Embarrassed Argentina moves on against Japan

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09/13/2007 - Shanghai, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Argentina will try to pick up the pieces from an 11-0 loss to Germany on Monday and move forward in search of points against Japan on Friday.

The Japanese were fortunate to come away with a draw against England on Tuesday as Aya Miyama scored on two free kicks, including the equalizer right before the final whistle.

England outplayed Japan for much of the match, but a stubborn defense and resilient attitude kept the Japanese in the game and in position to steal a point.

Despite the draw, Japan has plenty of room for improvement, especially in the offensive third.

Star midfielder Homare Sawa had little impact on the match, and it is usually the play of Sawa that determines Japan's fortunes. The Japanese showed little creativity in the offensive third and failed to seriously threaten the England net outside of the two free kicks.

While Miyama emerged as a true threat from dead-ball situations, Japan must get more from strikers Eriko Arakawa and Azusa Iwashimizu if it wants to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1995.

If the Japanese attack fails to hit their stride against Argentina, the South American side is capable of snatching points despite its horrendous result in the opener.

There is talent on the Argentina side, it just didn't show on Monday.

Manager Carlos Borrello made a questionable decision to start keeper Vanina Correa instead of veteran Romina Ferro, and the young netminder struggled mightily, scoring two own goals and generally looking lost throughout the match.

Better play in goal and a few adjustments in defense are good places to start for Borrello, but he feels that his side is capable of making things difficult for its next two opponents.

"I don't want to comment a great deal about tactics. We have to congratulate the German team on this overwhelming victory," Borrello said. "Our players were very nervous about taking on such powerful opponents as Germany, the World Cup holders. It was a nightmare for our team. Our goalkeeper had a very unfortunate day and gave away two own goals. Obviously, my players are disappointed after such a heavy defeat, but they have plenty of character. We're not yet at 100 percent, but I'm certain we'll see a very different Argentina in our next two matches."

Argentina was overwhelmed in every aspect of the game against the Germans, but should stand a chance to hang in there with a very average-looking Japan side.

The Japanese must take three points from this game if they want to move on, but don't expect Argentina to make things easy for them.

This game will give Sawa and the rest of the Japanese attack a chance to find their form before they take on Germany in the final group stage match.

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What Is the Point Spread?

What are Sports Betting Point Spreads?

In any football or basketball game (the main sports that use point spreads) there are two teams playing against each other.

Those teams, though, are rarely exactly evenly matched – meaning that typically one team has a better chance than the other to win the game. If bettors were allowed to bet on who was simply going to win the game, smart ones would obviously bet on the better team (likely winning more than 50% of the time in the process).

If winning were that easy the Las Vegas and online sportsbooks would stop taking any bets! This is where the point spread comes in: the basic function of the point spread is to balance the likelihood of each team “winning” by adjusting the final score by the point spread. After this adjustment is made you get the Against The Spread result (ATS result for short).

Let’s look at Super Bowl XXXIX, New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Most people believed the defending champ Patriots to be the better team – so if betting were simply based upon which team would win the game, an uneven majority of people would have wagered on New England. But, by using the point spread, the bookmakers adjusted the terms of the bet, evening the proposition so about half the people believed the Pats to be the smart bet, while the other half considered Philly to be the smart bet.

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New England Patriots -7 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The better team, called the Favorite, is expected to win the game and must “give” or “lay” points to the weaker team. The favorite is listed with a minus sign and the number of points they are favored by (e.g., New England -7)

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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