LA PLATA, Argentina -- Argentina easily beat Slovenia 2-0 in its last World Cup warmup with goals from Ricardo Alvarez and Lionel Messi on Saturday. Alex Len Hawks Jersey . Alvarez put a second-string Argentina ahead in the first half with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria came on in the second half and combined elegantly to double the lead in the 67th minute. Aguero headed down a pass from Di Maria to set up Messi, who calmly slotted the ball past Slovenia goalkeeper Vid Belec. Argentina, which is set to travel to Brazil on Monday, faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in its Group F opener on June 15. "We are in good shape. We are a strong group, which is what weve been hoping to become from the start when (coach) Alejandro (Sabella) came in," Messi said. Sabella took over the national team in 2011. "Little by little, as we played well, we gained confidence," Messi said. Slovenia didnt qualify for the World Cup and was no match for Argentina even in a sleepy first half, when Sabella rested his top players. Belec saved the visitors from a bigger deficit, stopping two attempts by Maxi Rodriguez before halftime. Slovenias best chance came in the second half as Milivoje Novakovic spun around in the area and fired a shot straight at Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero. The hosts were not seriously challenged after that and came close to making it 3-0 in overtime when Messis free kick went just wide. Allen Crabbe Hawks Jersey . And once again, Team Homan emerged as the victor with the reigning national champions defeating Team Sweeting at the Pintys All-Star Curling Skins Game Friday night in the tournaments opening draw at The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in beautiful Banff National Park. Ray Spalding Hawks Jersey . How foolishly wrong I was. Forget the now inherent corruption and back handed favours that plague the beautiful game. Goal Line Technology? Youre having a laugh. As for them penalty cheating bandits, footballs lawmakers upend them by awarding the penalty to the opponent each time a player attempts to con the referee into awarding ghost penalties. https://www.thehawkslockerroom.com/Alex-Len-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Next up, the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns in the AFC North. Baltimore Ravens In 2014, the 8-8 season that the Baltimore Ravens experienced was to be expected. ABERDEEN -- Three years after virtually giving up on links golf, a more mature Rory McIlroy appears ready to give it another chance. McIlroy tamed blustery conditions on day one of the Scottish Open to shoot a 7-under 64 on Thursday, giving him a one-stroke lead and showing his links game is in great shape ahead of next weeks British Open at Hoylake. "I feel I am as prepared as I have ever been to play this type of golf," a smiling McIlroy said after rolling in eight birdies -- six of which came in a stunning seven-hole spell from Nos. 8-14 at Royal Aberdeen. How things have changed from 2011. At a wet and wild British Open at Royal St. Georges that year, a frustrated McIlroy opened his heart, saying he wasnt a fan of tournaments where the "outcome is predicted so much by the weather" and that "theres no point in changing your game for one week a year." Coming from someone who grew up playing on the links in his native Northern Ireland, it was a strange outburst. That seems to be in the past now. "Im going to make it my favourite style for two weeks a year," said McIlroy, adding he was "relishing the challenge" of playing in the wind and rain. Unheralded Swede Kristoffer Broberg -- who went out in the first group at 6:30 a.m. local time -- and Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina shot 65s to lie one shot behind McIlroy. Michael Hoey, a compatriot of McIlroy, was a stroke further back after a 5-under 66, and former world No. 1 Luke Donald was among four players to shoot 67. Phil Mickelson missed a 3-foot par putt at the final hole for his only bogey in a 68, a solid start by the American to the defence of his title. McIlroys course-record round stood out, though. Refreshed after a two-week break that included a five-day trip to the Spanish island of Ibiza with friends, the two-time major winner looked back to his sharpest. He showed a good feel on the greens, especially in that barrage of birdies around the turn, and drrove straight and long in the face of winds of up to 20 mph (30 kph). Jeremy Lin Jersey. One of the highlights of his round was driving the green on the 436-yard 13th hole while the group ahead was on the putting surface. "I didnt really think that was out there," American golfer Rickie Fowler said of McIlroys score. Ominously for his British Open rivals, McIlroy said he felt completely at one with his game, the "polar opposite" to this time last year when he was "not very confident with anything." "Everything was pretty much on," he said. "In the conditions, this is as low as I have ever been." McIlroy has had problems backing up good opening rounds this season, so there is still hope for the rest of the field in northern Scotland. Up at 4 a.m. local time, Broberg showed the kind of form that won him four events on the second-tier Challenge Tour in 2012, earned him his tour card, and marked him as a star of the future. Five of his six birdies came from Nos. 6-12 and Broberg had just 24 putts in his round, putting him in contention to claim one of the four qualifying berths for the British Open that are available at Royal Aberdeen for non-exempt players finishing in the top 10. Gonzalez made light work of a front nine playing into the wind, and was 8 under par after an eagle 3 at No. 12. Two bogeys at the end saw him drop off the lead. Mickelsons round was typically eventful. A chip to 10 feet from a cart path at No. 13 was his shot of the day, while the British Open champion avoided a penalty on the 10th when his ball moved on his backswing for his second shot. A sharp gust of wind was to blame. Lee Westwood recovered from dropping five shots in his first five holes to post a 72, and six-time major winner Nick Faldo, playing his first regular European Tour event since 2010, had a 2-over 73 as he gets ready for a return to the British Open. Tom Lewis made a hole in one on the par-3 No. 17 on his way to a 70. ' ' '