MARSEILLE, France -- As his Germany team prepares to face France in the European Championship semifinal, coach Joachim Loew has paid tribute to a bond between the teams forged amid the chaos and bloodshed of Novembers Paris attacks.Explosions rang out at the Stade de France when three suicide bombers detonated their devices near the stadium during the last meeting between the teams, a friendly on Nov. 13. It was part of a wave of gun and bomb attacks across Paris which left 130 people dead and many more wounded.France and Germany played out the game as news of the attacks filtered through to the shocked spectators, who gathered on the field after the final whistle, fearful of leaving the ground. French President Francois Hollande was spirited out of the stadium by security officials to coordinate the governments response.With the German team unable to return to their hotel, the French players decided to stay at the stadium, keeping their opponents company for several hours.It was very positive that the French, on that night when we were in Paris, gave us full support, Loew said Wednesday. They delayed their departure and waited until we were also out of the stadium. They really cared about us.That obviously shows a fundamentally very, very good relationship, also between the players, who know each other, some of whom play together (at club level).Despite Loews gratitude to the French for their help in Paris in November, he added that the bond between the teams would not influence the European Championship semifinal.The rivalry on the pitch tomorrow in the semifinal is obviously enormous, he said. Both sides want to get to the final, so of course I dont think this will play a role tomorrow.The score of the Nov. 13 game, a 2-0 win for France, was almost an afterthought. Still, it means Germany has only won twice against France in eight meetings since Germany was reunified in 1990.However, the Germans took victory in the only competitive game in that era, winning 1-0 with a Mats Hummels goal in the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals on the way to being named world champions. Mike Quick Jersey . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Reggie White Eagles Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. 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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Here he is again, Marcus Sherels, beginning his seventh season in the NFL without assurance of a roster spot with the Minnesota Vikings.Sherels long ago proved his worth as a sure-handed, soft-spoken punt returner, whose self-made career has become one of the best stories in franchise history after starting out in 2010 as an undrafted local invited to rookie camp only on a tryout basis.The depth chart at cornerback is even more crowded now, though, and Sherels isnt in the top six there. Kickoff returner Cordarelle Patterson isnt a significant contributor as a wide receiver, either.So the Vikings could be challenged next week to either keep a pair of limited-role players and hinder their depth at another position, or let go of a valuable returner such as Sherels or Patterson.Not that Sherels would acknowledge any worry about this.Thats the coaches job, he said. We just try to come in and compete.As for the pride the 5-foot-10, 175-pound product of John Marshall High School in Rochester and the University of Minnesota surely takes in lasting this long in a league with an average career thats about half of his, Sherels keeps that quiet, too.Im just taking it year by year, he said.The smile widens, and the lilt in his voice accelerates when the subject of the four former Gophers currently in camp is broached.Wide receiver Troy Stoudermire was signed this summer after three years in the Canadian Football League, and hes getting a look as a punt and kickoff returner. Sherels, naturally, has taken to a mentoring role for a player he spent two seeasons with at Minnesota.ddddddddddddHes really talented, and hes been playing well. Im happy for him, and its fun watching him, Sherels said. I remember in college, he did everything.The smile comes freely for Sherels, too, when asked about his interception return for a touchdown last week at Seattle. This came during a trying month for him and his family, following a serious medical issue that popped up recently for his older brother, Mike Sherels, and required two surgeries.There couldnt be a better guy for that to happen to, said wide receiver Adam Thielen, another one of the seven Minnesota natives currently in camp. He works hard for it. He deserves it. Hes a heck of a football player. Obviously, good guys, good things happen to them.Game notes The Vikings will practice on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium, their new $1.1 billion home set to debut on Sunday for the preseason game against San Diego. ... Coach Mike Zimmer said QB Taylor Heinicke, who wouldve been in line to challenge Shaun Hill for the primary backup role to Teddy Bridgewater, will probably be out another six to eight weeks. Heinicke, whos on the non-football injury list after an off-the-field accident before training camp, had surgery to repair a severed tendon in his left foot. The second-year player from Old Dominion had his walking boot removed this week.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '