Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-qua

BORDEAUX, France -- Theyre Europes most successful soccer nations. Theyre arguably the form teams at this European Championship. Theyre the two countries that almost always rise to the occasion in major tournaments.Germany vs. Italy: Its a game fit for a final.Except one of them wont even get past the quarterfinal stage at Euro 2016.The continental heavyweights -- owners of eight World Cups and four European Championships between them -- collide in Bordeaux on Saturday in a match that stands out for many reasons.Firstly, theres the skewed history of their meetings in major tournaments. Germany and Italy have played each other eight times at the highest level and, bizarrely, the Germans havent recorded a single victory.We still have a score to settle with the Italians, Germany goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke said.Then theres the nations current standing in soccer. Germany came into Euro 2016 as the world champion and, to many people, the tournament favorite. Italy arrived with what many back home were saying was the worst team in years.The Germans have largely lived up to their billing, conceding no goals in four matches and hitting their stride with a 3-0 win over Slovakia in the round of 16. The Italians have silenced the critics with arguably the best two displays of any team so far, 2-0 wins over highly fancied rivals Belgium (in the group stage) and then Spain (in the round of 16).Im not singing with the choir that wrote us off (after a 0-0) against Poland and is now branding us absolute favorites after the win over Slovakia, Germany coach Joachim Loew.Theyre not the Italians that we normally know, Loew added. Theyre not only focused on defense but they play very, very well going forward. So ... I believe well have a very interesting, highly charged game on Saturday.While Italy is battle-hardened after a tougher-than-average group stage and then a match against defending champion Spain, theres a sense that Euro 2016 really starts here for Germany.Loews side strolled through its group and Slovakia didnt prove to be a real test.The Italians certainly will be.Loew had his biggest disappointment as Germany coach when his team lost 2-1 to Italy in the Euro 2012 semifinals. He was assistant manager to Juergen Klinsmann when Italy beat Germany in extra time in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup that Germany hosted.Germanys barren run against the Azzurri in major tournaments started with a 0-0 draw at the 1962 World Cup.You dont prepare a game saying we won the one before, well win the next one, Italy midfielder Alessandro Florenzi said. We went to work immediately after Spain, we watched the video and tried to find weaknesses in a team that doesnt have many.The facts speak for themselves, theyre world champions, theyve won so many matches, thats what gives them confidence.Italys chances of continuing its impressive streak in this fixture are being undermined by a midfield crisis. Already without Claudio Marchisio, Marco Verratti and Riccardo Montolivo because of pre-tournament injuries, Italy coach Antonio Conte is without the suspended Thiago Motta and Antonio Candreva (groin), while Daniele De Rossi (thigh) is a doubt.As for Germany, left back Jonas Hector has had a cold this week but is expected to be OK for Saturday.This could be Contes last game in charge of Italy before he takes over as manager of Chelsea in the English Premier League. He has given tactical masterclasses against Belgium and Spain, and another might be needed against a Germany side that has a point to prove.We have no Italy-trauma, Loew saidThe world is just about to find out. Mark Clayton Dolphins Jersey . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Dan Marino Dolphins Jersey . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Michael-Deiter-Jersey/ . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Bob Griese Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Mark Duper Youth Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets gave Yao Ming a warm welcome and his Shanghai Sharks a rude one.James Harden had 16 points and 10 assists, and the Rockets beat the Sharks 131-94 on Sunday night in their exhibition opener.The Rockets had 72 points by halftime in their first game under coach Mike DAntoni.Yao, the former Rockets star who was enshrined last month in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, received a huge ovation when shown on the overhead videoboard. He now owns the Sharks, the team he played before being the No. 1 pick iin the 2002 draft.dddddddddddd- SHARKS: Jimmer Fredette scored 33 points. The former NCAA player of the year who played briefly for the New York Knicks last season added eight assists.- ROCKETS: Nene and Ryan Anderson both had 12 points in their first games with Houston. K.J. McDaniels also finished with 12. ... Eric Gordon had eight points in his Rockets debut.- UP NEXT: Houston (1-0) hosts New York on Thursday. ' ' '