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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- If last years European Championship was the moment Mario Balotelli revealed himself to a global audience, this years Confederations Cup is shaping up as confirmation that he is a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. And if Italy appeared hesitant at times to heap too much pressure on Balotelli in Poland and Ukraine, thats no longer an issue. When Balotelli scored the winning goal in Sundays 2-1 win over Mexico, it didnt come as a surprise. He was a force to be reckoned with throughout the game at the Maracana Stadium. According to Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon, the difference for Balotelli is that he has gained more confidence by playing regularly for AC Milan since his January transfer from Manchester City. After 2 1/2 years of often being relegated to the substitutes bench in England, Balotelli returned to Italy at the start of this year and scored 12 goals in just 13 appearances for Milan. "Talent-wise, hes the same as a year ago, because Balotelli will always be extraordinary in the way he plays football, but now hes also found continuity with his club, which is something he didnt have before," Buffon said Monday. "That gives him serenity and extra self-confidence. "Its a huge advantage to have a player like him," added Buffon, the senior member of the Azzurri at 35 and one of the few remnants from the squad that won the 2006 World Cup. Italy was still well stocked with members of the 2006 squad at the 2009 Confederations Cup and it also opened that tournament with a win, beating the United States 3-1. But then the Azzurri lost to Egypt 1-0 and were humiliated 3-0 by Brazil, resulting in an embarrassing first-round elimination for the World Cup holders at the time. The following year, Italy was again eliminated after the first round of the World Cup in South Africa. "Theres a substantial difference between now and 2009," Buffon said. "Over these last three years weve really matured in all aspects. This is a national team on the way up, and were hoping to keep moving forward." Balotelli tied as top scorer for the tournament with three goals when Italy reached the final of Euro 2012, including two spectacular goals in the 2-1 semifinal win over Germany, and he sees no reason why the Azzurri cant go just as far here. "Were here to do the best possible, to reach the final," Balotelli said. "And I think this squad has the quality to get there." Quality was certainly evident in the decisive goal for the first official match at the renovated Maracana stadium. It was a goal that combined beauty and brute strength. It started with a long vertical pass from Daniele De Rossi. With his back to the goal, Emanuele Giaccherini then volleyed the ball on to Balotelli with an acrobatic manoeuvr and Balotelli did the rest, out-muscling defenders on both sides of him and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper as he slid along the pitch. The only negative aspect of the goal came when Balotelli pulled off his shirt, earning a yellow card. If Balotelli picks up another yellow in Italys next match against Japan on Wednesday in Recife, hell miss the Group A finale against host Brazil. The yellow card, however, was likely the last thing on De Rossis mind when he jumped on top of Balotellis naked shoulders to join in the celebration. The image of Balotelli carrying a teammate on his back was more than appropriate. Balotelli, a son of Ghanian immigrants, a player who has to deal with racist chants almost every match, is Italys new leader. 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Eden Hazard Jersey . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. ASHBURN, Va. -- Trent Williams got several of his fellow Washington Redskins offensive linemen to fly to Texas during the offseason. His pitch was pretty good.Williams wants to harken back to the days of the Redskins famous Hogs -- the offensive linemen of the 1980s and early 1990s who paved the way to three Super Bowls. Williams has branded the 2016 Washington line as Hogs 2.0, complete with shirts, hats and the mentality that the group will follow the footsteps of Russ Grimm and Joe Jacoby.The four-time Pro Bowl left tackle hosted a three-day workout at a training facility in Houston attended by starters Morgan Moses, Spencer Long and 10 other linemen. Williams debated the Hogs 2.0 name because he didnt want to add extra pressure, but the goal of the workout was to set a goal for a work ethic.Not putting the expectation that we plan on being the Hogs, but were just showing that respect that we want to play like them and we admire them and we know thats the standard, Williams said during the teams training camp in Richmond, Virginia. I didnt want to just bring a bunch of guys together to come and hang out and have beers or whatnot. I told them before they came we were going to work pretty hard. You cant get in shape in three days, but we were going to put it to the test, see where everybody was, and we were going to (enhance) fellowship at night over dinner.Offensive line coach Bill Callahan sees the benefit as twofold: not only did Williams put younger, less experienced linemen through drills and help them with fundamentals, but the group got to bond. For all the extra work Callahan puts linemen through after practices, theres already the buy-in for voluntarily going to Williams event, and the memories from going through it.Williams said that made the players closer as a group.We put the hard work in the bank, the 28-year-old offensive line leader said. We did it together. We can go in the locker room and sit and talk about how hard it was to get through it.The workouts took place at O Athletik, a new facility Williams owns along with Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and others. According to the Houston Chronicle, O Athletik includes a boxing gym, sand pit, indoor artificial turf, a steep man-made hill and underwater treadmills.ddddddddddddThe workouts were really challenging and that helps when you have to rely on each other to push each other through that kind of stuff as an offensive line, because thats what we do in games, said Long, whos competing with Shawn Lauvao to start at left guard.Tight end Niles Paul didnt attend this specific workout but said he threw up after Williams put him through the rigors before. He has noticed a marked improvement in the offensive line over the years, with Williams as the guiding force.Williams, entering his seventh NFL season, sees strides in his teammates even since last year. He missed the first two preseason games with a sore right knee and liked what he saw from backup Ty Nsehke.He definitely got a lot better over the offseason, Williams said Monday. I think if you watch him closely you can see the improvements. Its glaring. It (isnt) anything you would have to search hard for. Thats just a good credit to Ty and the coaching and how hes received the coaching.And its a credit to Williams, who has taken a leadership role for the Redskins as a whole, not just on the offensive line. Kirk Cousins carries some of that now as the starting quarterback, but Williams has the seniority and the long-term track record as an elite performer.Trents one of the guys in the locker room that people gravitate to, Paul said. Hes probably the most respected guy in the locker room. His leadership is important out here, and to have him step up and say, `Hogs 2.0, thats a big thing, thats a big deal and he means that.Game notes Coach Jay Gruden said Tuesday he has a total expectation rookie WR Josh Doctson will be ready for Week 1 against the Steelers. Doctson still hasnt practiced with the team because of an Achilles tendon injury. ... Gruden said WR Jamison Crowder hurt his knee in the second preseason game against the Jets and doesnt know if hell be ready to play Friday against Buffalo.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '