e few times in its history. The World Cup and the Olympics were magnificent theater, but the tourists are heading for the exit and the show is about to end. Left to look inward once more, Brazilians will find themselves facing the same daunting economic and political challenges.Rousseffs impeachment t

Mercedes say they are ready for the significant tension of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamiltons title-deciding Abu Dhabi showdown and hope the decider is settled by a fair fight.For the second time in three seasons, the all-Mercedes battle for the Drivers Championship comes down to a Duel in the Desert with Rosbergs 12-point advantage over Hamilton making him the clear title favourite.Hamilton on his unlikely title chances But while the wider focus will inevitably be on the two drivers performances on track in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes have promised to do their part in ensuring the title is not inadvertently settled by unreliability or team mistakes.This is the first time weve had a 21st race in any Formula 1 season and its fitting that such a record-breaking year should conclude with the Drivers Championship being fought right to the very end, said Paddy Lowe, Mercedes technical chief. Its great for fans of the sport. Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton go head to head in the Formula 1 World Championship decider from Abu Dhabi. Coverage starts Friday 8.45am, Sky Sports F1 Of course, it also means significant tension within our particular camp - but the team has shown itself highly adept at managing this type of situation over the past few years. We will approach this weekend as we would any other, with the primary objective of ensuring that the title is decided on track in a fair fight.Toto Wolff reiterated the contribution the team can make to the spectacle of the final race, and made it clear that either Rosberg or Hamilton would be a fully-deserving champion. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! As a group, we now have one very important final duty this season - to give Nico and Lewis the platform they need to battle it out to the flag, said Wolff.Both of them have been exceptional and either one would make a worthy champion.While Rosbergs title challenge was ultimately ended by unreliability in the first Duel in the Desert of 2014, Hamiltons championship defence this year has been affected by engine failures and the Briton admits he is faced with pretty impossible odds no matter what I do this weekend. However, having had experience of unexpected final-day turnarounds earlier in his career, Hamilton added: I cant and wont give up. You never know what might happen - however unlikely it may seem.Although he missed out on his first match point to clinch his maiden title in Brazil, Rosberg says he is relaxed about the challenge ahead in Abu Dhabi and does not see a reason to change his season-long mantra of taking one race at a time.Ive had a great week, relaxing and catching up with my family and friends, so I feel like Im in a good place. In Brazil, after the race, I was joking that I would still be taking things one race at a time. But, the more I think about it, the more thats actually not as crazy as it sounds. I have to treat this like any other race.Rosberg will win his first world title if he finishes anywhere on the podium in Sundays race.Dont miss the #DuelintheDesert live on Sky Sports as the F1 title race goes to the wire. Watch the entire Abu Dhabi GP weekend on Sky Sports F1 on November 25-27. Watch the whole race weekend with a NOW TV week pass - £10.99, no contract Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4!Also See:When is the Abu Dhabi GP on Sky?The title permutationsLatest championship standingsWatch Abu Dhabi GP on NOW TVClearance Basketball Shoes Ireland . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Wholesale Basketball Shoes Ireland . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . http://www.discountbasketballshoesireland.com/ . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Basketball Shoes Ireland . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Basketball Shoes Ireland Online . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Remember this moment, Brazil. Nothing feels better than winning.Remember how it felt on that balmy Saturday night in this fabled temple of soccer, the Maracana, when the Selecao held its nerve through 120 minutes and a penalty shootout to gain some small measure of revenge against Germany.Remember, too, how Neymar, without doubt one of the five best players in the world, won it all.How he kissed the ball before the fifth penalty kick and how his teammate, the goalkeeper Weverton, retrieved it the moment after, then tucked it under his jersey for safekeeping, smiling widely.Beloved nation, the gold is ours, Weverton said, still holding the ball. Alongside, his teammates filled out the top step of the podium and sang the national anthem along with nearly 80,000 deliriously happy fans.This ball is mine, its part of history, Weverton added. With all due respect to everybody who has a beautiful history and tried for a long time, God put this generation in this position to make history, and we did.Remember this moment.Because it came at a cost.This is a nation that needs another sewage plant more than another trophy, a nation that hasnt paid its cops and firefighters and teachers for weeks.It cost $12 billion or so this cash-strapped land doesnt have.Its a legacy, all right, but cold comfort considering the way the real German national team humiliated Brazils best, 7-1, in the World Cup on home soil here just two years ago. Its bragging rights, too, at least until the 2018 World Cup rolls around and the promising kids who filled out both rosters Saturday night give way to the best players both countries can muster. The question of whos really the best will be answered soon enough.Until then, Brazil can claim to be back on top in soccer. But everything else here is in a state of flux. The economy is teetering; the president, Dilma Rousseff, is under impeachment. The interim president, Michel Temer, is so unpopular that hes already announced plans to skip the closing ceremony Sunday night -- apparently to avoid the lusty booing that greets him at nearly every public appearance.This restoress our self-esteem, Brazil coach Rogerio Micale said.dddddddddddd We see that not all was lost, our football is still alive. There are some things that need to be fixed, but today we were able to make our people happy. Im very happy to be able to be a part of this.There is no such thing in Brazil as caring too much about soccer. The game bestows pride and national identity. It carries an importance all out of proportion to any value that can be measured.People jumped out of windows after a historic loss to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup inside this same stadium.The lingering pain from that 1950 loss bequeathed the Brazilian language a new word, Maracanazo. Roughly translated, it means the great Maracana blow. It has haunted Brazilians ever since. The great Pele once told a story about listening to the game on a radio at home and recalled it was the first time he saw his father cry.Brazils resolve is about to be tested like few times in its history. The World Cup and the Olympics were magnificent theater, but the tourists are heading for the exit and the show is about to end. Left to look inward once more, Brazilians will find themselves facing the same daunting economic and political challenges.Rousseffs impeachment trial begins later this month. No matter who ultimately winds up in charge, he or she can do little to reverse the sharp decline in the price of oil and the other commodities that fueled Brazils surging economy less than a decade ago. A nation that has learned only too well the meaning of sacrifice will be asked to be patient and tighten its belt yet again.Memories of Neymars golden goal will sustain his countrymen for as long the game retains the most special of places in their hearts. It wont help repair the damaged infrastructure, clean up the pollution or put food on the table.But for the moment, it will have to be enough.---Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke(at)ap.org and http://www.Twitter.com/JimLitke ' ' '