sunfang
中级会员
注册日期: 2011-8-29
发贴数: 57
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| 发贴日期: 2012-2-28 17:00 | IP 已记录
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LIBREVILLE, Gabon -- With a team packed full of Europe-based talent and on a run of five straight wins without conceding a goal, mighty Ivory Coast is expected to win its second African Cup of Nations title on Sunday. Sean Avery Premier Jersey . Yet opponent Zambia has a strong, almost compelling reason, to finally succeed to honour the memory of its players who died in a plane crash 19 years ago. A first major title for two-time losing finalist Zambia in the same city where the 25 players and officials lost their lives nearly two decades back would be a hugely poignant moment. Ivory Coasts mean defence and star-studded attack, led by captain Didier Drogba, undoubtedly makes it the favourite but the Zambians emotionally charged run has ensured they cant be ignored. Their return to the site of their countrys worst sporting disaster gives them a motivation that probably cant be calculated. Zambias build-up since arriving in Libreville for the decider at Stade de lAmitie has been centred on the tragic accident off the coast of the Gabonese capital 19 years ago, with players going to pay their respects at the small, nondescript stretch of beach where the ill-fated plane passed over before plunging into the sea. The Zambian squad laid flowers, sang songs and prayed in a moving ceremony on the shore that could only boost an already close bond between the players. It gave them a pre-match preparation that team talks and training sessions maybe couldnt match. They know they are not expected to win, but by beating the highly rated four-time champion Ghana in the semifinals to make the trip back to Libreville they also proved team rankings sometimes dont matter. "It will be a tough game against Ivory Coast. We are not favourites," Zambia coach Herve Renard said. "We are very far from Ivory Coast like we were very far from Ghana but that does not mean anything. "I think they have respect for us and we have a lot of respect for them but we want to beat them." Zambia still faces the toughest of tasks after top-ranked African team Ivory Coast charged through to the final, sweeping aside every one of its opponents to be within touching distance of the title that has eluded it for 20 years. A 3-0 win over co-host Equatorial Guinea in the quarterfinals in front of a partisan crowd of 40,000-plus ensured Ivory Coasts on-field form matched its pre-tournament hype. Drogba and fellow English Premier League forwards Gervinho and Salomon Kalou have impressed, midfield playmaker Yaya Toure has been quietly efficient and the formidable defence -- marshalled by Kolo Toure -- has yet to be breached. Ivory Coast has also displayed a strong unity within its own squad, with the talented individuals pulling together to ensure the team comes first. Coach Francois Zahoui said his team also has its own inspiration, hoping a long-awaited title for the country will help heal the wounds of last years civil war in Ivory Coast. Softly spoken Zahoui -- who provides a contrast to Renard, a flamboyant Frenchman -- talked of his teams "true ambition" to win this final, insisting his array of top players had learnt from previous near-misses and surprise failures at Africas premier competition. "When we came here we came with a lot of pressure." he said. "But we had 23 players who wanted to go to the final. We wanted to take every opponent with as much respect as possible and with the failures of the past. We know we havent won yet. We know theres a big expectation on the part of my team." After a perfect run in qualifying before the five victories here, the Ivorians have undoubtedly proved they are the best team at the Cup of Nations this year. Theres just one more hurdle to clear before they can celebrate a first success since 1992: a Zambian team that has impressed on the field, sure, but which has significantly won the hearts of many off it. Zambia hasnt played at Stade de lAmitie and will see Librevilles new stadium for the first time on the eve of the final, while Ivory Coast beat Mali in the semifinals here. But somehow its doesnt seem significant. Zambias attempt to finally win Libreville in what would be a storybook ending after losing in the final in 1974 and then 1994 -- only a year after the plane crash -- likely depends more on its own players mood and the spirit within its group. "Nobody expected it but we believe in ourselves that we are going to do it and I think that this is our moment," captain Christopher Katongo said. Ivory Coasts grit and professionalism will be challenged by Zambias desire as an unpredictable African showpiece tournament could end with one more major, heartwarming surprise. The teams also met in both their most memorable campaigns, with Ivory Coast beating Zambia in the quarters on the way to its 92 title. The Zambians avenged that with victory en route to the final in 94, the last time they met at the African Cup. Authentic Kevin Garnett Jersey . He had four goals and two assists to help the Flames record three victories last week. Minnesota Wild goalie Matt Hackett earned the second star and Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson took the third star. Authentic Marc Staal Jersey . Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan tested positive for abnormal levels of testosterone after finishing second and third in the Aug. 17 hammer final at the Birds Nest stadium. Premier James Van Riemsdyk Jersey . 9 Missouri survived Oregons second-half surge to escape McArthur Court with an 83-80 victory. The Tigers (6-1), just two days after losing to Georgetown in overtime, saw a 20-point halftime lead shrink to three in the closing seconds. Authentic Dustin Byfuglien Jersey . Mobile phones are taking centre stage in the lives of Japanese teenagers, who often send or receive dozens of emails a day while eating, attending school or even taking a bath, according to survey. [Agencies] Around 46 percent of middle school students aged 13 to 14 and 96 percent of high school students aged 16 to 17 carry a mobile telephone, the research shows. Authentic Henrik Zetterberg Jersey . That China has managed to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 19.06 percent between 2006 and 2010 on the 2005 levels is a cause for both optimism and caution.Rome, Italy (Sports Network) - Third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic and Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka advanced to the final of the $3.5 million Italian Masters Saturday after both their semifinal opponents retired. Sixth-seeded American Andy Roddick retired with a back injury trailing 3-0 in the first set, sending Wawrinka to his sixth career final. The Swiss player became the first unseeded finalist since Felix Mantilla, who defeated Roger Federer in 2003. Wawrinkas win over Roddick was his second straight upset of a seeded American, as he downed eighth-seeded James Blake to reach the semifinals of the clay-court tournament. Wholesale NHL Jerseys. Djokovic, meanwhile, advanced after 27th-ranked Czech Radek Stepanek retired. Djokovic led 6-0, 1-0 when the Czech, who had upended world No. 1 Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, called it a day. The Serb is in search of his 10th career title, and his third of the year. This weeks winner will take home $558,000. ' ' '
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主题: The Serb is in search of his 10th career
