RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil will look for inspiration from playing at the historic Maracana Stadium when it faces Honduras in the semifinals of the mens Olympic soccer tournament on Wednesday. Josh Harrison Team USA Jersey .The decisive game will mark the debut of many of Brazils youngsters at the famed venue, which is expected to be packed with nearly 70,000 fans hopeful of seeing Brazil stay on track for its first soccer gold medal.We know about the importance of Maracana in the history of Brazilian football, Brazil defender Marquinhos said. We grew up hearing stories about the stadium. For everything that has happened there, its a special place for us. To be playing a semifinal and a final at the Maracana is like a dream to everyone who is here.The Maracana is Brazils most famous football stadium, having hosted two World Cup finals -- 1950 and 2014 -- and being home to some of the nations most important moments in club competitions.Brazil coach Rogerio Micale, who will be making his coaching debut at the Maracana, took the time to walk onto the pitch of the empty venue after his pre-match press conference on Monday.Its a great pleasure to be in a stadium like the Maracana, which represents so much to Brazilian football, Micale said. It will be a privilege for me and for my team to play such an important match at a stage like this.The stadium was home to the opening ceremony at the Rio Games, and will also host the closing ceremony. The first Olympic soccer match at the Maracana will be the womens semifinal between Brazil and Sweden on Tuesday.I used to pass by the Maracana when I was just a fan and dreamed of one day playing there, said Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto, a Rio de Janeiro native.Brazil didnt play at the Maracana at the World Cup in 2014 but it won the Confederations Cup at the venue the year before, in a final against Spain. If it beats Honduras, it will be back at the stadium for Saturdays final.Led by Neymar and promising youngsters Gabriel Jesus and Gabigol, Brazil is playing in its third-straight Olympic semifinal, and seventh overall. It lost to Lionel Messis Argentina in 2008 in Beijing, and made it to the final in 2012 in London but lost the gold to Mexico. Brazil has three silver medals and two bronze. The gold is the only significant trophy the five-time World Cup champions havent won in soccer.Honduras reached the semifinals for the first time after eliminating two-time Olympic champion Argentina in the group stage and getting past South Korea in the quarterfinals.An Olympic semifinal to be played in a stadium with 80,000 people is a motivation for everyone. The world will be watching our game. Our players have to motivate with it and feel that they have to give their best in the field, Honduras coach Jorge Luis Pinto said. I am thinking a lot about Neymar and how I can control him. Im looking for that player to mark him.Neymar struggled when Brazil opened with consecutive scoreless draws against South Africa and Iraq, but he and the rest of the team are coming off convincing wins against Denmark and Colombia.In the other semifinal, which will be played in Sao Paulo later Wednesday, 1996 Olympic champion Nigeria will face Germany, which is playing in the Olympics for the first time since 1998, when U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann was on the team. Germany has the competitions best attack with 19 goals. It eliminated Portugal in the quarterfinals.Nigeria almost didnt make it to Brazil in time for its opening game because of a trip mix-up, but it finished first in its group before eliminating Denmark in the quarterfinals. In addition to the gold in Atlanta, Nigeria also won the silver in Beijing in 2008.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni Buster Posey Team USA Jersey . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Francisco Cervelli Team Italy Jersey . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. http://www.probaseballonline.net/Team-Venezuela-Cyber-Monday-Felix-Hernandez-Jersey-Black-Friday/ . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns annual scrimmage at Ohio Stadium on Saturday turned into a happy homecoming for Terrelle Pryor, the former Ohio State quarterback turned Browns receiver.Returning to the stadium where he starred in college from 2008-10, Pryor caught six passes in the teams Orange and Brown scrimmage, including a touchdown pass each from quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown.He got a huge cheer each time from the Columbus crowd, and after the last reception -- a 75-yard touchdown streak down the right sideline -- he turned to the stands to lead the 42,310 fans in an O-H-I-O cheer.Just like the old days -- at least the days before he departed amid a memorabilia-for-tattoos scandal that led to the ouster of coach Jim Tressel and Pryor being banned from campus for five years.Playing here is electric, you know? he said afterward.Football is football, no matter where its at, he said. It all feels the same. I know this is the most amazing crowd here, and Browns fans are pretty awesome as well, but football is football. When (Im) between the lines, I dont hear anything. Im focused on the guy who is trying to stop me, and Im coming for him. Thats it.Browns coach Hue Jackson said hes pleased with how hard Pryor has worked to learn his new position. His progress toward that conversion was interrupted by a nagging hamstring injury last year. Hes now trying to lock down one of the roster spots.Hes done a tremendous job, Jackson said. Theres a lot of guys I can say that about, but hes taken this opportunity and is trying to make the most of it. Hes worked extremely hard.Griffin also raved about Pryor.Hes a big guy, physical, Griffin said. Hes got an elite trait that you cant coach, and thats size. Hes been able to utilize that while hes been in camp and in the spring. We love the progress that hes made.Pryor said it felt good to be welcomed back to the Ohio State campus now the ban has been lifted. It was still in effect last year, but he was given permission to participate in the Browns scrimmage at the stadium.All Ive heard is positive vibes, he said. Gleyber Torres Team Venezuela Jersey. Guys make mistakes and whatever. I can go into that blah-blah story again, but it is what it is. Its life, and theres still the next chapter.STILL NO STARTER NAMEDJackson said hes close to selecting a starter for Fridays exhibition opener against Green Bay. Its expected to be Griffin, who was 12 for 19 with two touchdowns in Saturdays no-tackle scrimmage, but Jackson has yet to say so for sure. Griffin is competing with McCown, Austin Davis and rookie Cody Kessler for the spot.Well know here pretty soon exactly what were doing, Jackson said. I think everybody is seeing him get better and better every day. Im not surprised. Were trying to create the right environment for him to be all that he can be, and I think hes working hard.Griffin, who was sharp in practice all week, is saying all the right things.Its just about coming out every day and proving it, he said. We want to make sure everybody earns their spot, earns their keep and thats everybodys goal every time they step out on the field.McCown, who played in eight games and threw for 2,109 yards with 12 touchdowns for the Browns in 2015, has been the subject of trade talk involving the Dallas Cowboys, who are interested in him as a backup to Tony Romo.GETTING READY TO GOThe Browns had a full-contact scrimmage on Friday night before traveling to Columbus for the Saturday workout, which was more of a show for the Columbus fans than a nuts-and-bolts practice. Jackson said the travel was a dry run for the trip to Green Bay to play the first exhibition game.I thought it was important for our team to really get ready for next Friday, he said. I thought we had a hard night last night and we came back today, and I wanted to prepare them for what we were going to face next week as far as being on the road, understanding how we go through our process preparing for a game, and I thought they handled that part of it well.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://www.twitter.com/mitchstacy Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '