Mikroskopie » Its just tough when you go out there

With most international teams taking part in two friendlies over the coming week as preparations for Euro 2016 intensify, there are plenty of questions to be answered. Some teams will be planning for the tournament in France, which is less than 100 days away, while others, such as Scotland, are looking further ahead.We take a look at some of the key questions for the week ahead... Crunch time for Walcott?Given his recent form for Arsenal, it was not a certainty that Theo Walcott would be called up for Englands friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands. The 27-year-old has made just three starts in the last 13 games for the Gunners and appears to have fallen behind academy graduate Alex Iwobi in the pecking order.With Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck showing encouraging signs recently and Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney looking lock-ins as long as they are fit, its Walcotts place that could be most under threat. Ray Wilkins thinks Theo Walcott needs to leave Arsenal if he is to fulfil his potential There are question marks, said Matt Le Tissier on Sky Sports News HQ. Roy has put him in the squad and he will need to use that well if he is going to cement his place in the squad over the summer. The one thing we have learnt about Roy Hodgson is that he is very loyal to his players, if players have done well he will stick by them for as long as he can. That seems to be the case with Theo, even though he hasnt been in the greatest of form.Hodgsons loyalty could be put to the test if Walcotts form does not improve.How will Wales cope without Bale?With seven goals in qualifying, Gareth Bale played a huge role in getting Wales to Euro 2016. He is also likely to be their main man in France as they look to emerge from a group containing England, Russia and Slovakia.However, Wales will be without him for their friendlies with Northern Ireland and Ukraine following talks between the national team management and Real Madrid. Gareth Bale will not be involved for Wales Aaron Ramsey will also be missing due to injury as will James Collins and Andy King, giving Chris Coleman a chance to rotate his squad and test out a few fringe players.You dont replace Aaron and Gareth, but thats not to say that we havent got strength in depth, said Coleman. This gives us a chance to look at one or two other guys and I see that as a positive, not a negative.Can Scotland find future talent?As the only home nation not to qualify for Euro 2016, Scotland are using the upcoming friendlies against Czech Republic and Denmark to look further ahead, with Gordon Strachan naming two squads of 19 players.Among them are eight uncapped players, including Birmingham defender Paul Caddis, Nottingham Forest midfielder Oliver Burke, Brightons Jamie Murphy and Leeds defender Liam Cooper. Birmingham Citys Paul Caddis could make his Scotland debut The squad selection has been met with a mixed reaction. Mark Warburton said he was surprised that none of his Rangers players were included while Celtic boss Ronny Deila is pleased with the longer-term thinking.If nobody gets a chance and cant make mistakes, how can you get them up? Theres no chance, he said. To think more long term is important.Judging by his squad selection, Strachan has one eye on the World Cup qualifier with Malta on September and beyond.Can anyone catch Martin ONeills eye?Like a few other nations, Republic of Ireland look as though they could hand out some first-time caps for their friendlies with Switzerland and Slovakia.But, unlike some of the other nations heading to Euro 2016, Ireland have just one more friendly scheduled after this double header: a meeting with the Netherlands in late May.While they could still add another, these two matches provide a prime opportunity for fringe players to stake their claim. Martin ONeill wants to see some fringe players stake their claim There are one or two players there who have shown their worth in the qualification games and barring injury, theres a really great chance of them going, obviously, said manager Martin ONeill.But there are other places up for grabs. I want to see a couple of the lads, the Euros are just around the corner.Among those potentially looking to make an impact are Wolves defender Matt Doherty, Bournemouth midfielder Eunan OKane, Birminghams Stephen Gleeson and Brentford midfielder Alan Judge.Who will lead Spains line?They have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, one of the best defences in qualifying and a midfield stacked full of talent, but Spain have a slight problem when it comes to strikers.With Diego Costa not included in the squad for the friendlies against Italy and Romania due to fitness issues, the five forwards chosen by Vicente del Bosque are: Pedro, Alvaro Morata, Aritz Aduriz, Paco Alcacer and Nolito.Of those five, only the 35-year-old Aduriz has any kind of form in recent months. Aritz Aduriz (left) has been in fantastic form this season Morata has dropped to the bench at Juventus, Alcacer has struggled for goals lately at Valencia, Nolitos form has dipped since his dazzling start to the season for Celta Vigo and Pedro has struggled to impress at Chelsea.Aduriz, meanwhile, has 31 goals in all competitions this season and is fully deserving of his return to the squad, six years after his only other cap. Considering his age, he is probably not the long-term solution for Spain, but will he get his chance at France?In a recent poll by Spanish newspaper Marca, which had nearly 20,000 votes, 62 per cent said Aduriz should start for Spain at Euro 2016 while 14 per cent went for Morata and eight per cent for Alcacer. Only seven per cent voted for Costa.Will Lafferty look rusty?If Walcotts England place is in doubt due to his club form, what does that mean for Kyle Lafferty?Northern Irelands leading scorer in qualifying with seven goals, he has played just 45 minutes in three substitute appearances for Norwich this season. No surprise, then, that he is keen to get a move ahead of Euro 2016, with a loan deal to Sheffield Wednesday reportedly on the cards. Kyle Lafferty has hardly played for Norwich this season Given his track record, Lafferty is likely to start in France whatever his form at club level. However, Michael ONeill has added another striker to his squad for the games against Wales and Slovenia in the shape of Conor Washington.The QPR forward has never set foot in Northern Ireland but qualifies through the grandparent rule and could now make his debut in Cardiff, the city he used to call home when playing for Newport.Security situationAfter the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, security is likely to be heightened at most international fixtures over the coming week.Belgiums game against Portugal next Tuesday was cancelled and then moved to Leiria while Frances friendly against the Netherlands on Friday is scheduled to go ahead as planned. Portugal to host Belgium friendly Portugal will host their friendly with Belgium after the match was cancelled We have a game to play and life continues, said France defender Laurent Koscielny. Its difficult when barbarous acts occur in France or Belgium but we must keep trying to give pleasure, smiles, to spectators and television viewers.UEFA have said they are not planning to play any matches at Euro 2016 behind closed doors and, asked whether it was wise to host the event, given the level of threat of another terrorist attack, French prime minister Manuel Valls said not to do so would be a victory for terrorists. Also See: Key dates for England Belgium friendly moved Anya: Chance for newcomers Walters to miss friendly China Jerseys Stitched .com) - Virginia is for loving Latrell Scott. Cheap Jerseys From China . - Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/. - A lot of scenarios ran through Terrell Suggs head when the Baltimore linebacker prepared to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. China Jerseys Wholesale . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. China Jerseys Cheap . The 19-year-old Swiss centre back will initially have to impress in Uniteds reserve side to earn a spot in the first team. Veseli says "Manchester United has a long history of younger players coming through and hopefully I can follow and do the same.TORONTO - Sunday afternoons track meet with the fleet-footed Suns left the Raptors in a daze, but one player was feeling it more than the others. With just over 90 seconds remaining, down by nine in a game Toronto would go on to lose 121-113, Kyle Lowry - the Raptors most irreplaceable player - clutched his head, as he remained sprawled out on the court across from the teams bench. Scrambling for a loose ball moments earlier, Lowry took two inadvertent knees to the head from Suns 235-pound forward P.J. Tucker. Assisted by his teammates and the medical staff, the Raptors point guard walked gingerly to the bench where he was examined briefly during the timeout but would ultimately stay in the game. "Hes fine," Dwane Casey said after the game, but Lowrys assessment was a little less comforting. "I got kneed in the head, bad," he told reporters. "Ive got a headache right now. These (television) lights are killing me right now. But Im alright, though." Has he suffered a concussion before? Was he concerned that he may have suffered one that afternoon? Lowry balked at those questions. "No, Im tough," he said with a laugh, as if that could shield him from possible head injury. For those familiar with Lowry, one thing was for certain. He was not coming out of that game voluntarily. Sure enough, he shook it off and played the final 1:36, badly missing his next shot, a three coming out of the timeout. After a slow start, Lowry scored all but two of his team-high 28 points during the Raptors second half push. Ultimately he and his club could not overcome Phoenixs dynamic backcourt and devastating team speed. "Their speed and quickness was the biggest factor," Casey said after his team surrendered 121 points, most since they lost a Jan. 25 shootout to the Clippers. "Speed does that," he continued. "Speed kills. Thats the whole bottom line. We wont see a faster team than that the rest of the year. It caused a lot of breakdowns." With the tandem of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe setting the tone for Phoenix, the Raptors were forced out of their comfort zone, playing at a tempo that suited the Suns high-octane attack. "Thats their type of game," Lowry admitted. "We dont want to have no type of game like that. We want to hold teams under 100, under 90, preferably." The Raptors, who had not lost a game by more than five points in over a month, were holding their previous nine opponents at home to 91.3 in regulation. For the first time over that stretch, they seemed to let their own frustration get the better of them. Usually a calm, cool and collected bunch, the Raptors got caught up arguing with the officials during a third quarter in which the Suns shot 23 free throws, including 10 from Bledsoe alone. The afternoon mercifully came to an end with reserve forward Steve Novak confronting a teammate on Torontos bench as Jonas Valanciunas played peacemaker and held him back. Novak would not say he was shouting at, or why and insisted, its a non-issue. Despite a bit of understandaable post-game tension in the teams locker room, there was an underlying feeling of calmness, stemming from their unflappable head coach.dddddddddddd "Its not a systemic problem," Casey insisted. "Its not a situation where (we should) panic. Its one game. We knew we werent going to go undefeated the rest of the way. That team right there, theyre fighting for their playoff lives like we are." Of course, that wasnt the case back in December when Toronto last visited the Suns. In the midst of a Western road trip, the Raptors dropped their fifth straight and fell six games below the .500 mark for the only time this season. It was an undeniable low point for the squad before their fortunes turned two days later, as Rudy Gay was traded. Even after Sundays loss, they are 31-16 since that game in Phoenix. In a couple losses to the Suns - the Western Conferences feel-good story - this season, the Raptors have been out-rebounded by 36, grabbing a season-low 26 on Sunday, allowing a total of 227 points. Missing Patterson Without Patrick Patterson, missing his fourth straight game with an elbow ligament sprain, the Raptors undermanned second unit was thoroughly outplayed Sunday. The Suns finished with a 59-11 advantage in bench scoring, led by the 28 points of Gerald Green - a starter until Bledsoe returned from injury - and the Morris twins, who Patterson likely would have guarded. "Once Patrick gets back we have offence coming off the bench, which is huge, everybody kind of gets back in their place," said Casey, who wasnt concerned about long-term ramifications of the benchs underwhelming performance. "Again, no time to panic. Weve showed that weve played against quality teams without Pat. Weve got to continue to do that." Patterson will be re-evaluated Monday and the team hopes to have him back in the lineup sometime this coming week. Johnson climbs franchise block list With his swat on Tucker midway through the first quarter, Amir Johnson passed Antonio Davis for third on the Raptors all-time block list. Johnson, who leads Toronto with 73 blocked shots this season, has recorded 406 since being acquired by the Raptors ahead of the 2009-10 campaign. He is now 9 blocks away from tying Vince Carter for second-most in franchise history. Chris Bosh is the Raptors all-time leader with 600. The Stat DeMar DeRozan, who scored 17, has been held under 20 points in consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 20-23. The Raptors all-star guard tallied 16 points on Friday in a challenging matchup against the Grizzlies Tayshaun Prince and Tony Allen before facing Tucker and the Suns Sunday. The Quote "Its just tough when you go out there playing hard and sometimes we dont get a call that were fighting or dying for, that we may need at a critical time," said DeRozan, who was whistled for a technical, along with Casey, after voicing his disapproval of a no-call on a drive to the basket in the third quarter. "Its definitely tough but its something we can learn from." ' ' '