. They had always very good players. They bought some more very good players.So, they are what they are since I return to England in 2013. Theyr

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Brazilians are a step away from a shot at Olympic gold, and nothing could make the host nations fans happier.Womens soccer has not traditionally been popular in Brazil, but Marta and her teammates have been capturing hearts as theyve traveled across the country en route to a semifinal match against Sweden at the Maracana Stadium on Tuesday.Some fans have even replaced Neymars name on their No. 10 jerseys with Martas.We are aware of the pressures, Brazil coach Vadao said through a translator on Monday. The result has to be a gold because thats a need for womens football.But while Brazil is a win away from the gold-medal match, the team will first have to overcome a pumped up Sweden team that knocked off the three-time defending champion United States in the quarterfinals.The loss sent the top-ranked Americans home without a medal for the first time at the Olympics. The World Cup champions were vying for their third straight gold.Sweden deployed a defensive strategy against the United States and won 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Afterward, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo drew attention for calling Sweden a bunch of cowards for its style of play.Its a good bet that Sweden will use a similar tactic against Brazil, which defeated the Swedes 5-1 in group play. Marta and Beatriz each had two goals.Brazil, ranked eighth in the world, finished atop Group E and went on to defeat upstart Australia in the quarterfinals, advancing 7-6 on penalties after a scoreless draw.The Brazilians have twice won silver medals at the Olympics, where womens soccer made its debut in 1996. Both times, at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games, the United States won in the final.Sweden, ranked No. 6, finished third in the group before the big win against the United States. Swedens best finish at the games was in Athens when the team fell to Germany in the bronze-medal match.Now we have so much energy. The way we talk about the game tomorrow, its a special moment, Sweden coach Pia Sundhage said. I thought it was a really special moment in the quarterfinal against the United States. And now we have another one. That is unique. In the same tournament, you have two special games. Now we have a chance to win a medal and well take it.Vadao said Brazil will be without defender Fabiana, who was stretchered off in the match against the Matildas. Veteran Cristiane, who has the most Olympic goals of all-time among women with 14, is a game-time decision with a hamstring injury.Nearly 70,000 tickets have been sold for the match at the 78,000-seat stadium in Rio de Janeiro.Tuesdays other semifinal match, between Canada and Germany, will be played about 275 miles to the north in Belo Horizonte. The Olympic soccer tournament has been played in cities across the country, in addition to Rio.Canada, which won bronze four years ago, is the only team from the medal round at the London Games to return to the semifinals in Brazil. Canada defeated France in the quarterfinals, Sweden ousted the United States, and Japan (silver) didnt qualify for the tournament.Ranked No. 10 in the world, Canada has had a brilliant run in Brazil with wins in all four of its matches -- three of which came against top-five teams. One of those victories was a 2-1 upset of No. 2 Germany in its group.Germany also made it through, however, beating China 1-0 on Friday in Salvador. Melanie Behringer scored the only goal for the reigning European champions. Nike Air Yeezy Sale . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Air Max Trainer Sale . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/asics-shoes-sale/ . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Wholesale Shoes Website . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Nike Juvenate Sale . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. MANCHESTER, England -- Expect a pre-game handshake and even a post-game glass of wine between Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho when they renew their coaching rivalry in the Manchester derby on Saturday.After years of spats and bitterness during their time together in Spain, theres been a healthy respect between the two managers since they took charge of Manchester City and Manchester United during the offseason. That extended to Friday, when they spoke ahead of the most high-profile match of the Premier League season so far.Insisting there was no problem between them, Mourinho described Guardiola as a very good manager and said he wasnt bothered about the media frenzy surrounding their first head-to-head since 2013.Guardiola also downplayed any tension, saying he had a lot of respect for Mourinho and that he will always try to learn from him, echoing comments he made at his presentation as City manager in July.The pair worked together at Barcelona under Bobby Robson, when Guardiola was a player and Mourinho was a member of the backroom staff. They have also met each other 16 times as coaches, with Guardiola winning seven games with Barcelona and Bayern Munich and Mourinho winning three games with Inter Milan and Real Madrid.The last meeting with Madrid (and) Barcelona was not easy, Guardiola said, but we met each other two or three weeks ago in the Premier League managers (meeting) and we spoke fluently, with Ronald Koeman, with Tony Pulis, so it was OK.And about that glass of wine after the match att Old Trafford, as was often shared between Mourinho and Alex Ferguson?I will accept if he invites me, Guardiola said.ddddddddddddMourinho said he was more concerned with Citys players than Guardiola. City has won its first three games of the league season, as has United.They are a very good team. They were a very good team last season, two, three, four seasons ago. Maybe since the new owners arrived at Man City, Mourinho said. Its a very good squad. Its a very good team. They had very good managers. They have now a very good manager. They had always very good players. They bought some more very good players.So, they are what they are since I return to England in 2013. Theyre a title contender and we have to respect them that way, thats for sure.City will be without Sergio Aguero, its leading striker and top scorer, because of suspension. Rather than make life easier for United, Mourinho said the absence of the Argentina striker makes his teams job even harder.When Aguero is available, we know Aguero plays. We know the formation, we know their dynamic. Nobody has doubts, Mourinho said.In this moment, he doesnt play and they have an amazing, rich squad in options. (Guardiola) can have many decisions, different decisions. ... We know they have so many options, so that for my players is more difficult. It feels a bit of a contradiction, but without Aguero its more difficult. ' ' '