warum » We have to figure out a way to get more."

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Argentinas national team was welcomed home Monday by thousands of fans celebrating its gutsy performance in the World Cup final. The team arrived in Buenos Aires on a plane painted with images of the players and a large sign reading: "Thank you Argentina." A river of emotional fans wearing the white and sky-blue striped jerseys of the national team, among them a group of Argentine gauchos on horses, flooded the road leading from the airport to the football association complex. "You showed that through courage, passion and bringing everything you have and more to the field you can triumph," President Cristina Fernandez said after greeting all members of the team at the complex with a hug and a pat on the back. "Youve given us values that Argentines, surrounded by so much triumphalism, thought were lost. Not only does the one in first place win; you also win when you show quality and manage to unite with others to go forward," Fernandez said. "Thats why I wanted to greet you today and thank you on behalf of 40 million proud Argentines." The two-time world champion entered the title match as the clear underdog after Germanys 7-1 thrashing of host Brazil. But despite complaints about lacklustre play earlier in the tournament, the team led by captain Lionel Messi showed grit throughout the 1-0 overtime loss to Germany, creating several opportunities to score in the first 90 minutes. "Im thankful to everyone. I would have liked to bring you back the Cup and to be able to enjoy it. We tried, we gave it our all but we couldnt achieve it," said Messi, who won the trophy for the tournaments best player. "Despite that, I think we gave a great joy to the country by reaching this final and facing our rivals without giving anything away." Argentina last played in a World Cup final in 1990, when it lost to West Germany. Four years earlier, it became world champion for the second time, led by captain Diego Maradona, also in a final against the Germans. After Sundays final, thousands of saddened but proud Argentines gathered peacefully at the iconic Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires to applaud their teams best World Cup performance in 24 years. Cars honked staccato rhythms, firecrackers were tossed into the air and fans of all ages jumped in place shouting, "Argentina! Argentina! Argentina!" "We have nothing to regret, we played first rate," said 53-year-old Horacio Laseiras, carrying his 6-year-old daughter on his shoulders. Violence broke out later Sunday night, forcing riot police to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse vandals who threw rocks, destroyed store fronts, tore down street lights and even broke into a theatre. Parents with small children fled in fear. National security secretary Sergio Berni said 120 people were arrested. The Buenos Aires emergency medical service reported on Monday that 70 people were treated for injuries, including 15 police officers. The shot at the title united Argentines otherwise exasperated by one of the worlds highest inflation rates, an encroaching debt crisis and a corruption scandal that has penetrated deep into the presidents inner circle. Fernandez, whose approval rating has plunged in recent months, kept a low profile during the tournament. She declined an invitation to attend the final, preferring instead to rest ahead of a summit Tuesday, also in Brazil, with leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China. Cheap Shoes Outlet Stores . - The Kansas City Royals are hoping All-Star catcher Salvador Perez will be back in a few days. Trendy Wholesale Shoes . Linemates Ryan Johansen and Boone Jenner each had a goal and an assist in the first period, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 36 saves to lead the Blue Jackets past the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Saturday night. http://www.cheapshoes.us.org/ . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. Cheap Fake Shoes Online . INJURIES - Cardinals 1B Matt Adams has been put on the DL with calf tightness, resulting in some lineup shifting, with Allen Craig moving from right field to first base, so that the Cardinals could bring up top prospect Oscar Taveras, who was the No. Cheap Shoes Online Free Delivery .C. - Steve Clifford isnt exactly singing his teams praises after the Bobcats won for the sixth time in seven games.VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella leaned heavily on his first line during the teams recent seven-game road trip. Monday night was just more of the same. Daniel Sedin scored the winner in the third after helping to set up linemate Ryan Keslers tying goal a few minutes earlier as the Canucks rallied to defeat the Washington Capitals 3-2. Fresh off a 5-1-1 road trip, the Canucks found themselves down 2-1 early in the final period despite dominating the Capitals in all three zones. Thats when the line of Kesler, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin took over to help Vancouver to its fourth straight victory. "They had the puck a lot tonight," said Tortorella of the trio. "Theyve been consistent so well keep them together and see where we go with it." After the teams traded goals early in the third period, Kesler and the Sedins played keepaway in the Washington zone to give Vancouver the lead for good. Daniel Sedin finished the sequence off by faking a pass at the top of the slot and blasting a shot past Washington goalie Michael Neuvirth at 5:01 for a 3-2 lead. "Resiliency. You go down early in the third and we find a way to battle back and get the go-ahead (goal)," said Kesler, who along with the Sedins played over 23 minutes. "Thats the way our teams been all year." Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin was stopped on a penalty shot by Roberto Luongo just 79 seconds into the game and was also on for both the tying and winning goals. "When the Kesler goal was scored it was my guy, I was kind of playing position as centre and the third goal, he make a great move and (Capitals forward Marcus Johansson) was kind of guessing," he said. "Two shifts cost us the game." Kesler now has five goals and three assists in his last five games since being paired with the Sedins after scoring just once in the first six games of the season. "Through the whole year (Kesler) has done all the things weve asked of him and now the pucks going in for him," said Tortorella. "Im happy hes getting rewarded, because he deserves it." Luongo made 17 saves to get the victory, while Zack Kassian also scored for Vancouver (9-4-1), which played at Rogers Arena for the first time since Oct. 12. Henrik Sedins assist on the winner extended his point streak to nine games. Jason Chimera, with a goal and an assist, and Mikhail Grabovski scored for Washington (5-7-0), which got 38 stops from Neuvirth. The final period started well for Washington initially, with Grabovski beating Luongo glove side at 1:52 to give the Capitals their first lead at 2-1, but Kesler tied it up again with his eighth of the season by slapping a puck past Neuvirth just 61 seconds later. Daniel Sedin then scored his fourth of the campaign as Vancouver finished the night with a 41-19 edge in shots. "They stayed in tthe game and they got that second goal and its tough to come back from those, but we were able to score two pretty quick ones," said Henrik Sedin.dddddddddddd "First game back after a long road trip, we got a good start. They took over a little bit late in the first but after that I thought we should have won this maybe a little bit more comfortably." Tied 1-1 after the first period, Vancouver outshot Washington 16-3 in the second but couldnt find a way past Neuvirth. Canucks defenceman Jason Garrison walked into a one-timer on a power play early in the period that Neuvirth was equal to. Ovechkin then hit the post behind Luongo off the rush on a Washington man advantage. The Canucks opened the scoring at 11:31 of the first period on Kassians second goal of the season. The big forward moved down the right wing and snapped a shot past Neuvirth on the short side. Asked about Kassians performance, Tortorella was blunt: "Good at times, crappy at times. But hes coming. He still has to work on his consistency." Washington tied the score just over three minutes at 14:36 later when Mike Greens shot from the point found Chimeras stick at the edge of the crease. Chimera, who has goals in three straight games, started the sequence with a big hit in the Vancouver zone. Ovechkin was awarded his penalty shot at 1:19 of the period when he was pulled down on a partial breakaway. Tied for the NHL lead in goals with 10, Ovechkin got Luongo goalie moving with his first fake, but was unable to finish. "If he scores on a penalty shot its a whole different feeling for a player of that calibre," said Capitals head coach Adam Oates. "He had a couple chances. We have to figure out a way to get more." Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows returned to the lineup after breaking a bone in his right foot in the season opener. Although Burrows was back healthy, Vancouvers sick bay is still a busy place. Tortorella will be without David Booth for about two weeks, while fellow forwards Jannik Hansen and Dale Weise are each expected to miss three-to-four weeks. Still on the injury front, Canucks forward Jordan Schroeder, who hurt is left foot blocking a shot in the pre-season, will require surgery to insert a pin in his ankle. Tortorella said he expects the second-year man to be out for two months. All the walking wounded for Vancouver meant that Canucks forward Darren Archibald played his second career NHL game, while Jeremy Walsh suited up for the fifth time. Notes: The Canucks continue their three-game homestand on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. ... Vancouver will retire Pavel Bures No. 10 jersey before Saturdays game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. ... The Capitals conclude their season-long five-game road trip on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers. ... Famed musician Phil Collins was in attendance. ' ' '