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SAINT-DENIS, France -- Wasteful finishing came back to haunt France in the European Championship final against Portugal on Sunday, with even tournament top scorer Antoine Griezmann missing chance after chance.Despite being willed on by an entire country and a packed French crowd, France failed to come up with any original ideas against a stubborn Portugal defense rallied by unyielding defender Pepe.Midway through the second half, Griezmann reached for Kingsley Comans cross from the left and headed over from a few meters out. Deep into injury time, substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac hit the post with the goal at his mercy.Although Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio made several good saves, including one outstanding leaping save from Griezmanns looping header in the ninth minute and another athletic stop to palm away Moussa Sissokos long-range drive in the 8th, his other stops were more comfortable.Coach Didier Deschamps will have felt a familiar feeling of frustration.Although France finished top scorers with 13 goals, it squandered chances throughout the group stage, needing an 89th-minute goal from Dimitri Payet to beat Romania 2-1 in the opening game and with Griezmann breaking the deadlock against Albania in the 90th.He scored freely after that, netting five goals in the knockout stage to help France reach its first final since the 2006 World Cup.In the final, his goal touch deserted him.At the final whistle, center half Laurent Koscielny squatted on his knees, head down. But it was not the defense that let France down.When France won Euro 2000, it needed an equalizing goal from Sylvain Wiltord with the last kick of injury time to force extra time against Italy. Striker David Trezeguet then scored the Golden Goal winner.Sixteen years later, there was no such happy ending. Custom Football Jerseys China . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Sale Custom Jerseys . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. http://www.customjerseyschina.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Clearance Custom Jerseys Shop . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Wholesale Custom Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. INDIANAPOLIS -- USA Gymnastics didnt look far for to find Martha Karolyis successor as the leader of its powerhouse womens program.Valeri Liukin, a four-time Olympic medalist and father of 2008 Olympic champion Nastia Liukin, was chosen the successor to Karolyi on Friday. Karolyi retired last month after guiding Team USA to nine medals at the Rio Olympics, including four golds for all-around champion Simone Biles.Liukin has worked as USA Gymnastics elite development coordinator since 2013, a position that allowed him to guide athletes toward the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.He won two gold and two silver medals at the 1988 Olympics while competing for the Soviet Union before co-founding the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Texas. The gym has produced more than 30 U.S. national team members and 35 world championship and Olympic medals.Im ready to put all of my knowledge and passion into leading the womens national team to continued success, Liukin said in a statement.Liukin inherits a program that became the best in the world, by a large margin, under Karolyis guuidance.dddddddddddd The athletes and facilities remain in place for the U.S. to maintain its dominant run in the sport. USA Gymnastics purchased the training center at the ranch Karolyi built with her husband Bela and will continue to use it for training camps and other activities.Valeri has excelled as a personal coach, and he has demonstrated his ability to lead and guide other coaches through his efforts as the elite developmental coordinator, said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. He will provide a smooth transition from the program that has been created, and Valeri is recognized as a capable and talented coach.Liukins duties will include conducting national team training camps and overseeing international competition assignments for athletes, coaches and judges. Hell coordinate scheduling and activities for the developmental program and the Talent Opportunity Program (TOPs) and working with the national coaching staff. ' ' '