unfortunate that so many other soccer players in Quebec will | Forum

Playing at home, with its biggest star onboard and an unexpected last-minute change at the helm, Brazil is looking to win its first Olympic mens soccer gold medal in Rio de Janeiro. Saquon Barkley Youth Jersey .No pressure, right?Coach Dunga opted to include star striker Neymar as one of the three over-23 players allowed in the Olympic squads instead of taking him to the Copa America. That plan backfired when Brazil was eliminated by Peru in the group stage of the tournament being played in the United States. That result prompted the dismissal of Dunga, who was replaced by Tite as the senior team coach.Dunga was also slated to coach in the Olympics, but now the job falls to the usual under-23 coach, Rogerio Micale.This will be the third straight Olympics in which Brazil brings some of its best players looking for that elusive gold medal. The five-time World Cup champions failed with a team led by former FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldinho in 2008, eliminated by Argentina in the semifinals, and with Neymar in 2012, losing to Mexico in the final. Brazils mens team has won the silver medal three times and the bronze two.The pressure to win gold will be higher after the elimination at Copa America, and with local fans still smoldering from the embarrassing 7-1 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinals at home.Brazil opens against South Africa on Thursday in Brasilia, one day before the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. Three-time silver medalist Denmark and Iraq are also in Group A.Local organizers will take advantage of the stadiums built for the World Cup, and the Olympic tournament will be played at seven venues, including two in Rio and one in the Amazon city of Manaus.STARS TO WATCH: Neymar will be the main attraction, the only top soccer star to make it to the games. The striker is coming off an excellent season with Barcelona and will be rested after skipping the Copa America. Brazil will also have two up-and-coming players who have been targeted by big European clubs: Gabriel Barbosa, known as Gabigol, and Gabriel Jesus.Colombia will feature veteran forward Teo Gutierrez, while defending champion Mexico will count on striker Oribe Peralta, who scored four goals in the teams winning campaign in London four years ago. Defender Matthias Ginter, World Cup champion in 2014, will play for Germany, and experienced midfielder John Obi Mikel will star for 1996 Olympic champion Nigeria.TEAMS TO WATCH: Defending champion Mexico will field a strong squad, led by Pachuca striker Hirving Lozano, the only under-23 player on the Mexico team in Copa America. The Mexicans will face Germany, South Korea and Fiji in Group C.Colombia beat the United States in a playoff in March and its squad includes several players from the Copa America squad, including up-and-coming strikers Roger Martinez and Marlos Moreno. The Colombians face stiff competition in Group B from Sweden, Japan and African powerhouse Nigeria.Looking for its third gold medal, Argentina leads Group D against Portugal, Algeria and Honduras.Germany will be playing in the tournament for the first time since 1988, when current U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann was on the team. Brazil and Germany could meet in the semifinals at Maracana Stadium, a rematch of the World Cup semifinal from two years ago when the German senior team embarrassed Brazil at home.VENUES: Soccer is the only competition played outside Rio. The other host cities will be Salvador, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and the jungle city of Manaus. Rio will host matches in two venues: Maracana, site of the World Cup final two years ago, and the opening and closing ceremonies for these games, and the Olympic Stadium, which will also host the track and field events.Sao Paulo will host matches at the Itaquerao Stadium, home of the World Cup opener.JUNGLE OLYMPICS: Manaus will be one of the most unique cities hosting soccer matches at the games. Located about 1,800 miles from Rio in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, the city was picked as a host by local organizers even though FIFA said it was not a suitable first option for a hosting venue. Rio organizers said they added Manaus in part to integrate all of Brazil in the games. The city will host six mens and womens matches in the group stage, including Colombia-Sweden in the mens tournament and U.S.-Colombia in the womens.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni Darius Slayton Jersey . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Julian Love Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. http://www.authenticnygiantspro.com/Eli-manning-giants-jersey/ .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago.MONTREAL -- The Canadian Soccer Association has red carded a provincial association over its refusal to let turban-wearing children play, announcing the Quebec organization will be suspended until the ban is overturned. The national organization took a more aggressive stance Monday in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Quebec Soccer Federations decision to restrict turban-wearing Sikhs from the pitch, saying its earlier efforts had failed to resolve the matter. "The Quebec Soccer Federations inaction has forced us to take measures in order to ensure soccer remains accessible to the largest number of Canadians," it said in a statement Monday night. The national organization said last week it expected the Quebec association to reverse the ban, which has drawn international news coverage and condemnation from several federal politicians. The extent of the impact of the suspension on Quebec players is not yet clear. However, according to Canadian Soccer News, the impact could be felt in a variety of ways unless the situation is resolved soon. Its website said it could result in Quebec all-star teams being banned from play outside the province, and even the cancellation of games within Quebec that involve a nationally certified referee. "Unfortunately, that means soccer players are being punished for something that the Quebec Soccer Federation should have corrected right away," said Dr. Sanjeet Singh Saluja, a physician and former coach who publicly denounced the ban as having no medical justification. "Im sad to see it happen and Im sad to see that it went this far but unfortunately the Quebecc Soccer Federation, they chose not to follow the rules. Oshane Ximines Youth Jersey. " The Quebec federation couldnt immediately be reached for comment. It has said it is concerned about safety and points out that the rules of the world governing body, FIFA, dont specifically allow turbans. Critics of the Quebec decision point out that FIFAs rules dont explicitly ban turbans, either. Some of those who opposed the ban said they welcomed the national bodys tough-love approach. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney tweeted his approval: "Good to see CDN Soccer Association take action against the Quebec Soccer Federation over its ridiculous turban ban." Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau echoed the sentiment, tweeting that "Barring kids from playing soccer because they wear a turban is wrong. The CSA is right to suspend the .QSF." The CSA reports directly to the FIFA world body and is responsible for granting or revoking the membership of provincial federations. The World Sikh Organization of Canada has expressed its sadness over the decision to suspend the Quebec Soccer Federation, and has again urged the QSF to immediately lift its turban ban. "Whereas Sikh children were initially the victims of the QSFs decision to uphold the ban on the turban, it is now doubly unfortunate that so many other soccer players in Quebec will also have to suffer the consequences," said WSO President Prem Singh Vinning in a statement issued late Monday. Vinning said the entire episode has been completely unnecessary and senseless, and the QSF should lift the turban ban for the sake of all soccer players in Quebec. ' ' '