e summertime. Moving the tournament to the winter would have a major impact on the schedule of European football leagues, which would have to change things for at least one season.dddddddddddd. "There is still enough time," Blatter said. "I will bring this up

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- If last years European Championship was the moment Mario Balotelli revealed himself to a global audience, this years Confederations Cup is shaping up as confirmation that he is a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. And if Italy appeared hesitant at times to heap too much pressure on Balotelli in Poland and Ukraine, thats no longer an issue. When Balotelli scored the winning goal in Sundays 2-1 win over Mexico, it didnt come as a surprise. He was a force to be reckoned with throughout the game at the Maracana Stadium. According to Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon, the difference for Balotelli is that he has gained more confidence by playing regularly for AC Milan since his January transfer from Manchester City. After 2 1/2 years of often being relegated to the substitutes bench in England, Balotelli returned to Italy at the start of this year and scored 12 goals in just 13 appearances for Milan. "Talent-wise, hes the same as a year ago, because Balotelli will always be extraordinary in the way he plays football, but now hes also found continuity with his club, which is something he didnt have before," Buffon said Monday. "That gives him serenity and extra self-confidence. "Its a huge advantage to have a player like him," added Buffon, the senior member of the Azzurri at 35 and one of the few remnants from the squad that won the 2006 World Cup. Italy was still well stocked with members of the 2006 squad at the 2009 Confederations Cup and it also opened that tournament with a win, beating the United States 3-1. But then the Azzurri lost to Egypt 1-0 and were humiliated 3-0 by Brazil, resulting in an embarrassing first-round elimination for the World Cup holders at the time. The following year, Italy was again eliminated after the first round of the World Cup in South Africa. "Theres a substantial difference between now and 2009," Buffon said. "Over these last three years weve really matured in all aspects. This is a national team on the way up, and were hoping to keep moving forward." Balotelli tied as top scorer for the tournament with three goals when Italy reached the final of Euro 2012, including two spectacular goals in the 2-1 semifinal win over Germany, and he sees no reason why the Azzurri cant go just as far here. "Were here to do the best possible, to reach the final," Balotelli said. "And I think this squad has the quality to get there." Quality was certainly evident in the decisive goal for the first official match at the renovated Maracana stadium. It was a goal that combined beauty and brute strength. It started with a long vertical pass from Daniele De Rossi. With his back to the goal, Emanuele Giaccherini then volleyed the ball on to Balotelli with an acrobatic manoeuvr and Balotelli did the rest, out-muscling defenders on both sides of him and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper as he slid along the pitch. The only negative aspect of the goal came when Balotelli pulled off his shirt, earning a yellow card. If Balotelli picks up another yellow in Italys next match against Japan on Wednesday in Recife, hell miss the Group A finale against host Brazil. The yellow card, however, was likely the last thing on De Rossis mind when he jumped on top of Balotellis naked shoulders to join in the celebration. The image of Balotelli carrying a teammate on his back was more than appropriate. Balotelli, a son of Ghanian immigrants, a player who has to deal with racist chants almost every match, is Italys new leader. Darryl Tapp . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Charles Mann .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. https://www.cheapnfljerseyschina.co/al-burton-jersey-for-sale/ .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Cheap NFL Jerseys China Free Shipping . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Scott Evans . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth.GOING, Austria -- FIFA President Sepp Blatter plans to ask the governing bodys executive committee to consider moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter in order to avoid the searing summer heat. "If this World Cup is to become a party for the people, you cant play football in the summer," Blatter said Wednesday. "You can cool down the stadiums but you cant cool down the whole country." Despite health concerns included in an official report before the vote, the FIFA executive committee opted for the tiny emirates bid in 2010. Blatter has repeatedly refused to say if he backed Qatar, which can have temperatures of 50 degrees C (122 degrees F) during the summer. In May, Blatter said in an interview with a French newspaper it would be "not rational and reasonable" to stage the first World Cup in the Middle East in the summertime. Moving the tournament to the winter would have a major impact on the schedule of European football leagues, which would have to change things for at least one season.dddddddddddd. "There is still enough time," Blatter said. "I will bring this up to the executive committee." Air-conditioned stadiums to beat the heat were a defining theme of Qatars bid, but the cooling technology only resolves the problem in venues for players, fans and officials. "We have to protect our partners, our commercial partners, our TV partners. We have to be tough on this," said Blatter, who spoke during a two-day conference on sports, media and economy set up by German great Franz Beckenbauer in Austria. The head of the local organizing committee, Hassan Al-Thawadi, said Qatar bid for a tournament in the summer but left the option open of a possible switch to another time of the year. "It there is a wish from the football community to move the World Cup to the winter, we are open for it," said Al-Thawadi, who spoke to the conference through a live video connection. ' ' '