News » Germanys penalty-taking, one of its historic strengths.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons have reached an agreement in principle with the city of Detroit and Olympia Entertainment for the team to move from the suburbs to downtown, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because there had been no formal announcement. Pistons owner Tom Gores is set to appear at a news conference Tuesday with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings.Gores acknowledged last month that the team was close to a deal to leave The Palace of Auburn Hills and start playing downtown next season. The Pistons have been in talks about playing at the new arena that is being built for the Detroit Red Wings, who are owned by Mike and Marian Ilitch. The arena site is about 30 miles from Auburn Hills.Olympia Entertainment, a division of Ilitch Holdings, handles business operations for the Red Wings, who are in their final season at Joe Louis Arena before moving to Little Caesars Arena.The new arena is in the same part of downtown where the Tigers and Lions host their games, and not far from where Gores and Dan Gilbert have been hoping to put a new stadium for a Major League Soccer team.The Pistons have played in Auburn Hills since 1988, and they played at the Pontiac Silverdome for a decade before that. From 1961-78, the Pistons called Cobo Arena home in downtown.The Palace was built with private funds by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons before his death in 2009. The team won championships in its first two seasons in Auburn Hills and again in 2004. Although the atmosphere slipped in recent years as the team went through a rough stretch on the court, Detroit returned to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009. And the Pistons appear headed in the right direction in Stan Van Gundys third season as their coach and team president.Gores bought the Pistons from Karen Davidson in 2011. He said last month that if the team did leave the Palace, it was important to remember the franchises success in that area.I think we have to be really mindful of this community in Auburn Hills and their loyalty in showing up, he said. This has been a real community, and I want them to feel the same wherever were playing. Bernie Kosar Jersey . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. Ozzie Newsome Browns Jersey . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-Myles-Garrett-Jersey/ . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Myles Garrett Womens Jersey . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Odell Beckham Jr Jersey . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. MARSEILLE, France -- The European Championship semifinals promise mouth-watering matchups as the last four teams battle for a berth in the July 10 final and a chance to succeed two-time winner Spain.In Lyon on Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal takes on a Welsh team featuring his Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale.A day later in Marseille, world champion Germany, fresh from a nerve-rattling penalty shootout win against Italy, looks to add the European title against host France which is coming off a morale-boosting 5-2 win against Iceland.Here are a few snapshots of the final four:---PORTUGALCristiano Ronaldos Portugal is a regular feature in the latter stages of the European Championship, having reached the semifinals at four of the last five tournaments.But the team has never triumphed overall, its best coming back in 2004 when as host it lost the final to Greece.Ronaldo, who played in that match, will become the first player to appear in three European Championship semifinals.His form at Euro 2016 has been inconsistent to say the least and he will likely have to improve if Portugal is going to win its first major competition.Ronaldo has only truly shone in only one match, with a memorable pair of goals in the 3-3 draw with Hungary.In his teams penalty shootout win over Poland in the quarterfinal, Ronaldo was so out of touch that he swung and missed at two clear chances in front of goal. But he has the flair and talent to produce a touch of match-winning magic at any time and the semifinal might be the stage he has been waiting for.Portugal defensive midfielder William Carvalho is suspended after picking up two yellow cards.---WALESAlongside Iceland, Wales has been the surprise package of Euro 2016, reaching its first major semifinal.Unlike Iceland, Chris Colemans team does boast an undisputed superstar in the form of the worlds most expensive player, Bale.Though Bales three goals helped his team through the group stage, the team has shown itself to be anything but a one-man show. That depth could give Wales an edge against a rock-solid Portugal defense featuring another Madrid star, Pepe.The Welsh will be missing a key midfielder in Aaron Ramsey after the Arsenal star drew his second yellow card of the tournament in the 3-1 quarterfinal defeat of Belgium.dddddddddddd---GERMANYGermany is looking to add a fourth European title, and its first in 20 years, to its world crown.But first it will have to get past a France side thats found its scoring touch in Marseille on Thursday. It will also have to overcome injuries and a suspension to reach the tournament decider next Sunday at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.Joachim Loews team has been rock-solid in defense, conceding just one goal so far -- Leonardo Bonuccis 78th-minute equalizer from the penalty spot for Italy in the quarterfinal.But Germany will be weakened against France; Mats Hummels is out through suspension and Mario Gomez has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Midfielders Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger are also injury worries.One new concern may center on Germanys penalty-taking, one of its historic strengths. Though it beat Italy on penalties in the quarterfinal, German players failed to convert three from the spot, more than they had ever done before in the history of penalty shootouts.---FRANCEIn Antoine Griezmann, France has Euro 2016s top scorer. Dimitri Payet is not far behind.Griezmann lifted his tournament tally to four as France ruthlessly dismantled Iceland at the Stade de France on Sunday night; Payet netted his third goal of the tournament with another clinical finish as France gave Iceland a nightmare ending to its fairytale Euro 2016.Suddenly, the hosts confidence has shot up before it faces a German team whose ranks have been depleted in attack and defense.France still appears vulnerable in defense, conceding twice against Iceland, although they came at a time when the result wasnt in any doubt and French players may understandably have been focusing on the upcoming semifinal in Marseille.France has no suspensions or injury worries and, seeking its third European title, will also get a boost from the fanatical fans at the Stade Velodrome, where Didier Deschamps starred as a player and coach.--- ' ' '