Every day leading up to the eve of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, TSN. Larry Johnson Jersey .ca will be previewing one of the eight participating groups. Today, the previews continue with Group D featuring Mario Balotelli and Italy, Luis Suarezs Uruguay, Wayne Rooney and England and Costa Rica with Bryan Ruiz. Check back on Friday for Group E. Undefeated in qualifying, Italy breezed its way to the World Cup. But with nine of 19 of the goals scored by Cesare Prandellis Azzurri courtesy of players not going to the World Cup, can Italy count on an attack led by the mercurial Mario Balotelli to bulge the twine in Brazil? Click here for the Italy team preview Injured late into Liverpools season, BPL Player of the Year, Luis Suarez was still a no-brainer as a selection for Uruguay. Still, if their superstar forward isnt firing on all cylinders, can the rest of the la Celeste offence pick up the slack? Click here for the Uruguay team preview Coming into Brazil with the lowest expectations for an England side in some time, can Daniel Sturridge, Ross Barkley and the rest of Roy Hodgsons youthful Three Lions find their stride and head back to another knockout round? Click here for the England team preview Heading into the tournament as the consensus bottom-feeder of the group with few household names even to football fans, can Costa Rica play spoiler or even shock the rest of Group D? Click here for the Costa Rica team preview Percy Miller Jersey .com) - James van Riemsdyk had two goals with one assist to help the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. Cody Zeller Jersey .com) - Mike Conley scored 20 points with five assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies remain unbeaten with a 91-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. http://www.hornetsteamproshop.com/Cheap-Muggsy-Bogues-Hornets-Jersey/ .com) - Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James will sit out Thursdays game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with left knee soreness.7) While were on the subject of kicking in the CFL, why dont coaches use a rule that invites the idea of a short kickoff at any and all times? If a kicker can put the ball high in the air at least 10 yards away, volleyball tactics can take over and if a member of the kicking team can bat the ball out of bounds, or otherwise be the last player to touch the ball, possession is awarded. As I see it, if the kicker is proficient, theres at least a 50-50 chance of recovering the ball every time.8) Have you ever heard one of those intermission reports with comments from an NHL assistant coach that contained interesting information? Now, I can answer "yes". MSGs John Giannone quoted Ulf Samuelsson of the Rangers as saying, following Sundays second period against Edmonton: "That could be the worst Ive seen since Ive been here and Ive seen a lot of games. Were getting crushed by Edmonton in our building and thats embarrassing." Im not sure if head coach Alain Vigneault liked the fact his thunder was stolen, but if assistant coaches are going to be fed to broadcasters, they might as well say something.9) Whos your NFL MVP? Id have voted for Peyton Manning if he hadnt lost to Tom Brady, and Ill vote for Andrew Luck if he out-performs Brady this Sunday, but otherwise, I guess Im voting for Brady.10) How do you feel if youre Patric Hornqvist? You get traded from the Nashville Predators to the Pittsburgh Penguins and you find yourself on Sidney Crosbys line and youre part of the NHLs best power play, all of which helps you to score 18 points in 13 games, good for a fifth-place tie in NHL scoring. I guess you feel pretty good.11) If youre a pro golfer, do you care if your first win on the PGA Tour is at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi in early November? If youre Nick Taylor, born in Winnipeg and raised in Abbotsford, I guess you dont. It beats your first win being in the future.12) How many games will the Philadelphia 76ers win in this NBA season? I think its pretty easy to fix the over-under number at 10. And I think its pretty hard to decide which way to go.13) Is Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions still the NFLs dirtiest player? I think not, because he is now better recognized as the NFLs best defensive lineman not named J. Alonzo Mourning Hornets Jersey. J. Watt. And he wants to be paid accordingly. The bad reputation brought too many flags, and ultimately, not enough dollars in his next contract, which is due prior to next season.14) Last week here, I nominated Ryan Miller (VAN), Jonas Hiller (CGY) and Radim Vrbata (VAN) as the best NHL free agent signings. I didnt give an answer. Can I do that now? Its Anton Stralman of the Tampa Bay Lightning.15) Do you think Rene Bourque was more surprised when the Montreal Canadiens waived him, or when no other team claimed him?16) Chien Ming-Wang, armed with a minor-league contract, will be at the spring training camp of an MLB team. You have at least two questions, Im sure. Why? and Surely not the Blue Jays camp? I only know why its not the Blue Jays camp. In his last three starts for Toronto in 2013, Chien allowed 18 runs over six and one-third innings. In 2015, he will hope to pitch for Atlanta.17) Whats harder - understanding how the Arizona Cardinals have the NFLs best record with Carson Palmer at quarterback, or expecting that to continue without Carson Palmer at quarterback?18) How do you feel about point differential as a meaningful NBA stat? The Toronto Raptors lead the NBA at +11.6. The Houston Rockets are next at +11.0. That says something to me. (Of course, Torontos 32-point blowout of the aforementioned Philly 76ers has something to do with it. The Rockets had their shot at Philly and won by only 11).19) When the Tampa Bay Rays listed the names of eight candidates for their managerial post vacated by Joe Maddon, it was assumed that the next list would be shorter. Instead, it is larger, with the names of Barry Larkin and Doug Glanville newly added. Do you like this idea? The Rays are just the latest team to use social media to make their job search transparent. Next thing you know, the fan-starved Rays will be selling ticket packages with voting privileges included.20) If Calgarys Johnny Gaudreau wins NHL rookie honours, hell be the first Calder Trophy recipient selected No. 100 or higher in the draft (No. 104) since ______? (The answer is goalie Andrew Raycroft, chosen in 1998 by the Boston Bruins after 134 other players had been taken). ' ' '