rt training.France, which was runner up at Euro 2016, drew its Group A opener away to Belarus. It hosts Bulgaria before an away match against the Netherlands.---PORTUGALThe Eur

Welcome to the playoff discussion, Big 12.With three teams ranked in the top 14 of the latest CFP Rankings, the Big 12 not only has jumped back into the playoff conversation, but the conference has a viable path for inclusion.Sounds crazy, right? Its not. Heres how it could happen.Brad Marchand Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Danton Heinen Bruins Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. http://www.cheapbruinsjerseys.info/authentic-bobby-orr-bruins-jersey/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Jaromir Jagr Jersey . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Ray Bourque Bruins Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race.MILAN -- Spain will be out for revenge when it plays old rival Italy in Turin on Thursday in the standout qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup.Italy beat Spain 2-0 in the round of 16 at the European Championship to end its bid for a third consecutive continental title.A lot has changed for both teams since then, but Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci believes the Azzurri need to have that same spirit if they are to pull off a similar feat on home soil.Were playing a different Spain to the one at Euro 2016, Bonucci said on Tuesday. They want revenge and have new motivations.They are still favorites. They have the worlds best players in every department. To upset the odds we will have to play with high-intensity, like we did in Paris, and be clinical in front of goal.Both teams changed their coaches at the end of Euro 2016. The Italy defeat marked the end of Vicente del Bosques long and successful stint as Spains manager, with Julen Lopetegui tasked with rejuvenating a team that won the 2010 World Cup and 2008 and 2012 European Championships.Gian Piero Ventura replaced Antonio Conte, who left for Chelsea after Italys quarterfinal exit to Germany.Spain forward Jose Callejon was recalled to the squad for the first time since his only two appearances for the national side in November 2014 and the Napoli star has an added motivation.It will be special because besides (playing against Italy) the match will be at Juves stadium and the main rivalry we have at Napoli is against Juve, he said.Both teams won their opening qualifiers in Group G, with Italy winning 3-1 in Israel and Spain crushing Lichtenstein 8-0. Italy will be without a crucial member of its Juventus trio of defenders as Giorgio Chiellini is suspended following his red card against Israel.Italy visits Macedonia on Sunday, when Spain travels to Albania, which also won its opening qualifier.Here is a look at some of the other teams bidding to reach Russia in 2018:---ENGLANDAfter a tumultuous week, England is turning its attention to matters on the pitch rather than off it.Coach Sam Allardyces contract was terminated last week after just one game and 67 days in the position. A British newspaper investigation showed Allardyce appearing to offer advice to fake businessmen on how to sidestep an outlawed player transfer practice, and also negotiating a 400,000 pound ($519,000) public-speaking contract.Gareth Southgate, who has been promoted from the under-21 setup until at least November, will be in charge when England hosts Malta at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and away at Slovenia three days later.We need to build on the three points we won in the last game (against Slovakia), and the other side of it isnt our issue, its nothing ffor us to be concerned about, England captain Wayne Rooney said.ddddddddddddAs a group of players we need to stick together and concentrate on the football. For the FA Im sure it has been a tough couple of weeks but for the players weve been with our clubs and we have to focus on the games.Scotland also has three points in Group F after winning 5-1 in Malta. It hosts Lithuania before travelling to Slovakia.---GERMANYJoachim Loew is giving his players time to recover from intensive weeks with their respective clubs and will only start working with the side on Wednesday ahead of Saturdays game against the Czech Republic.The short preparation time is unusual but absolutely necessary according to Loew, who feels footballers are playing too many games.Weve reached the limits in sport -- physically and mentally, Loew told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. We need to be clear that the quality will suffer in the long run.World champion Germany leads Group C after winning 3-0 in Norway. It also hosts Northern Ireland Tuesday.---FRANCEIt has been a big week for one of Frances rising stars as Presenel Kimpembe has gone from playing in Paris Saint-Germains reserve team to earning a debut call-up to the national side.Kimpembe, who is regarded as one of the most promising young talents in France, has made just 13 top flight appearances and the defender played in PSGs B team at the weekend but was called up on Monday as a replacement for the injured Eliaquim Mangala.Its a great joy, its the country, everyone behind us, the 21-year-old said on Tuesday. It shocked me ... Ive been following the France team since I was really young and to be there today is an enormous happiness. I still dont realize it now really but I will do when I see everyone and start training.France, which was runner up at Euro 2016, drew its Group A opener away to Belarus. It hosts Bulgaria before an away match against the Netherlands.---PORTUGALThe European champion also had a disappointing start to its qualifying campaign as, without star player Cristiano Ronaldo, it lost 2-0 in Switzerland.Portugal wont be too concerned though as it also lost its opening qualifier for Euro 2016 without Ronaldo, at home to Albania, and went on to win the rest of its matches -- and the tournament.Moreover, it next faces two of European footballs smaller teams in the Faeroe Islands and Andorra.The squad is stronger because it has Cristiano, but mostly because the other players have more minutes, longer work, more training under their belts. This was one of the problems against Switzerland, coach Fernando Santos said. ' ' '