NEWS » d to keep for an innings in Sri Lanka. I tr

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jozy Altidore made U.S. history. So did Christian Pulisic.Altidore scored twice in a three-minute span of the second half, Sacha Kljestan and Paul Arriola had goals and the United States beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 on Tuesday night to reach the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.The Americans (4-1-1) finished atop Group C of the semifinal round in the North and Central American and Caribbean region and open the hexagonal on Nov. 11 against Mexico. That match almost certainly will be in Columbus, Ohio, where the U.S. has won four straight qualifiers over El Tri by 2-0 scores.No doubt in my mind, coach Jurgen Klinsmann said of the site.U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati later tweeted: Guerra Fria?After U.S. hosts Mexico, it plays four days later at Costa Rica.Altidore, who missed most of the 2014 World Cup and all of this years Copa America because of hamstring injuries, hopes to remain on the field.Im just trying to stay healthy, man, he said. I know I have a lot to give if Im healthy. But thats the key. For me, its just trying to stay on the field, and I know if I do that, I can help the team.Altidore etched his name in the record book by becoming the United States leader with 16 qualifying goals, two more than Clint Dempsey.Pulisic made his first U.S. start after seven appearances as a substitute, and at 17 years, 353 days, became the youngest American to start a qualifier. Landon Donovan had set the mark of 18 years, 184 days against Honduras in 2001 -- the last home qualifier the Americans lost.Pulisic, who had two goals and an assist against St. Vincent and the Grenadines last week, showed pace and an ability to take on defenders down the left flank. He assisted on Altidores second goal.Pulisic also had a memorable miss when his sliding shot in the first half hit the left post, ricocheted across the face of the goal and bounced off the right post.I dont think Ive ever seen anything like that, he said. After that, I didnt think I was going to score because theres no way after something like that. Disappointing.Coaches and teammates raved about the teenagers poise.Its crazy, Altidore said. Seventeen years old and he has a calmness when he gets the ball. He can glide by people almost effortlessly. The challenge for him is to stay hungry and keep improving and for you guys to leave him alone. He doesnt need to be reading about himself too much right now. He just needs to keep his head and keep working.Added Klinsmann: I dont want to give him too many compliments. Got to keep him down on the ground.Trinidad (3-1-2) already had clinched a final-round berth and finished two points back, one ahead of Guatemala (3-2-1), which was eliminated despite a 9-3 rout of St. Vincent that included five goals by Carlos Ruiz.Kljestan put the U.S. ahead in the 44th minute, and Altidore doubled the lead off Fabian Johnsons cross in the 59th. Altidore got his 37th international goal three minutes later, and with the chance for a hat trick chipped over the crossbar after Pulisic helped him break in as injury time started.We were flowing, Altidore said. It was good. Guys were moving and creating space and being crafty. When were like that, were on our game and were at our most dangerous.Kljestan scored with a toe shot from 10 yards out. After a throw in, Johnson played the ball to Kljestan, who flicked it back to the left back. He passed to Pulisic, whose cross was knocked out by Khaleem Hyland to teammate Radanfah Abu Bakr. His clearance hit Kljestans midsection, and Kljestan scored for the second straight game since his return to the national team, his sixth goal in 48 international appearances.Johnson set up the second goal with a cross to Altidore, who juked MeKeil Williams, turned and scored from 13 yards.His second goal was even niftier. Pulisic used a give-and-go with Kljestan to get open and then crossed to Altidore for a tap-in near the far post.Arriola was making his second appearance. He scored in an exhibition win at Puerto Rico on May 22.Were a little bit more dynamic, said Tim Howard, who made his 32nd World Cup qualifying appearance and passed Kasey Keller for the most among American goalkeepers. We added some young players to the fold. Well, maybe they were part of it but theyre getting opportunities now. They make us a little more dynamic. Were shifty. Were able to press. Its been a good change for us.They can only hope it continues against Mexico.Now going into hexagonal with a big chest, saying, `OK, lets take on Mexico in the first game, with a lot of confidence and respect, obviously, Klinsmann said. We see ourselves on the right path.Game notes Canada, which hasnt played in the World Cup since 1986, was eliminated from Group A defeating visiting El Salvador 3-1 on goals by Clyle Larin, Nikolas Ledgerwood and David Edgar. Honduras (2-2-2) finished second, one point ahead of the Canadians (2-3-1), with a 0-0 draw at already qualified Mexico (5-0-1). ... Costa Rica won Group B, beating second-place Panama 3-1 on two goals by Christian Bolanos and one from Ronald Matarrita. Luis Tejada converted a 90th-minute penalty kick for the visitors. Both teams already had clinched. Air Force 1 Pas Cher Chine . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Fausse Air Max 95 Pas Cher . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. http://www.airmaxpaschervente.fr/destockage-vapormax-france.html . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Vente Air Jordan 1 . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Air Max 95 Pas Cher Chine . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Where has all the hair gone? Its at home! I gave some of it to my mother. I had it for a long time. I thought I needed a change, so…I read a story somewhere that the hair was for a reason. Apparently your coach told you that you can have the long hair after certain things are achieved. Is that correct? It is just a general thing that every coach in India says. If he sees a player who is interested in being stylish, is adventurous and wants to play with his hair, he will always tell you, Play for India and then you do whatever you want. That wasnt why I grew my hair. I just had a lot of time on my hands after the South Africa series last year till the IPL. I had six to eight months at home, so it was easy for me to take care of it. I always wanted to grow long hair, so I grew it for some time. It might grow back again, but I am not sure.The last time I spoke to you, you were just returning from illness. You must be very pleased with how the last few months have gone. Yes, I am really happy with the results I have achieved. Seeing the results of all the hard work Ive put in for the last five-six years is extremely satisfying. The way I have played, the approach and the attitude I have had in the last six-eight months is what pleases me more than anything else. Even if I hadnt gotten the same results, I would have still been happy because Im enjoying myself and [Im] going out into the field with the same amount of commitment and focus. I am enjoying the challenges that are coming my way, the responsibility of batting up the order. In the Test matches when the team is batting with just six batsmen, you know you have to deliver.You havent played a Test or any international at home. Theres a big home season coming. How eagerly are you looking forward to it? I am really excited about coming back to India and playing some international games. I have been part of Test teams that have played in India before but havent got a chance in the XI. I am really hungry to do well in India, I have played here all my life. I feel like I know the conditions well, but you never know. It can be different when you play international cricket, and I understand that. I am really keen to go out there and start well in the first Test in Kanpur.A long season and a lot of Test cricket is part of it. You have done well in long-form cricket. Youve made runs every time you have had an opportunity. I quite enjoy playing the longer format. Im not saying I enjoy T20 or 50-over formats any less, but each format challenges you differently. I have been very consistent in domestic cricket and I hope I can continue with the same form in international cricket as well. I look to keep things simple irrespective of the format. I look to play my shots. I will play proper cricketing shots, but if the ball is there to be hit, I will hit it. That is something that wont change with any format. With competitive and quality sides coming in the next six-eight months, it will be a big challenge, and if I can keep things simple and have the same attitude and approach as the last six months, I think Ill do better. I have learnt a lot from the series in the West Indies and Sri Lanka a year ago. I have learnt a lot sitting outside and watching people play. The likes of [M] Vijay, Virat [Kohli] and Ajinkya [Rahane] - how they have been successful in Test cricket, I have learnt a lot from sitting in the dressing room. I am eager to go out there and perform like they have in the last few years, and the home series should be a big challenge.There is a lot of talk that your generation of players doesnt really appreciate Test cricket as much as the newer, faster forms. Is that just talk on the outside? From your point of view, how important is Test cricket? I cant talk for anybody else, things like this dont really affect me. Like I said, I like playing all three formats - they all challenge you differently and I am someone who enjoys the challenges. Having to play Test matches for a month and then switch to T20s in five days is not easy, but thats the kind of challenge I love to face. I respect Test cricket a lot. I wanted to play Test cricket. My coaches and my dad always thought I should look at playing Test cricket. That was my focus initially. Once I got into the Test team I learnt so much about international cricket and realised its not so different. If you keep it simple and play cricketing shots you can be successful. Luckily for me, the IPL helped this year. I realised I could play all three formats, and I feel a lot more confident now.Since you mention the IPL, one of the big revelations this season was your ability to hit the big shot. Was there a moment when you said, Ive got to get this right? Can you talk us through how you got to this point? There was no one moment. It was hard work for the last four-five years. I always thought of becoming a better short-format player and I thought hitting sixes would also help me in Test cricket. It is important to put the spinners off when they come in to bowl, especially for me as an opening batsman. If I can put them under pressure, it will make life easier for the batsmen coming in. I realised that three-four years ago and started working on my six-hitting and paid a lot of importance to my fitness. I wanted to get a lot stronger, fitter, quicker, because I knew that would help me in all three formats and prolong my career. I started paying more attention to things like fitness and nutrition and it has been helping me a lot.You unveiled this six-hitting in a sense at this IPL. Did you come into the tournament knowing that this part of your game was in better shape than its ever been? Of course. This years IPL was the key moment for me to start believing in myself and my shorter-format abilities. Once people saw it they started believing it too. I think it is very important when your own team-mates start believing that you have the game. I showed them that in the IPL, where you have your own team-mates backing you and you have a leader like Virat Kohli, who is always inspiring you to get better and who believes in you. It was important I got a few good innings under my belt. I always knew I could play the shorter format but it was about putting a few performances there. A couple of good innings and I knew I will start believing a lot more in myself, so yes, it worked out well for me this summeer.dddddddddddd.Is Virat someone you have modelled yourself on, not just from the batting point of view but also from things off the pitch in terms of fitness and preparation? Yes, I think I have. He is such an inspiration. We feel lucky that we dont have to look too far. The guy who inspires you is sitting right next to you in the dressing room. The level of commitment that he has shown, the discipline and work ethic, the way he has been so disciplined with his fitness, nutrition and diet - that is something that has inspired all of us. If you come into the dressing room now you can see how all the boys are so disciplined. Hes helped me in shaping my career. When I came into Test cricket, I was good but not as good as I am now. Virat has helped me with my preparation, mindset, and he has given me a lot of confidence.Anil Kumble was very appreciative of you getting a hundred in a Test match and then playing a very different innings in the T20 in Florida. Can you talk us through the mental process for these adjustments? It is really strange, but there is no mental switch that I make. If you saw the innings in St Lucia, I got a 50 in 56 balls or something opening the innings when the ball was doing a little bit. I try to keep things very simple. I go into the field, try to assess the pitch and the situation, see what are the best shots I can play and what is the best approach to have on that day. In Florida, obviously we had to chase a big target so it was very clear in my head that I need to have a good start from ball one. We knew the wicket was good, I got a few boundaries away and I was feeling good. I wanted to do the same thing, play cricketing shots and not worry too much about the score or the results. I just wanted to see how well I could read the bowlers mind and how well I could hit the ball.So you are saying a lot of this is talk on the outside? A Test match or a one-day game or a T20 situation, from a players point of view is a lot simpler than it is made out to be? It is as simple as you make it out to be. Theres not a lot I change in my game. If the ball is there to be hit, I will hit it. Obviously with Test matches, the ball swings a lot more and it swings for longer, so if you see the ball moving you will obviously be a little more conscious. With the white ball, if youve played a few overs, theres not a lot that happens so you feel more confident, you see bigger gaps, the fielders are on the boundary, so you can push your ones and twos. Once you get 15-20, you feel more confident about going over the top. That is what I have stuck to doing and its worked well for me so far.Your training is that of an opener. What sort of adjustment have you had to make when you are pushed lower down the order? Again, it is how you look at it. I have always been someone who hasnt had big plans walking in. I play a couple of balls, then see what the situation demands of me - the roles and responsibilities I have and what are the shots I can play. Whenever I have walked in, the team needed me to do well and I have kind of enjoyed that pressure. In the modern game, you have to be flexible with whatever the team needs you to do. In Florida, the partnership with MS Dhoni was the high point. There was a serenity in the way you guys approached the target. Can you talk us through that partnership? I felt a lot more comfortable when he walked in knowing he is the greatest finisher in world cricket. I knew he would come up with something special. When he walked in we still had eight-nine overs. He told me we need to run our runs hard and we can go after the bowling when theres five overs left. Luckily we both were in good form. He was striking the ball well from ball one and I already had 50. The boundaries were coming, we were getting 12-13 runs an over without taking risks. We didnt plan too much or let the situation get to us or worry about the score. We were matching up to the required rate every over. We just tried to take it as deep as we could and we did quite well till the final over. All credit to [Dwayne] Bravo as well, he bowled a really good last over. I dont think if it happens again we will do the same mistakes as we did in the Florida game. We will be better the next time.You are now one of only three Indians with an international hundred in all formats. Do you think about milestones? I just go out there and bat, milestones and numbers have never been important to me. I always want to win games for my team wherever I play. So even the hundred in Florida is not as satisfying because we didnt win. For me, it is more important to give my team a good start, provide a cushion to get the opposition out twice, if it is a Test match. If it is a one-dayer, have the luxury of runs so that the bowlers can bowl with a free mind. That is what is more important to me. I never plan or have targets. It only limits you from achieving what you can. I always go there to play the situation, keep things simple. That way you wont put pressure on yourself, you will enjoy cricket more, you will be focused on one ball at a time and that is the best space a batsman can be in.One aspect of your cricket we havent seen much of late is wicketkeeping. Do you still focus on that? I do carry the keeping gloves, because you never know. I had to keep for an innings in Sri Lanka. I try to keep myself ready, try to keep in touch because you never know when the gloves can be thrown at you, and when you are expected to do a job. When I am expected to do something and I dont I feel really bad, I like to be prepared. So I try to work on my wicketkeeping.You may in the future be asked to do the job not just in ODIs and T20s but maybe even Test matches. Are you ready for anything? I know this challenge can be thrown at me, thats why I have started working a lot harder on my fitness because keeping will demand a different sort of fitness. If I have to keep and bat, it will take a lot out of my body. So I have started to train harder and focus on eating right and whatever helps recover my body, I am trying to take care of that. It helps to have great support staff to look after you, they guide as well. I am sure the gloves will come on at some point. I will be ready and I will enjoy that too. ' ' '