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LONDON -- France needs an unprecedented comeback to avoid missing its first World Cup in 20 years. No European team has ever qualified for the World Cup through the playoffs after losing the first leg 2-0. Two decades after France failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup following a shock home defeat against Bulgaria, Les Bleus lost to Ukraine for the first time in the first leg by a two-goal margin. That means the odds are indeed heavily stacked against Didier Deschampss team ahead of Tuesdays return game at the Stade de France. The French players display was so poor on Friday that it led the French media to question if the national sides performance had been the "worst in history." To turn around the result, France needs to rediscover its attacking potency as Deschamps - who won the 1998 World Cup and the European championships two years later as a player, must decide who to play up front against an extremely well organized Ukrainian side. "Well need to have that bit of folly that will make for an exceptional match," Deschamps said. "Its up to the players to get into that mentality. But we also have to realize they wont play with 10 players at the back. We have to put them under pressure from the start and show a lot of determination and keep the high tempo going until the end." Flourishing in the Premier League this season, Loic Remy had a poor game on the right wing in Kyiv and could be replaced with Karim Benzema, meaning that Deschamps could keep Olivier Giroud as his central sriker. Samir Nasri had a quiet game and may be replaced in the playmakers role by Mathieu Valbuena. Franck Ribery will also need to raise his game with the national team to prove that he fully deserves the FIFA Ballon dOr. Ribery who struggled to make any meaningful impact in Ukraine, has been tipped to claim the FIFA accolade after helping Bayern Munich to the Champions League. "Obviously, Ukraine knew how dangerous Ribery could be," Deschamps said. "They were very aggressive toward him. They made a lot of fouls that went unpunished. Ukraine eliminated Franck. He had very few chances to take on his opponent one-on-one. There was always a midfielder around to provide back-up." With Laurent Koscielny suspended after his sending off, Deschamps has a major headache in defence and must decide who will play alongside Eric Abidal. With Raphael Varane struggling with a sore knee, Deschamps must pick between the inexperienced Mamamdou Sakho and Bacary Sagna. Sagna plays at right back for Arsenal but has played centre half before. "We were shaken over there against a very committed team who played at a very high level while we were average," Deschamps said. "We took a slap and the situation is favourable for them. It wont be easy. Were obviously not in a good position. We have to reverse the trend and believe in this now." After winning the first round of his duel with Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he scored the winner in Portugals 1-0 win over Sweden, Cristiano Ronaldo is hopeful he can again steal the show at the Swedish national stadium on Tuesday night. While Ibrahimovic failed to impress in Lisbon, Ronaldo dived to glance in a left-wing cross for his 44th goal in 108 international appearances, and almost added another when he headed against the crossbar late on. Portugal, which beat Sweden at home for the first time in its history, missed automatic qualification for a major international tournament for the third time in a row after qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 through the playoffs. "It was an important goal and it gave us victory," Ronaldo said. "We could have scored one or two more goals but this advantage gives us confidence for the second leg. Nothing is settled yet. Its 50-50." All four return playoffs matches take place on Tuesday, with Greece in a comfortable position following its 3-1 win over Romania in the first leg and Iceland having kept alive its hopes of reaching a first ever World Cup with a 0-0 home draw against Croatia. Several friendly matches involving European powerhouses having already qualified for the finals in Brazil are also scheduled on Tuesday, with England facing bitter rival Germany in Wembley for the showcase match of the evening. The Germans will be missing Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil, Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer after coach Joachim Low decided to try "new tactical variations and personnel." Wholesale Lions Jerseys . -- The Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette have completed a buyout of his contract, clearing the way for the former BYU sensation to become a free agent. Will Harris Jersey . Scolari says that although Brazilians have the right to complain about the government and demand improvements, perhaps the protests wont be coming at the "right time. http://www.cheapdetroitlionsjerseysauthentic.com/ . LOUIS -- When Braves second baseman Tyler Pastornicky backpedaled into shallow right field to catch the popup and Jason Heyward didnt arrive fast enough to take charge, Kolten Wong got the green light. Cheap Lions Jerseys . Scheffler told The Associated Press on Wednesday he made the choice because he had three concussions over the past four years. Lions Jerseys China .Impact president Joey Saputo confirmed Thursday that he is part of a group of investors whose offer to buy the 105-year-old Italian club was accepted by the teams board of directors. SEATTLE -- George Springer hit the first pitch he saw in three days for a home run. The Houston rookie right fielder wasnt done, hitting another later in the game to help power the Astros past the Seattle Mariners 9-4 on Saturday night. "Thats pretty impressive, to sit out a couple games then the first pitch you see, you take it out the opposite way," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "Thats definitely good to see." Springer injured his right hip flexor on a ninth-inning pickoff play Wednesday in Anaheim. He then sat out the first two games of this series, both Seattle victories. But after Jose Altuve walked to open the game, Springer hit a 90-mph fastball from Brandon Maurer (1-3) into the right-field seats. He also connected on a 1-1 cutter from Maurer for another two-run homer in the Astros five-run sixth. He added an RBI in the sixth for a career-high five, in his 33rd big league game. Oberholtzer (1-6), recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game, allowed two runs in the first, and then settled in, retiring 10 straight during one stretch. He finished with three runs allowed -- two earned -- with one walk and a career-high eight strikeouts. "He did a great job of attacking the strike zone," Porter said. "He did a good job pitching in. When he pitched his first stint here, he had gotten away from his effectiveness, on the inner-third of the plate. He got that back today and really attacked both sides." In his only other start against Seattle on Sept. 1 last season, Oberholtzer threw a complete-game shutout, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out five. He is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings against Seattle. "I felt I pitched good," Oberholtzer said. "Before the game, I told myself, whatever happens, happens. Throw strikes and have fun. Its been a while since Ive had fun." Maurer went 4 1-3 innings for the Mariners, allowing six runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two. The Mariners rallied for two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Stefen Romero walked, then Robinson Cano singled to right. Cano has reached base safely in 31 consecutive games, hitting .372 with 11 extra-base hits and 20 RBI during the streak. It is the longest streak of his career, and longest active in the majors. Justin Smoak followed with a single, loading the bases for Kyle Seager, who bounced a potential double-play grounder to first. But first baseman Marc Krauss threw wildly to second, allowing Romero and Cano to score. After Springers first homer, Maurer then retired the next 11 straight, nine on flyballs. But the Astros rocked him in the fifth. Chris Carter opened with a double to left and Alex Presley singled to right, with Carterr holding at third.dddddddddddd Jonathan Villar bounced a grounder to Cano, who tried to start 4-6-3 double play but bobbled the ball and settled for a Presley tagout as Carter scored. Altuve singled to right and Villar, running on the pitch, scored from first to make it 4-2. Springer followed with his sixth home run on a 1-1 fastball from Maurer into the left-field bullpen. "Hes unbelievable," Springer said of Altuve. "When he goes, our offence goes. Hes always on base. Hes a big guy for us. Im happy to hit behind him and happy to play with him. He can run and with him on base, it makes it easier for me to be more selective and still aggressive. "The home runs were all on him. He got me in a good hitting count and we go from there." Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Maurer has had "a few times where he is on a run and one thing or another goes wrong and he doesnt seem to get it back together." Asked about that, Maurer said: "I lost conviction. I wasnt throwing with confidence in my pitches. I dont know, it just went away, I guess." Tom Wilhelmsen entered and yielded an RBI single to Krauss as the Astros matched their season high for runs in an inning. It also was the most runs allowed in an inning by the Mariners this season. The Astros scored two more in the sixth, one on a wild pitch by Wilhelmsen and the other on Springers RBI groundout. Wilhelmsen had entered with a 13 2-3-inning consecutive scoreless streak. The Mariners added a run in the sixth on Michael Saunders bases-loaded groundout. In the eighth, John Bucks groundout sent Kyle Seager home from third. NOTES: RHP Taijuan Walker, sidelined since spring training with a sore shoulder, likely will be sent out on a rehab assignment Wednesday. He will start for Triple-A Tacoma and be limited to 75 pitches. "Im excited to get back there Wednesday, get into my regular five-day routine again," Walker said. Walker is the Mariners top pitching prospect. . Oberholtzer was recalled before the game with LHP Rudy Owens, who started Friday and optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Astros manager Bo Porter said the spot starts by Oberholtzer and Owens "allows all those guys (regular starters) to get an extra day rest. It just makes good sense to take care of the guys whove been so good for us all year." ... It was a "Turn Back the Clock" night for the Mariners, back to 1979. NBA great Lenny Wilkens, coach of the citys only major championship that year, tossed out the first pitch. Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon caught it. ... James Jones single in the second extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Its also a continuing club rookie record for his first 14 career starts. 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