva (groin), while Daniele De Rossi (thigh) is a doubt.As for Germany, left back Jonas Hector has had a cold this week but is expected to be OK for Saturday.This could be Contes last game in charge of Italy before he takes over as manager of Chelsea in the English Premier League. He has given tactical masterclasses against Belgium and Spain, and another might be needed against a Germany side that has a point to prove.We have no Italy-trauma, Loew saidThe world is just about to find out.Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Caleb Joseph Diamondbacks Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.diamondbackssale.com/diamondbacks-randy-johnson-jersey/ . LOUIS -- St. Rob Refsnyder Jersey . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Matt Andriese Jersey . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters.HOUSTON -- Robinson Cano continued his dominance against the Houston Astros on Wednesday to keep Seattles playoff hopes alive.Cano hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Mariners kept pressure on the other AL wild-card contenders with a 12-4 win over the Astros.Kyle Seager added another three-run drive in the eighth, his 30th home run this season, as Seattle remained two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card. Houston dropped 3 1/2 games back as its magic number for elimination was cut to one.If you want to help your starter, youve got to start early and also put pressure on the other team, Cano said. Thats what we did today.Canos career-best 36th home run, a drive off Doug Fister (12-13), landed in the first row of the Crawford Boxes in left field. Cano has nine homers and 25 RBI in 19 games against Houston this season.Huge home run early by Robbie really got everybody relaxed a little bit, manager Scott Servais said. Everybody contributed today ... everybody had to contribute and were still alive.Seattle doubled its lead in the second on Nori Aokis RBI single and Seth Smiths two-run single. Ketel Marte made it 7-0 with a run-scoring infield single in the third.James Paxton (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, striking out eight.Fister gave up five runs and five hits over 1 1/3 innings in the shortest start of his big league career. Fister has lost five straight decisions, and Houston has lost his last seven starts -- all five innings or fewer.Getting into the game was very difficult for him, Hinch said. His command wasnt great. He didnt execute the way he does when hes good.George Springer hit a solo home run in the third forr the Astros, who closed to 7-4 in the sixth on Evan Gattis solo homer.dddddddddddd.Since the Astros are off Thursday, if the Orioles win their next two games, Houston could be eliminated by the time it takes the field on Friday.Im not ready for that, Hinch said. This is not a position that were happy to be in, but its a position that we are in.FAREWELLSThe game was the final broadcast for the Astros Bill Brown, who is retiring after 30 seasons with the team. It was also the last game for Tals Hill in Minute Maid Park. The Astros will renovate the ballpark this offseason, and the center-field fence will be moved in.SCRIBNER SOLIDServais was impressed with the work of reliever Evan Scribner, who took over with two on and no outs in the sixth inning and got the Mariners out of a jam. He allowed one hit and no runs in two innings for his third hold this season.Hes been awesome probably about the last 10, 11 times out, Servais said. But you have those days where it just didnt look good and it was time to go to Scrib and he certainly picked us up today.UP NEXTMariners: LHP Ariel Miranda (5-2) will start the first of a four-game series Thursday against Oakland. Miranda will be making his 12th appearance and will be looking to rebound after giving up three runs in four innings Saturday at Minnesota.Astros: Brad Peacock (0-0) will start for Houston on Friday when it opens a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. It will be the fifth start this season for Peacock, who has a 2.67 ERA.---AP freelancer Jeremy Rakes contributed to this report. ' ' '