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MADRID, Spain -- Spain striker Fernando Torres says he can make the World Cup squad and help his country defend its title in Brazil. Mesut Ozil Soccer Jersey . Torres tells Spanish daily AS "in football you never know where you will be inside one month. Im going to work hard, thats all you can do with this last part of the season so important. Those in the best form before the World Cup will go." The Chelsea striker was dropped from Spains team for a recent friendly against Italy with Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa taking his place. Alvaro Negredo is also ahead of him in the pecking order. Torres, who turned 30 on Thursday, helped Spain win back-to-back European Championships and the last World Cup. Germany World Cup Shirts ." The final match of the Reds season could have been a celebration of the most unlikely championship triumph in Premier League history. It ended up being a tale of what might have been. Liverpool came up short Sunday in its bid for a first league title in 24 years, finishing two points behind champion Manchester City despite a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Newcastle. Oliver Kahn Soccer Jersey . Four-time defending world champion Vettel and new teammate Daniel Ricciardo pulled the tarp off the RB10 on Tuesday at the Jerez circuit, just before the start of preseason testing on Tuesday.ANAHEIM – Short of swinging a bat himself, which at this point in his life is less than advisable, manager John Gibbons can only do so much to try to rest more offence out of his injury-depleted, slumping lineup. With Nolan Reimold, claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Sunday, playing right field at Angel Stadium on Monday night, Gibbons is piecing together a series of platoons that he can only hope will be as effective as the Brett Lawrie-Juan Francisco-Steve Tolleson experiment was in May. These arent long-term fixes either. Gibbons surely knows it. But Edwin Encarnacion (quadriceps strain) and Brett Lawrie (fractured right index finger) are on the disabled list and there are no fewer than six outfielders on the active 25-man roster. The skipper gets creative. "Until Jose (Bautista) goes back out to right well give Reimold the everyday at-bats out there," said manager John Gibbons. "Gillespie, hell platoon with (Adam Lind), see what he can do with lefties. Then, were going to start platooning Rasmus in centre a little bit with Mastroianni until he gets going." The Blue Jays scored four runs in four games in Oakland, all losses. The clubs calling card, the home run, all but dried up, with only Steve Tolleson going yard in the final inning of the final game, which closed the deficit to two in a 4-2 loss. Jose Bautista is playing with a sore hamstring and Adam Lind isnt back to full health after fouling a ball off his right foot last month in Baltimore. Theres been plenty of thought given to recalling catcher Erik Kratz from Triple-A Buffalo, though expect that to happen at some point soon. "Wed like to get him back," said Gibbons. Andre Schurrle Germany Jersey. "If we could put it all together where he fits; he could help us. He helped us while he was here. I think hed be a big addition." Reimolds been through the ringer with two neck fusion surgeries. The problem started, he believes, during a game in Chicago in April, 2012. He was playing leftfield for Baltimore when he went careening into the stands chasing down a fly ball. He somersaulted over the barricade. His neck snapped. He finished the game. Reimold woke up the next morning with a knot in his back. Later that day, at the ballpark, a trainer worked out the kink. However, the problem persisted and less than two weeks later, his season was over. He underwent spinal fusion surgery. The procedure didnt take and after appearing briefly for the Orioles in 2013, he was back under the knife for a corrective second surgery. Reimold hasnt played in the big leagues this season, having appeared in 17 games for Baltimores Double-A affiliate in Bowie, Maryland, as he worked his way back into game shape. "I think Ive got a lot left to give, even with these injuries," said Reimold, now 30. "I think that I never got the opportunity to reach my potential because I definitely got derailed with these injuries so those are all behind me, in the past, and Im just looking forward to the future and getting out on the field again." Reimold is a right-handed batter. In 1,056 career plate appearances, hes a .252/.327/.439 hitter with 41 home runs. Hell get a look in Toronto, beyond when Bautista returns to his normal spot in right field. "Well wait until it happens," said Gibbons. "We got him because we like him so theres a place for him somewhere." ' ' ' |
