deep. Guys dreamt about doing that his whole life and he hits

Scotland will look to keep up their recent good form with a double-header against two of the favourites for Euro 2016, starting with Italy on Sunday. Despite a disappointing qualifying campaign which saw them finish fourth in their group, Gordon Strachans side are seen as good warm-up opposition for some of the sides who will be in France.That sees them face incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Contes side in Malta before a meeting with the European Championship hosts in Metz next Saturday. The games in the next few days will be the Scots first against the Italians and French since both only just prevented them from reaching the 2008 tournament.As Strachan and his players seek some kind of retribution, they will do so coming off the back of three consecutive wins over Gibraltar and, more recently, the Czech Republic and Denmark.Scotlands assistant manager, Motherwell boss Mark McGhee, said: I hope the motivation is that they want to play against these good teams again regularly. Mark McGhee wants Scotlands players to be motivated by facing big-name sides ahead of the World Cup qualifiers I think it will be when they sit down to watch the Euros themselves and that will make them even more determined to be part of it next time.We have no control over what the Italians will do or what side they will pick - but they could pick any 11 from the squad they have and I think it will be a fairly robust challenge for us.Team newsWith the season ending and no competitive games internationally until the World Cup qualifiers begin in September, it is perhaps not surprising the Scots have been hit with withdrawals.Rangers defender Lee Wallace is among the latest to pull out along with Derbys Chris Martin and Aston Villa right-back Alan Hutton. Lee Wallace is out of the squad but his Rangers team-mate Barrie McKay (above) remains involved Wallaces Ibrox team-mate Barrie McKay remains in the group, however, and is expected to make his first senior appearance for his country over the coming days.Goalkeepers Allan McGregor and Scott Bain are both missing with back injuries so Scott Fox and Jack Hamilton have been selected as replacements.Swanseas Stephen Kingsley and Derby midfielder Craig Bryson are also in but Andy Robertson, Robert Snodgrass, Shaun Maloney and Barry Bannan all miss out.Each of them will be at Wembley for the Championship play-off final between Hull and Sheffield Wednesday but they will join Scotland at their Maltese training camp ahead of the France match. Swanseas Stephen Kingsley has been called into the group after a number of withdrawals Opta statsScotland have only beaten Italy once in their history, winning 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in November 1965 (D2 L7).The last meeting between the teams came in November 2007, when Italy ended Scotlands Euro 2008 qualifying hopes in a 2-1 victory through a 90th-minute winner from Christian Panucci.Gordon Strachan has lost just one of his last nine friendlies as Scotland manager (W6 D2). Antonio Conte will take charge of Chelsea after he takes Italy to Euro 2016 in France The only Scottish player to score in an away from home against Italy is Kevin Gallacher, back in October 1993.The Tartan Army are looking to keep three successive clean sheets away from home for the first time since September 2007.Italy havent won any of their last four internationals since qualifying for Euro 2016 (D2 L2).Italys last eight international goals have all been scored by different players, with only one of those goals coming in the first half.Graziano Pelle has scored more goals than any other Italian player during Antonio Contes reign (four). Graziano Pelle has scored more goals for Italy than any other player during Contes reign as manager BettingScotland go up against odds of 17/4 to secure the victory on Sunday evening as Sky Bet rate Italy 4/6 favourites, while the draw priced at 13/5.The Italians are, however, up against odds of 16/1 to win Euro 2016 while Scotland are given a 4/1 chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup after failing to book their place in this summers finals.Southamptons Pelle is rated Italys main threat at 9/2 to net first, while Steven Fletcher heads the betting from Scotlands side of the first goalscorer betting at 8/1.Follow Italy v Scotland with our live blog on skysports.com and the Sky Sports apps. Adidas NMD Aanbieding . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Adidas NMD Uitverkoop . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. http://www.nmdtekoop.com/falcon-sneakers.html . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Adidas NMD R1 Aanbieding .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Adidas Superstar Nederland . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. SAN DIEGO -- Robbie Ray had life on his fastball and feel for his slider in the bullpen before the game and figured he was in for a fun one.I knew it was going to be a good day, Ray said.Ray struck out a career-high 13 and gave up just one hit in seven innings, pitching the Arizona Diamondbacks past the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Saturday night.He was letting it fly with better location, Arizona manager Chip Hale said.There were no hits in the game until the fifth. Arizona finished with four, and the Padres got three.Ray (7-11) overpowered the Padres until the fifth, when Patrick Kivlehan, called up from Triple-A El Paso before the game, launched a 451-foot home run for his first major league hit.One pitch with two strikes he left over the plate, Hale said. Other than that he was outstanding.Arizona used four relievers to close it out. Daniel Hudson induced three infield popups to escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth and Enrique Burgos earned his first save of the season.Im just getting more confident in my stuff, said Ray, who has allowed three runs (two earned) and 12 hits in his last three starts. Im just trying to get better every time out.Ray threw 22 strikes in his first 26 pitches.It was all about fastball command, he said. It was mostly fastballs I was throwing and it was just the movement on both sides of the plate.As the game progressed, the Padres were set up to flail away at Rays deceptive slider.That kept them off my fastball, he said.The Diamondbacks scored two unearned runs, helped by a pair of throwing errors by pitcher Clayton Richard (0-3).Richard gave up two hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked three but was done in by the errant throws. Hes had a history of trouble throwing to bases.Unfortunaately not fielding my position cost us, Richard said.ddddddddddddThat definitely stings because you play to win, and to have a couple fielding plays cost you the game, thats really tough.The Padres got little help in trying to touch Ray.It was 1-all in the sixth when Phil Gosselin singled and Paul Goldschmidt walked. Rickie Weeks Jr. hit a grounder to Richard, who wheeled and threw the ball into center field, allowing a run to score.In the Arizona fifth, Welington Castillo singled and Mitch Haniger hit a comebacker that Richard also threw into center. Brandon Drury then grounded into a double play, with Castillo scoring for a 1-0 lead.Kivlehan had two of the Padres hits.Regardless of the outcome of the game, thats a pretty sweet moment, Green said of Kivlehan going deep. Guys dreamt about doing that his whole life and he hits one 450 in the big leagues. Thats really special for him.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: SS Nick Ahmed will undergo season-ending hip surgery next week. He should be fit for spring training.Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (shoulder) threw a simulated game. Ross, who hasnt pitched since opening day, could be sent out on a rehab assignment next week.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: RHP Braden Shipley (2-2, 4.85) is facing the Padres for the first time in his sixth career start. Shipley had a rocky outing his last time out on Tuesday, surrendering seven runs (six earned) over five innings to the New York Mets.Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (5-7, 6.68) tries to snap a three-game losing skid, although he pitched well against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Two of his wins have come against Arizona, including one in relief. ' ' '