Das Feller-Forum » played West Germany in both the 86 and 90 finals

VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps are unbeaten to start the Major League Soccer season, but rookie head coach Carl Robinson knows his club is still very much a work in progress. After thumping the New York Red Bulls 4-1 in their home opener on March 8, the Whitecaps secured a pair of road draws the last two weeks — 1-1 against Chivas USA and 0-0 against the New England Revolution. Catch the action live on TSN2 at 7pm et/4pm pt. Points away from home are always a bonus in MLS, but Robinson wasnt happy with certain aspects of the games as goalkeeper David Ousted was forced to bail out his teammates on a couple of occasions. With that in mind, the Whitecaps spent time this week getting back to basics in preparation for Saturdays home date against the Houston Dynamo. "We havent played enough football in the last two games that I wouldve liked," said Robinson. "We tried to break it down into segments of building from the back at the right times with a midfield player, breaking lines in the midfield and transitioning quickly. "The boys took the concepts very well." Robinson will hope the lessons stick as Houston (2-0-0) comes to town rested, having not played since a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact on March 15. "A very tough game," said Robinson. "I said to the guys in the changing room that theyre always in the playoffs, theyre a very strong team, well coached ... and its going to be a stern test for us." Vancouver is 2-2-0 against Houston all-time in MLS play, including a 3-1 home victory over the Dynamo at B.C. Place Stadium back in 2012. "Its always been a fortress for us," Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit said of his teams home field. "Throughout the years weve been able to pick up good results and well look to continue that. We know we have a tough opposition this week." Robinson, who was promoted to the top job in December after former head coach Martin Rennie was fired, has tempered expectations as he attempts to put his mark on the club and return the Whitecaps to the post-season. "I was never getting too carried away after the first game and Im not getting too down after two difficult away games," said the former Welsh international. "Its important we try and put our stamp on the game. Because were a young team with new players, its important we manage games better." That begins at the opening whistle, where the Whitecaps struggled the last two weeks to assert themselves early on the road. "A lot of teams in Major League Soccer play very well at home," said Robinson. "Its difficult to go on the road and play. The successful teams manage to find a way to win on the road. Were very good at home. We know that, and if we want to be competing for the playoffs weve got to be very good at home." One player the Dynamo will have to pay close attention to is Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks, who has two assists this season, and three goals in two career games against Houston. "Mattocks is a fast guy," Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie told the clubs official website. "As long as we stick together as a back line as weve been doing and just kind of eliminate space in behind, I think we can nullify them throughout the match." DeMerit said the Whitecaps have had past success against the Dynamo because their style suits the matchup. "That means getting the ball down, getting our link play up and our combinations up front to create chances in our final third," said DeMerit. "The way you beat them is to pick them apart, and weve been able to do that most of the time." The Dynamo — who will face their first road test of the season — have yet to concede a goal this year, while striker Will Bruin already has three of his own to go along with an assist. "Strong team," said Ousted. "Good crosses and big guys up front that are good in the box, so we need to study up on those guys and be ready for it. Hopefully we can go in and dictate the play a little more than we did in the two away games." DeMerit will draw back into the lineup for Vancouver after a week of rest. Another change comes out of necessity, with Gershon Koffie expected to replace Nigel Reo-Coker in the centre of midfield. Reo-Coker suffered a bizarre injury on Sunday when he tripped over a bike rack in Vancouver and suffered a concussion and cuts to his face. Koffie, who has started 77 games for the Whitecaps since 2011, subbed in for Reo-Coker for the final 20 minutes against the Revolution for his first action of 2014. "Its always learning when youre on the bench," said Koffie. "Its not easy to be on the bench ... but also you have to learn from the bench." Robinson said hes pleased with Vancouvers unbeaten run to kick off the campaign but stressed its far too soon to be looking at the standings. At this point, the process is what concerns him. "We started off very well. Weve still got obviously a long way to go. Were unbeaten in three but its early stages," said Robinson. "Its important we progress every game and along the way well win games and well lose games. "But as long as were progressing in the right way and trying to put the style of play I want in the team, then were moving in the right direction." Note: The Whitecaps will honour Y.P. Lee before Saturdays game. The famed South Korean defender joined Vancouver in 2012 after a lengthy career in Europe and the Middle East before retiring in October. Follow @JClipperton on Twitter Wholesale Shoes China Free Shipping . Over the course of his career Glenn is 79-71-1 in 151 starts for a .526 career winning percentage. Since becoming a Stampeder, he has elevated his play and raised his stock around the league. Cheap Fake Shoes Online . JOHNS, N. http://www.cheapshoes.us.org/ .Y. -- When the New York Islanders lead was cut in half in the opening minute of the third period, the sense of impending doom began wafting through Nassau Coliseum. Best Cheap Fake Shoes . - The Cleveland Indians will place centerfielder Michael Bourn on the disabled list before their opener at Oakland on March 31. Authentic Shoes Wholesale . -- New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has no concerns about the health of shortstop Derek Jeter, who was limited to 17 games last season due to leg injuries.SAO PAULO, Brazil -- The World Cups second semifinal was supposed to put the silky skills of Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben in the spotlight. Instead, a goalkeeper and two rock-solid defences stole the show. Argentina goalie Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after tough defending and a lack of creative spark from either team consigned the match to a 0-0 stalemate. In a twist of fate, Romero credited Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal with helping launch his career when he arrived as an inexperienced youngster at AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league. "I will be forever grateful to the coach for helping me out in a country that is so different from ours," Romero said. A day after Germany lit up the World Cup with its clinical 7-1 destruction of host Brazil, the Dutch and Argentines could not manage a goal between them in 120 minutes before the shootout. Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, will have to do play far better in Sundays final at Rio de Janeiros Maracana Stadium if he is to engineer a win over the powerful German team. The Barcelona star was muted throughout the match and extra time, rarely managing to shake off his markers. At the Itaquerao Stadium, he was overshadowed by his goalkeeper and the man he replaced as Argentina captain, Javier Mascherano, who bossed the midfield for his team the way surprise starter Nigel de Jong did for the Dutch. When Robben looked like deciding the match in stoppage time, Mascheranos perfectly timed sliding tackle blocked his shot at the near post. "I would say that he is an outstanding player," Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said. "He is an emblem within our national squad, on the field as well as off it." Romero -- thought to be a weak link for Argentina and not even a starter for his Monaco club most of last season -- had almost nothing to do during the match, but blocked penalties by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder in the shootout. For Argentina, Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez all converted their spot kicks. "Its luck, thats the truth. You can dive (the right way) and not make it, like happened to their goalkeeper," Romero said. "I had confidence, thank God things turned out well." A Germany-Argentina final means an extra bitter end to the tournament for Brazilians, who will have to watch their fiercesst rivals play for the world title in their most hallowed stadium against a team that humiliated their nation in the semifinals.dddddddddddd "We have a final to play, but with one day less rest and against Germany," Sabella said. "Well do everything possible to make it all the way to the top." It was the second straight penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw for the Dutch. Against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, Van Gaal brought on substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul in the last seconds of extra time to replace Jasper Cillessen and Krul saved two spot kicks. This time, Van Gaal had used up all three substitutions by the end of extra time and Cillessen had to face the shootout. The young Ajax goalkeeper collapsed onto his knees and sank onto his back when Rodriguezs powerful strike ended the shootout. Krul walked across the pitch to console him. Van Gaal also said he had a hand in Romeros heroics from their time together at AZ Alkmaar. "Penalties are always a matter of luck," he said. "And I taught Romero how to stop penalties so that hurts." Many of Argentinas players stripped off their shirts in the rain at the Itaquerao Stadium and danced in front of their fans. Argentina reached its fifth final, and its first in 24 years. It won the title in 1978 -- beating the Dutch -- and in 1986. It lost the championship matches in 1930 and 1990. It played West Germany in both the 86 and 90 finals. The Netherlands, which has never won the World Cup, was seeking to reach its fourth final. After scoring 10 goals in three group matches, the Dutch scoring dried up in the knockout rounds. The team managed two late strikes against Mexico but failed to find the net before eliminating Costa Rica in the quarterfinal shootout. "The issue in a championship like this one is that you score one more goal than your opponent, which we didnt do," Van Gaal said, "We didnt create very much." ------ Lineups: Netherlands: Jasper Cillessen; Dirk Kuyt, Ron Vlaar, Stefan de Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi (Daryl Janmaat, 46), Daley Blind; Nigel de Jong (Jordy Clasie, 62), Georginio Wijnaldum, Wesley Sneijder; Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie (Klaas Jan Huntelaar). Argentina: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo; Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Enzo Perez (Rodrigo Palacio, 81); Ezequiel Lavezzi (Maxi Rodriguez, 101), Gonzalo Higuain (Sergio Aguero, 82), Lionel Messi. ' ' '