Öffentlicher Bereich » manager Sergio Gonzalez said. I

PINEHURST, N.C. -- Now that hes got that pesky major out of the way, Justin Rose is learning to savour the quest for his next big title. Hes not nearly as optimistic about Englands chances in the World Cup. Rose is the reigning champion heading into the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, a player who is certainly more at ease with his place in golf now that hes got one of those prestigious titles on his resume. "In the last few months, I sort of realized what I have achieved and its time to embrace it, enjoy it, and let that be the strength for me to go on and win more," Rose said Tuesday. Of course, theres another big sporting event beginning this week, one that will certainly have the attention of Rose and his fellow English players. Their soccer-mad nation has a huge opening match in the World Cup against Italy on Saturday, the soccer game scheduled to begin in Brazil about the time the third round of the Open is wrapping up in North Carolina. Reflecting the mood of his homeland, Rose is not very hopeful. Englands only World Cup title came in 1966 and expectations are low for this team, a youthful squad playing in one of the most difficult groups. "I would say theres probably more chance of one of us winning the major than England winning the World Cup," said Rose, among 11 English players in the Pinehurst field. "Sad to say." Roses primary focus will be on his bid to become the first repeat U.S. Open champion in a quarter-century. Last years triumph at Merion had been in the making for nearly that long, ever since Rose finished fourth as an 18-year-old amateur at the 1998 British Open. He spent the next 15 years trying to finish the job, chasing a major title that seemed increasingly elusive as the close calls began to pile up, the weight of expectations becoming almost too much to bear. Then, just when it seemed he might have a lifetime membership in the "Best Players Never To Win A Major" club, Rose won a duel with Phil Mickelson at the venerable club outside Philadelphia, clinching the title with a 4-iron into the demanding 18th hole that gave him the par he needed to hold off Lefty. "I havent been one of those guys who said, OK, well, Im going to win X amount of majors in my career," Rose said. "I really want to treat this major that Ive won now as a gift and let it give me the ability to sort of free-wheel for the rest of my career -- play free, play loose, just go after it. Ive really got no pressure on me from that perspective anymore." Not surprisingly, the U.S. Golf Association paired Rose and Mickelson in the first two rounds. Both hope theyll still be playing together in the final group on Sunday. "I enjoy playing golf with Phil," Rose said. "I enjoy the spirit in which he plays the games, how free he is out there. Hes got a great temperament for the game. Nothing seems to faze him. Thats something a lot of players can look up to him for." Curtis Strange, the last player to win consecutive Opens in 1988 and 89, is pulling for Rose to join the exclusive club. "If Justin would happen to do it this year, that would be the first phone call," Strange said. "That would be fantastic." Rose missed the cut in his last tournament, the Memorial, though he thinks that might turn out to be a good break because it gave him more time to get familiar with Pinehurst. Before that stumble, he had ripped off three straight top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, including a tie for fourth against a loaded field at The Players Championship. His biggest challenge this week might be keeping his mind on golf. During the 2010 World Cup, Rose held a three-shot lead going to the final round of the Travelers Championship. That morning, he watched Englands title hopes fade away with a 4-1 loss to Germany. Then he went out and shot a 75, finishing three shots behind winner Bubba Watson. "I never really calmed down," Rose recalled. "So maybe Ill be a little bit more careful about my emotions watching the football." After all, hes probably Englands best hope for a championship. Duane Kuiper Jersey . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then. Jeff Samardzija Jersey . Jacob Jacques, Andrew Ryan and Jonathan Drouin also scored for Halifax (37-18-3), who outshot the Islanders 40-26. Kevin Darveau stopped 25 shots. Bradley Kennedy had the lone goal for Charlottetown (18-33-5), which has nine losses in its last 10 games. http://www.sfgiantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Tony-Watson-Kids-Jersey/ . 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Or perhaps the 36-year-old goalkeeper and Italy captain was reflecting on this: He is only the third player in history to be part of five World Cup squads, along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal.BARCELONA, Spain - Late substitute Felipe Caicedo scored twice to give Espanyol a 2-0 win over 10-man Valencia on Tuesday and a place in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.Espanyol advanced 3-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 2-1 at Valencia.Malaga also moved into the last eight, losing 3-2 to Levante on the night but coming through 4-3 on aggregate.Valencia played a man down from the 13th minute after Shkodran Mustafi lost the ball under pressure from Sergio Garcia and then fouled him when the forward only had the goalkeeper to beat.The visitors resisted until Caicedo headed home Salva Sevillas free kick in the 79th minute — just four minutes after coming on. The Ecuador striker, who has had a subdued first season at Espanyol, received a heavy knock from goalie Yoel Rodriguez as he made contact with the ball, but jumped right back up and stripped off his shirt to celebrate.Caicedo struck again with a minute left, after controlling Lucas Vazquezs squared pass.Caicedo needed something like this. I am happy for him, Espanyol manager Sergio Gonzalez said. I hope it can be the first of many ggoals.ddddddddddddThe sending off was important but it doesnt take away from what we did well. We played a great match.Malaga had won the first meeting with Levante 2-0 and looked to have taken full control of the second leg after goals by Ricardo Horta in the 22nd minute and Jose Recio Garcia in the 38th.But David Barral sparked Levantes rally, scoring twice after coming on in the 60th. The striker pulled a goal back in the 71st before adding another with a great solo effort three minutes later. He then headed on a corner kick for Juanfran Garcia to net Levantes third in the 85th.Barral received an ovation from the smattering of fans at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium when he was sent off with a second booking in the 90th after he used his arm to knock the ball into the net.Defending champion Real Madrid visits Atletico Madrid on Thursday needing to overturn a 2-0 first-leg loss. Barcelona, meanwhile, visits Elche with a 5-0 advantage.In other last-16 ties on Wednesday, its: Athletic Bilbao vs. Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad vs. Villarreal, Getafe vs. Almeria, and Sevilla vs. Granada. ' ' '