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SAO PAULO - Landon Donovan says the United States will head to the World Cup with its most experienced group of players, giving the Americans a "real chance" to do well at this years tournament. As the U.S. finishes a week-and-a-half training camp in the host country, Donovan said American players have enough confidence and experience to confront more traditional World Cup teams heading into a first round that includes matches against Germany, Portugal and Ghana. "I think the experience that we have now far exceeds the experience that we ever had with any team, and that lines up to give us a real chance," Donovan said Thursday. "We are confident in how we play. We are confident in what we do. Our guys have had enough experiences against all of these players, against teams like Ghana, Portugal, Germany. ... We feel confident that we can get results against them, and thats a nice feeling going into a World Cup." The U.S. opens against Ghana on June 16, plays Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal six days later and closes the group stage against Germany on June 26. The Americans will be playing in their seventh straight World Cup, and Donovan is heading to his fourth. "Theres never been competition for places like there is in our team now," the midfielder said during a news conference. "You can really make a case for probably 35 or 40 guys to be a part of a 23-man roster, and thats never been the case. Its really up for grabs in a lot of positions, and that in itself obviously creates competition, which makes the team better." Donovan, who turns 32 in March, said the U.S. team is more respected by opponents. "The reason its the group of death is because we are in it," he said. "In the past, it would have been a relatively easier group for Germany or Ghana or Portugal because they had us in it. But now, because we are in it, it makes it one of the most difficult groups in the tournament." Donovan said the first goal remains to reach the knockout stage of the 32-nation tournament. "Our expectations, like most teams, are to get out of the group," he said. "We are aware that we have a difficult group, but the expectation is that we can do it and we are going to try to get out of our group, just like most teams in this World Cup. That is the objective. That is the goal. But we feel good about where we are at." German coach Jurgen Klinsmann brought 26 players to this training camp get acclimated to the teams World Cup base in South Americas biggest city. The team, mostly with players from Major League Soccer, will play an exhibition against South Korea on Feb. 1 at Carson, Calif. "Weve been very lucky to have two weeks here in Sao Paulo," Donovan said. "Its been very nice to have a couple of weeks to adapt to what its going to be like this summer. When we come back we have a comfort level. We know the people, the club, the training facilities. It makes it a lot easier. 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Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley told local media in comments published Wednesday that John Tomic would not be allowed into Melbourne Park in any official capacity or as a spectator.VANCOUVER - B.C. Lions defensive back Dante Marsh has seen the weather forecasts ahead of Sundays CFL West Division semifinal. It doesnt faze him one bit. "If weve got to play at two in the morning on the Moon, Jupiter, Neptune ... then thats where weve got to play," the 10-year veteran said this week. "Im not going to let peripheral things sidetrack me mentally to take me away from the job at hand." While that job wont be taking them out of this world, the Lions (11-7) travel to chilly Regina to meet the Saskatchewan Roughriders (11-7) on Sunday for a playoff game that could see temperatures drop as low as -15 C. Despite the frigid conditions in this years Grey Cup host city, neither team expects the cold to be much of a factor in the contest to decide the Calgary Stampeders opponent in the West final. "Once youre out on the field and running around, a lot of times you dont feel it. Thats not to downplay it," said Lions quarterback Travis Lulay. "(But) a lot of times you can mentally block out the weather. "I dont foresee cold being too big of an issue." Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin said the conditions could give his team a slight edge, but noted it could also have the opposite effect. "If we start to prepare in our minds that Oh its going to be huge. They cant do this, they cant do that, thats when it becomes a disadvantage," said Chamblin. "Theyve played in this league long enough to understand that its going to be cold this time of year. "Were not looking for advantages, were just looking to do what we need to do, execute and win a game." Whats more likely to be the difference on Sunday is both teams ability to run the football. Saskatchewan running back Kory Sheets finished No. 2 in the league in total yards with 1,598 to go along with 12 touchdowns despite missing two games because of injury. He suited up for two of the Roughriders three games with the Lions — Saskatchewans only victories against B.C. — compiling 228 yards and three touchdowns. "I think hes a very special running back," said Lions defensive end Keron Williams. "For somebody that size to be that nifty ... his centre of gravity is not that low and he can bounce it and go the distance — thats a special player. "Hes definitely circled in our books." Lions head coach Mike Benevides, himself a big proponent of the passing game, said stopping Sheets will be crucial for the No.dddddddddddd 1-ranked B.C. defence that was second against the run. "Thats their DNA. Its been that way since Day 1. When they get up ... they really manage the clock well that way by running the football," said Benevides. "The run and the line of scrimmage — its said all the time, the game is won and lost — and thats not going to change on Sunday." Meanwhile, B.C.s ground attack took a nose dive mid-season, failing to register a 100-yard rusher for 11 straight games. But the addition of former NFLer Stefan Logan and the resurgence of Andrew Harris has the Lions back on track after back-to-back 200-yard rushing games to close out the regular season. Harris, who finished third in the CFL this season with 998 yards on the ground, said he expects to find holes against a Saskatchewan defence that finished third overall and third against the rush. "I think we can run the ball against them, I think we can pass against them," said Harris. "Especially with some healthy quarterbacks coming back now, it will be a different game for us." The question of who will play quarterback for the Lions was asked all week, with Benevides refusing to name his starter until he got a better sense of Lulays health. Coming of an injury to his throwing shoulder, Lulay saw his first action in six weeks with a cameo appearance in the regular-season finale against Calgary. The other option is veteran backup Buck Pierce, who rallied the team off the bench against the Edmonton Eskimos in the second last game of the season before starting last week. Benevides said he will decide on his starter by Saturday but added that Lulay has looked good this week. "Hes made those throws that he needs to make," said Benevides. "I just want to see how he feels." Also on the injury front, Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant will be without slotback Chris Getzlaf (knee), but still has plenty of weapons, including fellow 1,000-yard receivers Weston Dressler and Taj Smith. Despite having homefield advantage and the benefit of practising in the elements on a daily basis, Durant said the Roughriders will need a full 60-minute effort to move on against Calgary. "We know that theyre going to come in hungry," said Durant. "If we overlook them at all then we will be going home." ' ' '