s dressing room provide a direct link to the Toronto Situation Room. The "hot line" can ring between periods if Hockey

MANCHESTER, England - Italy and the Netherlands became the first European teams to qualify for the 2014 World Cup but Germanys passage to the finals in Brazil was delayed despite also winning on Tuesday. Cheap Jerseys From China . Mario Balotellis 54th-minute penalty secured a 2-1 win for Italy over the Czech Republic to seal first place in Group B, while Robin van Persies second-half double in a 2-0 win at Andorra guaranteed the Dutch top spot in Group D. Both countries qualified with two matches to spare, with the Azzurri qualifying for their 14th straight World Cup on the night goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a record-equaling 136th appearance for Italy. Germany beat the Faeroe Islands 3-0 but still needs one more win for automatic qualification, with Sweden five points behind with two matches left after a 1-0 win in Kazakhstan. Englands destiny in its own hands after drawing 0-0 at Ukraine to stay top of Group H and Russia can also make the finals by winning its last two games after beating Israel 3-1 to topple Portugal in Group F. France twice came from behind to defeat Belarus 4-2 and draw level with Group I leader Spain, which has a game in hand. Elsewhere, Switzerland won 2-0 at Norway in Group E and needs just one victory from its last two games, against Albania away and Slovenia at home, to finish first. Bosnia-Herzegovina remained ahead of Greece on goal difference in Group G after coming from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1. The top team from each of the nine European groups qualifies automatically for Brazil. The best eight runners-up go into playoffs in November and that is likely to include Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal, with Russia having two easy final games. Spain wasnt in World Cup qualifying action but still played Tuesday, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Chile in Geneva. At halftime in their respective matches, Italy and the Dutch were on course to blow their chances of sealing qualification early but their star forwards came through for them when it mattered. Three minutes after Giorgio Chiellini cancelled out Libor Kozaks opener for the Czechs in the 19th, Balotelli stepped up after being brought down in the area to coolly convert his penalty. The AC Milan striker had missed a string of great chances before maintaining his record of never missing a spot kick. Kozaks goal meant Buffon couldnt mark his special night with a clean sheet but he will still never forget matching Fabio Cannavaros appearance record at the Juventus Stadium — the home of the Turin club where he has spent most of his club career. Italy has missed only one World Cup since 1934, but has never qualified with two matches to play. "Its a great satisfaction," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "This is a very talented team which always manages to give its maximum. I saw a great Italy." Czech coach Michal Bilek tendered his resignation after the match, with his team fourth in the group and unlikely to reach the playoffs. The Netherlands can also start planning for next summers finals, although it took goals from Van Persie in the 50th and 55th minute to squeeze past a team ranked 205th in the world. With Romania losing at home to Turkey for the first time since 1925, the Dutch cant be caught. "Weve qualified, thats step one," said Van Persie, who moved to 38 goals for his country — two off the record held by Patrick Kluivert. "Now have to start working toward the World Cup." With Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbing Swedens winner in one of the early matches in the latest batch of qualifiers, the Germans knew they would have to wait until next month to progress. They had little trouble seeing off the Faeroes, who were reduced to 10 men late on, with Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller scoring the goals. Austria can still catch Sweden for second place after beating Ireland 1-0 in Vienna. A nail-biting finish is guaranteed in Englands group after Roy Hodgsons side — featuring Frank Lampard in his 100th international appearance — held on for a goalless draw in Kyiv to stay in command with two games left. Three points separates the English from Montenegro, Ukraine (who are both one behind) and fourth-place Poland, which thrashed San Marino 5-1. Poland must still travel to Ukraine and England, which first plays Montenegro at home. Russia only has to beat Azerbaijan and Luxembourg — the groups bottom two teams — away to qualify for its first World Cup since 2002 and condemn Portugal to the playoffs. Vasiliy Berezutsky, Aleksandr Kokorin and Denis Glushakov scored for Fabio Capellos side in Moscow. Elsewhere in Group F, Luxembourg beat Northern Ireland 3-2 for only its fourth win in 122 World Cup qualifiers and its first at home since 1972. China Jerseys Stitched . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. China Jerseys Cheap . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ . The question is how many minutes will be available to them and can any of their defence or goaltending provide value? Top Picks: Following a down year in 2011-2012, Matt Duchene rebounded with his highest points-per-game (0.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Kerry: I will give you full marks for your comments on the Pens/Bruins fiasco...100 per cent bang on...that had to be the worst display of "game management" I have seen in a while. Kerry, Im an old timer, spent about 11 years wearing the black and white stripes and saw a lot in my day. What I dont get and never will is the reluctance to allow Linesman to be more involved in decision making. And no I am not talking about having them watch for more, Lord knows with the speed of the game they already have their hands full. HOWEVER, how many times have we seen blatant offences with NO call only to wind up with supplementary discipline? It happens routinely and you cannot tell me that in many of these cases one of the Linesmen did not see the blatant offence occur? Case in point: Phaneufs hit on Sunday night...how in the world do 4 (four) sets of eyes not see that as a direct hit from behind...no call but he has a hearing! And I am a LIFELONG Leaf fan! Point is if they (the League) are REALLY serious about cleaning up the game, then the culture amongst Officials has to change. You have four sets of eyes out there they should USE them and it can be done with undue burden...as I pointed out, not asking them to LOOK for more, but when they see it, they need to be able to call it. It is called "CHECKING YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR". This should not be a slight against the Referees...the game has changed dramatically. Its faster, harder, players are bigger and more mobile - its time to catch up. Cheers Kerry,Jeff Baldwin Jeff:Thank you for the thought-provoking question. You too sir are bang on with regard to many of the shortcomings that we see take place on almost a nightly basis in the current two-referee system. I have to question an apparent lack of coaching and the accountability process that NHL Officials are currently being held to when we witness similar plays that are often misjudged or missed. From your experience as a referee Jeff, you know that you have to position yourself in advance of the play to acquire the best possible sight line to make the call. I have made reference to this crucial aspect of officiating on many occasions in this column. When a call is missed, the referee most directly responsible for that call often has an obstructed view of the play. Yes, the game is faster and the players are certainly bigger, but there are too many "puck watchers" currently wearing black and white stripes that dont see the game in advance. Given the human factor, we know (and can accept) that calls will be missed; after all nobodys perfect. There are also a number of infractions currently in the rule book that Linesmen are allowed to call (hits from behind like the one Phaneuf delivered on Kevan Milller being one of them!) Linesmen have a difficult and specific job of their own to do; one that is very important and can also impact a game. China Jerseys Wholesale. Conferences between the four officials take place whenever a goal is scored and there is a question that goalkeeper interference took place or to determine if the puck was shot directly over the glass. A correct decision has often been rendered through these types of meetings of the minds. Many of the young NHL Officials have been fast-tracked through a two-referee system where they never really had to fend for themselves. There was always another person to rely on which inhibited their growth and experience as a young referee. I maintain that to be most effective, a ref has to work like he is the only set of eyes on the ice. He should want to see everything that takes place with his head on swivel even though he is responsible for certain specific areas of coverage in the two-referee system. The better referees in the NHL work within the current system to support their partner but also like they are the sole referee in the game. The confidence and authority of the modern day NHL referee has gradually been eroded through the safety net and hands on approach that the Hockey Operations Department exerts over both the officials and the Officiating Department. Telephones installed in the officials dressing room provide a direct link to the Toronto Situation Room. The "hot line" can ring between periods if Hockey Operations personnel deem it necessary to provide input to the officials. The last time I checked, while many of them were excellent players, none of them refereed a game in the league! Far too many times I see minor penalties assessed for what should easily be judged as a major or match infraction such as James Neals knee to the head of Brad Marchand. Either the referees judgment needs considerable tweaking or they prefer to rely on supplementary discipline to suspend a player if the Player Safety Committee deems it violent enough. Video review is an excellent tool to verify the scoring of a legal goal but that decision also is taken out of the referees hands and electronically transported to Toronto. That is of course, unless the Situation Room cant make a clear and firm decision in which case an "inconclusive verdict" throws the call back in the referees lap who has yet to see a replay of the incident. I dont think its so much about checking ones ego at door Jeff. I believe its more about developing proper coaching techniques and to empower the officials to be the very best that they can be. While there are a number of officials that do a terrific job there is much work that is required in this area. The NHL Officials, to a man, are good and dedicated people. They deserve the very best opportunity to succeed. Its in the best interest of the game they are given the proper tools to do so. ' ' '

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