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TORONTO -- Of all the teams in the World Cup of Hockey, its fair to say that the greatest pressure falls squarely on the collective shoulders of Team USA to hit the ground running.Granted, none of the eight teams can afford to start slowly, given that the tournaments pool will be cut in half after only three preliminary games.But for an American team desperate to prove it was put together correctly, desperate to prove that its style of hockey can trump the best the world has to offer, a matinee matchup against Team Europe on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) to kick off the 2016 World Cup of Hockey looms large.Is it a must-win?Lets call it what it is. So, yes, its a must-win.Team USA coach John Tortorella was asked Friday whether the mantra for this veteran, hard-nosed team might be, If not now, then when?He replied by refining it to, simply, Its time.That time is Saturday afternoon. Not Tuesday night against Canada, not later on against the Czech Republic.Im sure guys are going to have nerves, Team USA defenseman Jack Johnson?said. You love to get that rush of competing, thats what makes tournaments like this so great. Its the rush of nerves and the emotions and everything that goes into it. But we know how important these games are. I think, going into Saturday, its [about] that game and that game only. Were not thinking ahead because youve got to win that game before you can win the next game.If you figure two wins gets you out of the preliminary round, and if you figure Canada, Team USAs opponent in the second game of the preliminary round Tuesday night (8 p.m., ESPN), represents the biggest challenge, then beating both Team Europe and the Czechs is imperative for the Americans.Team Europe represents something of an unknown. After looking slow and disconnected in pretournament losses to Team North America, the Euros bounced back with a strong effort in their final tuneup match against Sweden, which is considered one of the tournament favorites.Everythings great, but then you play the first two games and the results were definitely not great, said Team Europe captain Anze Kopitar. Then you almost have a little bit of doubt. You dont know exactly how youre going. I think [beating Sweden] was a great confidence booster for us.The pretournament win was huge for Team Europe and serves as a kind of cautionary lesson for Team USA, reminding the Americans not to assume that they can come with anything less than their A-game on Saturday and expect to collect a victory.Finding that emotional balance will be key for Team USA. It must bring the same speed and physicality it showed against Canada in pretournament play, but not provide power-play opportunities to a Team Europe squad that figures to struggle offensively.There really is no easing into it, Team USA veteran?Zach Parise?said. With a three-game round-robin, and only taking two teams, you cant really afford to have a slipup. You cant afford to really have an off-game early or else youll need a little luck [to move on]. But I think were going to be ready to play.Team USA started the pretournament schedule with an emotional, physical effort against Canada. The Americans won that game 4-2, but Canada rebounded to take the rematch the next night in Ottawa 5-2 and outplayed Team USA in both meetings.Team USA looked much better in its final tuneup against Finland, a 3-2 victory, and the feeling among the American players is that they are finding their rhythm under head coach John Tortorella.I think were in a good spot right now, but theres definitely going to be things to clean up, forward T.J. Oshie?said. I think were heading in the right direction.It is hard, because if you get off to a bad start, you might be going home in a week. I think our teams got enough experience, weve got enough veteran guys, to where well probably stay pretty level-headed and not get overanxious or nervous or anything like that. It definitely could get to you, worrying about that. But I think this group is experienced enough to where we wont let it.Longtime NHL analyst and former NHL goalie Darren Pang wouldnt go as far as saying the U.S. absolutely must win Saturday, but he did say its crucial for the Americans to set the right tone.I think its about how they play, said Pang, who is providing analysis for ESPN during the tournament. How they want to play and how they set the tone, because I think they are a tone-setter for this tournament.Pang said he has been impressed with how players have accepted their roles as set out by the coaching staff.Youre starting to see an identity, Pang said. What Ive been impressed with is that it looks like players have checked their egos completely at the door and theyre going to play the way the coach says.Although Tortorella would not reveal his lineup Friday, he confirmed Jonathan Quick would start in goal and line rushes during practice on Friday suggested that Justin Abdelkader would be the extra forward.The coach admitted that some players have rounded into game shape more quickly than others. I looked at some guys early on and said, Theyre just not ready to give here, Tortorella said. You have talks along the way, and you see guys step up. I wont give away names, but I was really worried about a couple of guys, and then they came right to the forefront. Theyre going to be in the lineup.Some other guys have played themselves out of it. Nothing is fair with [only] five days of practice in determining a lineup, but thats the world that we live in this tournament, and thats the way weve gone about it.In other words, its time. Semyon Varlamov Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Nikita Zadorov Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.cheapavalanchechinajerseys.com/ ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Jonathan Bernier Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Matt Nieto Jersey . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. MARSEILLE, France -- France is heading back to soccers elite, and Antoine Griezmann is the man leading the way.Griezmann scored both goals to give France a 2-0 win over world champion Germany on Thursday and a place in the European Championship final against Portugal.It was a victory built as much on German errors as it was on Griezmanns skill, with a handball in the box and a poor defensive pass paving the way for his goals.But that didnt matter to the fans who made Marseilles Stade Velodrome ring with the sound of the Marseillaise, Frances national anthem. Their team won this tournament in 2000, two years after lifting the World Cup, but it hasnt had a trophy since then.Developed as a player in Spain, Griezmann has been the star of the show for France, leading a high-scoring team with six goals, twice as many as any other player in the tournament.I think theres a lot of happiness around France tonight, said coach Didier Deschamps, whose team faces Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal on Sunday at the Stade de France.This team has everything it needs to be loved, Im very proud... Its fabulous to be in the final.Griezmann, who could have completed a hat trick in the 86th minute but shot straight at goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, was already looking ahead.Were very happy, he said. We have to keep our feet on the ground. We still have a match to go.For Germany, defeat cost it the chance to add the European title to the World Cup it won in 2014.It had gone 50 years unbeaten against host nations at major tournaments, dating back to its loss to England in the 1966 World Cup final and encompassing a famous 7-1 humbling of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.While a repeat of the Brazil rout was never on the cards, Germany could have scored more than once as it dominated the first half. But it was denied by poor shooting from Thomas Mueller, who ended his tournament scoreless, and a save by Hugo Lloris to block Emre Cans bouncing shot.France took the lead from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time after Bastian Schweinsteiger handled the ball in an aerial challenge with Patrice Evra.Griezmann stepped up to score, striking the penalty hard to Neuers right.I really wanted to take a penalty in a big match like thaat.ddddddddddddI was very composed, I didnt think twice, Griezmann said.It was the second time in as many games that Germany had given away a spot-kick for handball. Jerome Boateng blocked the ball with an arm above his head in the quarterfinal against Italy.Its just bad luck, just an unlucky action, Germany coach Joachim Loew said of the penalty. In a challenge, when youre jumping, there are movements that you cant really control.Trailing in a match for the first time in the tournament, Germany could not recover its previous dominance after halftime. It then had to cope with losing key defender Boateng, who picked up an ankle injury after an hour.The German defense had not conceded from open play all tournament, but it fell apart for Griezmanns second goal in the 72nd minute. A sluggish pass by Benedikt Hoewedes to right back Joshua Kimmich was cut out by Paul Pogba and Neuer could only palm away the midfielders cross to Griezmann, who finished with ease.Germany responded well and could have pulled one back when Kimmich hit the post, before Julian Draxler sent a free-kick narrowly wide and Hoewedes headed over.We had chances to come back, Neuer said. We played a good European Championship and its very bitter to go out.Loew insisted his team had played better than France but had been denied by bad luck, including the injuries and suspensions that hit four key players -- Boateng, as well as defender Mats Hummels, midfielder Sami Khedira and forward Mario Gomez, with the latter three missing the game.Loew, who is under contract until the 2018 World Cup, said he was not sure of his future.France, while not always reassuring in defense, came through victorious in its first game of the tournament against genuinely top-class opposition.After the final whistle, Frances jubilant players celebrated with the fans by performing the Huh chant made famous at the tournament by Iceland.Across France and in the French team, the attention was firmly on the diminutive Griezmann after another decisive performance. Hes our little man that gives us that bit extra, teammate Olivier Giroud said. ' ' '