Spain to Euro Final !

From Yahoo.com Sports:

"Spain is just one victory away from making history with a third straight major tournament win.
Spain labored to a penalty shootout win over Portugal to reach Sunday's final, where only Germany or Italy can keep it from an unprecedented trio of victories.

The record run is on course even if Spain's attack hasn't exactly lived up to high expectations, with the team's ability to grind out results becoming its trademark in Poland and Ukraine.

Spain is the only team besides West Germany to reach three straight finals, and the team can go one better than that West German side from the 1970s with a victory in Kiev.

''Spain has already made history and now we continue making it,''captain Iker Casillas said. ''I hope people remember this all their lives because who would have thought we could achieve this four years ago.''
The Spanish, who won the Euro 2008 and World Cup in 2010, remain on course after Cesc Fabregas netted the decisive penalty after Wednesday's game ended 0-0 after extra-time.

''I had an intuition. In the afternoon I was thinking about it, that I would have a unique opportunity and I told (assistant coach) Toni Grande that I didn't want to shoot second, that I wanted to shoot fifth,'' Fabregas said at the Donbass Arena. ''I think I spoke to the ball, I know what I told the ball. I said 'I think we'll be together right to the final.'''

Vicente del Bosque's team has an extra rest day over its opponent, something that will be appreciated as the Spanish coach admitted that he replaced Xavi Hernandez against Portugal because of fatigue.
And there are no preferences for the world champions in the final.

''In either case, whichever team gets out of the semifinal will be a great team,'' Del Bosque said.

Spain's biggest concern going into the final will be its starting attack after surprise choice Alvaro Negredo failed to gel with his teammates against Portugal. Fabregas or Fernando Torres are the favorites, with the pair having scored two goals each and each starting twice in five games.

Despite its inability to find the back of the net, Spain remains upbeat about its chances.

''Spain keeps making history, nobody has done what we have and now if we win Sunday's final we can add the exclamation point to this era,'' said defender Sergio Ramos, whose audacious soft chip in the penalty shootout helped put Spain in command. ''I hope people appreciate how difficult it is to get to where we are. Spain won't always win every game, but we hope that's not the case on Sunday.''

DC United On a Roll !

From DCunited.com:

Moments before entering the field of play, substitutes off of D.C. United’s bench receive a brief series of last instructions.  With Head Coach Ben Olsen presiding over on-field activities, assistants Pat Onstad and Chad Ashton are usually left to deliver the all-important final message.

That message was crystal clear in the final quarter-hour of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Philadelphia: HOLD THE BALL.

“That was obviously the idea,” Lewis Neal said of his assigned duties after coming on in the 61st minute.  “It wasn’t really happening for us all over the field.  It was one of those times when [D.C.’s technical staff] were trying to get us on to just get a hold of the ball a little bit and keep it.  I thought we did an OK job of that.”

Eleven minutes after Neal replaced rookie Nick DeLeon, Branko Boskovic joined the Englishman as another set of fresh legs in midfield.  The pair combined to complete 24 of their 26 attempted passes as United denied Philadelphia any prolonged spells of possession at a time when the Union were pushing for a score.

“Those guys are real possession guys,” Olsen noted when asked about his second-half midfield reinforcements.  “I thought they bought us some real time on the offensive possession, and that was key down the stretch.”

Boskovic’s effort in a central role was particularly impactful.  The Montenegrin picked up his third assist in as many outings while completing all eleven of the passes he attempted during an 18-minute stint.

“He controlled the midfield,” Dwayne De Rosario said of Boskovic.  “He found the little pockets when I was underneath and we started to knock the ball around and keep possession in [Philadelphia’s] half, which was lacking a little bit."

DC United Wins Again !

From DCist.com:

"Hey guys, guess who's in first place?

D.C. United, that's who.

United rounded out a three-game homestand Saturday evening with a victory over the New England Revolution. After taking the full nine points from those three matches, the black-and-red find themselves in sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of New York and two points ahead of Kansas City.

While they've played a couple of games more than some of the teams chasing them, United's point total is still something to marvel at. United haven't found themselves in first place this deep into a season since the summer of 2009, and the three-game winning streak is their longest in league play since 2008.

If I sound like a cheerleader right now, you'll have to excuse me. This team has been very, very fun to watch lately.

How different is this team from last years? After jumping out to a 2-0 halftime lead on goals from Brandon McDonald and Dejan Jakovic, United quickly gave up its lead in a five-minute span early in the second half. DCU's 2011 squad would've given up the ghost at that point.

"This year our guys have been so good at keeping themselves composed and know that it is going to come," McDonald said after the match. "For me, I wasn’t worried about the two goals.”

And neither was United striker Maicon Santos, who came off the bench and nailed the game-winner in the 61st minute. A year ago, the idea that United would be able to bring their leading scorer in as a sub would have been laughable. But with options like Hamdi Salihi, Dwayne De Rosario, Chris Pontius and a game-fit Branko Bošković in attack, United can afford to do just that.

Still, United head coach Ben Olsen expected more from his squad: "It’s strange because I feel unfulfilled," he told the assembled media after the match. "I think our team feels unfulfilled, but it’s nice to feel unfulfilled and have three points in the back."

And that's possibly the most hopeful sign of all for United fans. This team expects to win, and it expects to win convincingly. Gone, for now, are the days where blowing a two-goal lead and skating out with a victory are good enough. United has started to demand more from themselves.

Based on Olsen's attitude about the three game winning streak, the best may be yet to come. Said Olsen: "When you’re in this, it’s tough to pat yourself on the back. I want to keep going. I want more points, and I want to do big things here, and I want these guys to experience big things."

De Rosario is On Fire

From USA today:

"Dwayne De Rosario scored two first-half goals, and D.C. United handed Toronto FC its MLS-record ninth loss to open the season, 3-1 on Saturday night. 

Hamdi Salihi added a second-half goal for United (7-4-3). The Washington club is unbeaten in its last seven home matches, including victories in the last four.

Danny Koevermans scored for Toronto, a loss away from tying the league record for the longest losing streak at any point in a season. Real Salt Lake lost 10 in a row in 2005.

De Rosario has scored three goals in his last five matches, and has four multi-goal games since D.C. acquired him in a trade last June with the New York Red Bulls.

He put United ahead in the first minute when he outraced Toronto's Ashtone Morgan and headed in Branko Boskovic's free kick. De Rosario doubled D.C.'s lead in the 43rd when he drove in Chris Korb's low cross after Josh Wolff played Korb down the right.

Toronto appeared to have new life in the 71st minute when Koevermans reached a long, straight free kick from Julian de Guzman and scored from close range. But Salihi struck two minutes later, reaching Andy Najar's cross after Najar eluded de Guzman and Jeremy Hall on the right.

Salihi, signed in the offseason from Austrian club Rapid Vienna, has four goals in his last five games after failing to score in United's first nine matches."