MANAUS, Brazil -- Pure class and pure power. China Jerseys Online . Skill and strength. Creative vision and clinical finishing. Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli are a study in contrasts on the football pitch. And off it. Together, they provide Italy with two distinct weapons and on Saturday both players stood out in a 2-1 win over England at the World Cup. Pirlo set up Italys opening goal without even touching the ball and Balotelli headed in the winner early in the second half. "We take our hats off to their skill," England coach Roy Hodgson said. It was an evening reminiscent of the 2012 European Championship, when Pirlo and Balotelli combined to lead Italy to the final of the European Championship. This time, after a few errant passes from Pirlo, the midfield maestro broke open the match by stepping over a cross and fooling the England defenders to let Claudio Marchisio fire in from long-range in the 34th minute. "Pirlo is a player who can add quality in every area of the pitch," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "Whether its a tight triangle, going far forward or whatever, he can handle himself in any area." At 35, Pirlo is a veteran of the Italy squad that won the 2006 title. Modest and quiet, his personality couldnt be farther from the brashness that the 23-year-old Balotelli displays. After England equalized two minutes later, Balotelli showed his nose for goal by attempting a sharply angled lob shot after drawing goalkeeper Joe Hart out of position in first-half added time. England defender Phil Jagielka headed away the danger but that only seemed to increase Balotellis appetite. Five minutes into the second half, the AC Milan forward finally found the target, leaping over Gary Cahill to head in by the far post following superb work down the right flank and a perfect cross from Antonio Candreva. "Im really happy. Its a special feeling," said Balotelli, who proposed to his Belgian girlfriend a few days ago. "Ive never played in a World Cup and its fantastic. I dedicate this victory to my future wife, who is here, to my family, and to my friends." Balotelli hadnt scored for Italy since October but the enigmatic striker now has 13 goals in 30 appearances for the Azzurri and has silenced any doubts about his lineup status. Ciro Immobile had been pushing Balotelli for the centre forward spot after leading Serie A with 22 goals and a hat trick in a warmup match last week against top-flight Brazilian club Fluminense. "I think he can score many more," Prandelli said. "Ive said it before. (Balotelli) has enormous potential. He needs to convince himself that his movements up front are decisive enough to finish actions. He gave everything he had but Im convinced he has margins for improvement." When Immobile replaced Balotelli in the 73rd, the crowd at the Arena Amazonia showered him with a loud applause. And when the final whistle blew, Balotelli put his finger to his lips as if to silence the criticism he routinely faces. Then he winked to a TV camera. Born in Sicily to Ghanaian immigrants and raised by Italian foster parents, Balotelli is also subjected to racism constantly back home. Before kickoff Saturday, Balotelli tweeted, "ITALIANS. Whatever squad you support, today there is only the Azzurra squad! Hate, jealousy, contempt, lets put it all aside and ALL be united!" United with Pirlo, Balotelli and Italy are tough to beat. Mike Nott Jersey Store . - Joao Plata scored twice in the final 24 minutes, including the winner in stoppage time, to help Real Salt Lake remain unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over the winless Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Larry Jordan Jersey Store . The hard-serving 22-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., became the first Canadian to be ranked in the Top 10 on the ATP World Tour thanks to his runner-up performance at Rogers Cup in Montreal. https://www.chinacheapjerseys.net/emanuel-king-jersey-store/ .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr.Four sources have told ESPNs Outside the Lines that now-former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice told NFL commissioner Roger Goodell when they met on June 16 that he punched his then-fiancée Janay Rice in an Atlantic City elevator. The report conflicts with Goodells statement this week that when the league met with Rice and his representatives, "it was ambiguous about what actually happened." Goodell told CBS News in a one-on-one interview on Tuesday that the video released by TMZ - showing Rice striking his fiancée - was "inconsistent" with what the commissioner had previously been told. The sources - reportedly close to Rice - say Goodell was fully informed of the situation during the aforementioned hearing. "Ray didnt lie to the commissioner," a source with knowledge of the meeting told ESPN. "He told the full truth to Goodell. He made it clear he had hit her and he told Goodell he was sorry and that it wouldnt hhappen again. Richard Bell Jersey Store. " "He told the truth," another source added to ESPN. "This is a public lynching of Ray." The sources spoke on condition of anonymity, but are adamant that Goodells statement to CBS News is not accurate. "There was no ambiguity about what happened [in the elevator]," another source told ESPN. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, Rices lawyer Michael J. Diamondstein and a representative of the players union each declined to comment when contacted by ESPN about the story. TMZ released the in-elevator video of the incident on Monday and the Associated Press reported Wednesday that the footage was sent to an unnamed NFL executive by a law enforcement official last April. The NFL has since announced that former FBI chief Robert Mueller will lead an independent investigation into the entire situation. The inquiry will be overseen by New York Giants owner John Mara and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney. ' ' '