aura of Woods is not what it was and never will be again. T

TURIN, Italy -- Former world champions Italy and Spain played to 1-1 on Thursday, giving a chance for unheralded Albania to take the lead in their Europe qualifying group.Elsewhere, Mario Mandzukic bagged a hat trick as Croatia beat up Kosovo 6-0, while Wales conceded the lead twice away in Austria in a draw.---GROUP GSpain lost to Italy in the round of 16 at the European Championship, and was set for a measure of revenge in Turin.Spains Vitolo scored in the 55th minute following a rare mistake from veteran Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.But Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty with eight minutes remaining after Eder was tripped by Sergio Ramos, and preserved his teams formidable home record. Italy has won 43 World Cup qualifiers, drawing the other seven.Spain and Italy are level on points in Group G after winning their opening qualifiers. Only the top team qualifies for the 2018 World Cup in Russia automatically.Albania moved to the top after winning in Lichtenstein 2-0 to maintain its perfect start to its qualifying campaign.Goalkeeper Peter Jehle turned into his own net, and Bekim Balaj, who also netted the winner against Macedonia, scored in the 71st.Israel moved into fourth with a 2-1 victory in Macedonia.Italy visits Macedonia on Sunday, when Spain travels to Albania.GROUP IMandzukic proved unstoppable, ruthlessly exploiting Kosovos inexperience and scoring his three in the first 35 minutes. However, celebrating Croat fans spoiled their teams show by chanting in Serbo-Croatian, Kill, kill the Serbs in the second half, and they were echoed and followed by Kosovo fans, too, in Albanian.Kosovo became a UEFA member in May, joined FIFA a week later, and was fast-tracked into World Cup qualifying though many nations still have not recognized it.After Kosovo earned a credible draw at Finland last month, this was its first competitive home game but played in Albanias northern city of Shkodra, as Kosovo has no stadium certified by UEFA.Croatia was without star midfielders Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric but had another star available: Mandzukic needed just six minutes to open the scoring off a pass from Andrej Kramaric.Mandzukic met Ivan Perisics cross to head home and double the lead, and completed his hat trick with another header 10 minutes before the interval, this time using a cross from Sime Vrsaljko, for his 27th goal in 71 internationals.With the damage done and the result beyond doubt early, Mandzukic was substituted by Nikola Kalinic in the 58th.Its better it occurred today, and I am convinced we shall represent ourselves better at the next match, Kosovo midfielder Bernart Berisha said. There was no good communication between the defense and the midfielders.Iceland rallied in the final minutes to earn its first victory in qualifying, 3-2 over Finland.Alfred Finnbogason leveled the score in the final minute of the match, and Ragnar Sigurdsson scored the winner deep into stoppage time for the surprise Euro 2016 quarterfinalist.Hakan Calhanoglu converted from the spot nine minutes from time to salvage a 2-2 draw against Ukraine.Croatia is tied atop Group I with Iceland, on four points. Ukraine and Turkey have two points after their 2-2 draw. Kosovo is at the bottom with one.GROUP DMarko Arnautovic twice came to Austrias rescue to draw 2-2 with Wales in the group where Wales, Serbia, Austria, and Ireland are separated only on goal difference at the top.Knowing the Euro 2016 semifinalists underperformed, it was a frustrating night for Gareth Bale.We know we werent at our best tonight -- it was a difficult game, Bale told British broadcaster Sky Sports. But this is what weve grown up to do. We grind out results when we need them.When we dont play well, we defend solidly as a team, and we get something from the game. We are a little bit frustrated.Wales took the lead with a slick goal in the 22nd minute, with Joe Allen volleying into the net. It was canceled out inside six minutes by Stoke teammate Arnautovics downward header.Austria conceded again in clumsy circumstances just before halftime. Sam Vokes flicked on Bales long throw-in, James Chester prodded goalward, and goalkeeper Robert Almer saved. But the rebound hit Kevin Wimmer, who inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net.Three minutes in the second half, though, Arnautovic equalized again after seizing on Allens misdirected pass and darting through a huge hole in the Wales defense. Yeezy Boost 700 Sale Bestellen . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Fake Yeezy Schuhe . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.yeezyschuhe.de/ . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Yeezy Replica Deutschland . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Adidas Schuhe Grosshandel Deutschland . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. NAPA, Calif. -- The Tiger comeback has become the Tiger tease.And not just for golf fans.It cant be easy for Tiger Woods to feel healthy enough to play, only for the little voices in his head telling him to wait.For all the speculation about whats going on with Woods, only he knows why his game would be good enough to commit to the Safeway Open one day, and why three days later it was not. That wouldnt seem to leave much time for what he said was a lot of soul searching and honest reflection before deciding to withdraw.Woods said on Sept. 7 that he hoped to play this week in the Safeway Open at Silverado, along with the Turkish Airlines Open in early November and his Hero World Challenge the first week of December in the Bahamas. His progress following two back surgeries last year allowed him to make such plans, which looked more like a reality when he officially entered the Safeway Open on Friday.He was gone before he was ever back.The portable signs leading to Silverado flashed a warning to drivers to expect delays because of the golf tournament. Traffic isnt likely to be an issue any longer. Wine tasting goes back to being the main event.There was no shortage of apologies from Woods. He was fully aware of the ramifications. He said he had every intention of playing and wouldnt have entered if he felt otherwise. This isnt what I wanted to happen, he said.It was the right decision because it was his decision.Woods showed plenty of loyalty to the PGA Tour by also canceling in Turkey, which will attract a strong field as part of the final stretch of events in the Race to Dubai on the European Tour. That leaves the Bahamas as his next comeback, subject to change.Most disconcerting to Woods is that according to his statement, this had nothing to do with his health, and everything to do with his confidence.Its one thing to say his game is not ready. Its another to say his game is vulnerable.Vulnerable to what -- scoring or scrutiny?The 14 months since Woods last played have been filled with mixed messages. Woods has used defeatist terms like Ive had a pretty good run and saying anything else he accomplishes in golf will be grravy.dddddddddddd. Then again, he has never failed to express his desire to play again.Jesper Parnevik, in an interview with Golf Digest in the November issue, said they have played nine holes at the Medalist Golf Club in Florida and by the way, hes been hitting a lot of balls, and hes hitting it great.On the range, at least, his trajectory and ball flight are like the Tiger we knew 15 years ago, Parnevik said.Hank Haney, his former swing coach, said Tuesday on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio that a well-known tour pro watched Woods about a month ago in Florida and described every other chip or pitch as a blade or a chunk.The mystery deepens.Golfers say all the time that their expectations are higher than anything the fans can put on them. That especially rings true in this case. Does anyone really expect Woods to play anything like the Woods who toyed with competition for more than a decade? Probably not. But does Woods expect that?The aura of Woods is not what it was and never will be again. Thats simply age. Woods is 40 and seems a lot older because of seven surgeries, including three on his back in the last 30 months. He has been gone from golf from 14 months and it feels much longer.Johnny Miller, the NBC Sports analyst and host at Silverado, suggested Monday that Woods has got to break the ice sometime. Even with the attention Woods brings, the Safeway Open would have been a safe return. Its the middle of football season and baseball playoffs. More than anything, it would have been a start.Now it feels like stage fright.Woods does not want to return until he feels he can compete. He missed a full week of practice while being an assistant at the Ryder Cup two weeks ago, though that still doesnt explain why he felt good enough to return to the PGA Tour on Friday and withdrew on Monday.Woods says he wants to play. He says his body will allow him to play.But hes not playing. Hes waiting.The scrutiny has never left him, and it never will. And until he plays again, his game will always feel vulnerable. ' ' '