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BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Past performance is not always indicative of future results.That is the audible fine print a disembodied voice speeds through in countless late-night television ads for investment opportunities of dubious quality. It is also one of the reasons why we love sports.We might think we know what will happen. We might think weve seen enough to predict the future.But were no less foolish if we dont heed that caveat of late-night speculation.It was certainly true Saturday evening in Belo Horizonte. To watch the first half of the Group G encounter between the United States and France was to wonder when, not if, Les Bleus would score their goal.Then the game halted, the teams retreated to their respective locker rooms for halftime and everything changed without a ball being kicked.The U.S. women seized control, found a goal and held on for a 1-0 win that doesnt just put them atop their group but shapes their entire path toward what they hope is a gold medal.And the thing is, we have seen that before. For two of the best teams in the world, maybe the two best teams in the world at the moment, the games are always competitive. The results are also predictable.Win, lose or draw, U.S. coach Jill Ellis said, we knew this game was going to be valuable in the takeaways.But the United States found a way to win. Again. And France found a way not to win. Again.Not unlike the game the two sides played in the United States earlier this year -- and not unlike a whole host of games France has played in major tournaments since emerging as a world-class team within the past decade -- Les Bleus had opportunities to take leads on an opponent they have beaten just once in their history. They stretched the United States with speed on the right flank early. They built possession through the retiring-far-too-young Louisa Cadamuro down the left side. Even without one star, Eugenie Le Sommer rested as a fitness precaution, they probed through the middle with the familiar pace and power of Marie-Laurie Delie.It wasnt a rout or a capitulation, by any stretch, but France outplayed the United States for 45 minutes. And that isnt something that is often said about the reigning world champions.France is a really dynamic attack, and I think that we were struggling to find some cohesion through our midfield and really generate an attack, said center back Whitney Engen, who held against that siege in a surprise start for the injured Julie Johnston. But as we settled down into it, I think we were able to move the ball and start to understand their positioning a little bit better, which helped us to kind of manipulate them into places we needed to put them.Yet before they could do that, the U.S. women had to survive the first half. They did so in no small part because of the person who has played so many of them. In her 200th appearance for the national team, and again the target of a crowd eager to heckle her, Hope Solo was brilliant. If her finger grazed Wendie Renards open set-piece header in the 16th minute, as it seemed, the deflection was just enough to send the ball off the crossbar. Even if she didnt touch it, she covered the space and made sure the ball could not slip under the crossbar.More dazzling was the save she made against Delie minutes later. In alone on goal after holding off a defender, Delie had little angle for a clean shot because of how quickly Solo closed the space between them. Delie tried to shoot the ball between the goalkeepers legs, but Solo reacted, any inelegance she felt in a save made by falling on the ball more than made up for by the craftsmanship of the entire sequence.If not for Solo and a back line that bent but didnt break, France would have led. Still, Ellis said she was pleased with the first half, pleased that she felt like her team didnt let France do some of what it likes to do. The concern wasnt in what France was doing but what her team was not.I think at times in the first half, there were a couple of occasions when we played and we played through, Ellis said. But for the most part, I dont think we were disciplined enough to try and commit to what were trying to do, was to play. I think for the second half, we talked to them about making sure our back line was moving the ball, being a little bit more patient.Patient, maybe, but the U.S. women were most of all persistent in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.Then the moment came.Morgan Brian picked out Tobin Heath in open space on the left side, Heath pushed toward the goal and gave herself just enough space to challenge the French goalkeeper at the near post. Sarah Bouhaddi got a hand on the ball but couldnt stop it from caroming off the post and to the feet of Lloyd. The captain scored for the sixth game in a row in a major tournament.It was after the game earlier this year that Lloyd voiced some frustration at feeling isolated for much of the game, even on a day when Ellis was ecstatic at how her team knocked France out of its rhythm. This night, even after a first half starved for service and three offsides in quick succession early in the second half, Lloyd was right there waiting for the chance when Heaths shot bounced to her.There was no frustration voiced after this game.I dont think there was anything, nothing really tactically, Lloyd said of the second-half improvement. It was just reiterating the fact that were good on the ball. We should have the confidence to play. We dont have to force a long ball. We can play in tight spaces; we have the players that are capable of doing that.So I think it was just kind of reiterating that message that, second half, lets come out and when we actually do play and knock it around, theres good things that happen. You saw that on the goal, and you saw that in the second half.If it wasnt tactical, if it wasnt tangible, what is left but the intangible?After the game, through a translator, French midfielder and NWSL standout Amandine Henry mentioned that France needed to continue to close the gap on the United States. But what is that gap? It isnt in technical ability. It isnt in physical ability. It certainly isnt for lack of individual skill, not on a night when French defender Wendie Renard was the best player on the field.Earlier this week, looking ahead to the renewal of the rivalry, Megan Rapinoe talked about all of the good things France does on the soccer field (with which she is particularly acquainted after a professional stint in the country). But she came back to the fact that at some point, the French have to figure out how to score the goals to make all of that matter.How, then, does a team do that?You know, a lot of it, in the biggest games, in those final moments, it is about mentality, Rapinoe said. And its about your gut, and its about just not giving up ever. We could be down in the 95th minute 3-0 and we still think were going to win. Thats the mentality that we have. I dont really know how you teach that. It comes with practice, too. It comes with us winning all those games in the last few minutes. Our competitive nature in training and everything is kind of the extra piece outside of the skill and the tactics and the technique.I dont know how you really train that. You need to get a taste of it first.France should win a game like this one of these days.The United States should lose a game like this one of these days.Both things could still happen in Brazil. Perhaps even in a rematch for gold in the Maracana.But Saturday was not that day. Predictably, it would seem.Mexico Soccer Jerseys . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Candido Ramirez Jersey . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. http://www.mexiconationalshop.us/Candido-Ramirez-Mexico-Jersey-Soccer/ . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Eduardo Herrera Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Andres Guardado Jersey . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half.MILWAUKEE -- To take the next step forward in their rebuilding project, the Milwaukee Brewers might need to part with their most recognizable player.Ryan Braun could be a difference-maker in a lineup for a contender that can stomach his pricey contract. But Braun proved his worth after finishing the season healthy and becoming one of the top sluggers in the National League again.Dealing Braun could net more young prospects for a farm system already teeming with talent.Or Braun could stay in Milwaukee as a veteran presence to help take pressure off emerging hitters.Whatever happens over the next few months, at least Braun wont have to worry too much about back surgery or treatment for his right thumb, injuries that bothered him in recent offseasons.From Ryans perspective, I think he feels hes going into the offseason in probably a better space than hes gone in there in probably the last four or five years, manager Craig Counsell said Sunday in Denver, where the Brewers beat Colorado 6-4 to end the season.That leads to him having a great winter and showing up in position to have another good year, Counsell said.Its just unclear what uniform Braun will be wearing when spring training starts in February.Braun just finished the first year of a five-year, $105 million extension signed in 2011. He hit .305 with 30 homers and 91 RBI in 2016. It was his best season since his 65-game suspension in 2013 for violations of baseballs drug agreement and labor contract.A Los Angeles-area native, Braun came close to being shipped to the Dodgers at the trade deadline.I love having Ryan on the team and hes been a huge contributor on the team and in the community, owner Mark Attanasio said recently. I call this his second hometown.Attanasio also likes the job that general manager David Stearns has done. Braun is the last regular remaining from the Brewers team that last made the playoffs in 2011, when Milwaukee lost to St. Louis in six games in the National League Championship Series.All of us understand the business side of what we do, Braun said on Sept. 25 , when the Brewers finished their home schedule against Cincinnati . It made the last couple weeks for me here a little more enjoyable because I kind of took the time to reflect on everything and really enjoy ... in case they aare my last.ddddddddddddOther takeaways from this season for the Brewers:MOVING FORWARDThe Brewers played hard and weathered more midseason deals that exported veterans to finish with a respectable 73 wins, five more than in 2015. Attanasio liked the direction that Stearns has steered the club, though the owner, like the general manager, remains wary of putting any timetable on the rebuilding project.LONG VIEW AT SHORTA day after dealing popular catcher Jonathan Lucroy and two top relievers at the trade deadline, the Brewers called up their top prospect, shortstop Orlando Arcia, from Triple-A Colorado Springs in early August. The timing was symbolic for a franchise in transition in a baseball-savvy town. The 22-year-old Arcia, known as a slick fielder, hit .219 with four homers and 17 RBI, along with eight steals, in 55 games for a respectable debut.WHIFFS AND WALKSThe Brewers struck out 1,543 times to set the major-league mark of 1,535 previously held by Houston (2013). Milwaukee also drew 599 walks, 187 more than the previous season, and raised its on-base percentage to .322, up 15 points.You cant fix everything in one day. But the getting on base mindset -- thats important. We have to continue that, Counsell said. If some strikeouts went with that, Im good with that. Im really good with that.BIG BATSWith 41 homers, first baseman Chris Carter tied with Colorados Nolan Arenado for most in the National League. Carter also led the NL in strikeouts with a franchise-record 206. Infielder Jonathan Villar finished tied for second in the NL with 174 strikeouts, but also led the majors with 62 stolen bases.ON THE MOUNDZach Davies (11-7, 3.97 ERA) emerged as a reliable starter after being called up in mid-April, leading the club with 15 quality starts. ... Journeyman Junior Guerra (9-3, 2.81) may have found a home at Miller Park after joining the club in May. ... Tyler Thornburg (8-5, 2.15 ERA, 13 saves) was lights-out for a six-week stretch as the closer after the club dealt Jeremy Jeffress before hitting a rough patch the last week of the season.---AP freelance writers Rich Rovito, Joe Totoraitis and Andrew Wagner contributed to this story. ' ' '