Sawa key for Japan against the Three Lions

Soccer Betting Lines

09/10/2007 - Shanghai, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Japan is hoping that its fifth appearance in the FIFA Women's World Cup will be its most successful one yet, but in order for that to happen, the Japanese must first pick up a win in their crucial Group A opener against England.

With group favorites Germany having already recorded an 11-0 pasting of Argentina on Monday to open the competition, it looks as though Japan and England will be left battle it out for second place in the group and a spot in the quarterfinals.

Japan has appeared in four previous World Cups, but advanced past the group stage only once, in 1995.

In order for this team to duplicate that feat, they will rely heavily on midfielder Homare Sawa, who has distinguished herself as one of the top players in the world with 60 goals in 118 appearances for Japan, making her the country's all-time leading scorer.

At just 28, Sawa will shoulder a big responsibility in not only scoring goals, but helping to set them up as well. Despite the claims of manager Hiroshi Ohashi that this team's strongest point is its teamwork, Japan will only go as far as Sawa can take it.

If Sawa is given room to create in the midfield by England, Japan should have a good chance to claim the big win, but if the English can take Sawa out of her game and close her down, Japan will struggle to find offense.

England is making only its second trip to a World Cup, but reached the quarterfinals in its lone appearance in 1995.

England will rely on veteran Kelly Smith, captain Faye White and striker Rachel Yankey to carry its team into the last eight of the competition.

Yankey is expected to shoulder the scoring load for England, but she will have a little more help from her supporting cast which includes strong midfielder Fara Williams.

England may be a little more balanced, but Japan has a great equalizer in Sawa, who is capable of putting Japan on her back and taking the team to victory.

If Williams, White and Smith are able to gang up on Sawa and take her out of the game, England will have a great chance to get off to a good start. However, if Sawa is able to create in the midfield, Japan will get off to the good start it is looking for.

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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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