BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Javier Fernandez of Spain successfully defended his European figure skating title ahead of two Russian rivals despite several small mistakes in the free skate on Saturday. Tyler Thornburg Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Sergei Voronov was second with 252.55 points and Konstantin Menshov had 237.24 in third as neither could challenge the Spaniards lead from the short program. Coming two weeks before the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the championships offered competitors a chance to assess their preparation. Fernandez, who had an awkward landing after a quad salchow and managed only a double lutz when a triple was planned, said it was essential to eliminate errors to be able to contend for a first Olympic medal. "There are mistakes where you lose points and points and points," said Fernandez, who skated to Henry Mancinis "Peter Gunn" and "Harlem Nocture," a jazz standard. "In a competition like the Olympics, every single point matters." At last years Europeans, Fernandez became the first Spaniard to win a major figure skating title. Plushenko, the Olympic champ in 2006 and a two-time silver medallist, skipped the Europeans but his absence nearly overshadowed the Russian mens trio. One of the biggest figure skating stars of the past 15 years, Plushenko is scheduled to perform a short and a free program behind closed doors for Russian skating officials on Tuesday for a chance to claim the countrys only mens slot at Sochi. Leading up to the Europeans, Voronov and Menshov were mentioned behind Russian champion Maxim Kovtun as contenders for the title and the position of Plushenkos main challenger. But Kovtun finished fifth here and afterward seemed resigned to his fate. "After the third quad attempt, I understood this wasnt going to happen," Kovtun said. "I dont really know what happened because it was all fine in the warmup and I had a great practice on (Friday)." Voronovs silver was his best result in international competition. Though he won the Russian nationals twice, in 2008 and 2009, his career had stagnated. He refused to speculate about Plushenkos tryout, but made it clear that if he were to be selected by Russia, he was ready for the Olympic challenge. "Of course I want to go, who doesnt want to go to the Olympics?" Voronov said. "Plushenko is an authority in figure skating but we all want to go and there is only one spot. Its not us who decides." Adding to the intrigue, International Skating Union President Ottavio Cinquanta was showered with questions by reporters in Budapest and had to explain at length the ISUs policy allowing countries to replace injured or ill skaters at the Olympics between the team event and the individual events. The team event makes its Olympic debut on Feb. 6, a day before the opening ceremony. With a solid free skate which included two quad jumps, Menshov managed to climb to third overall after finishing 11th place in the short program. "It seems like I always have to overcome some difficulties," Menshov said. The risk of a second quadruple jump in the short program, which he failed to complete both here and at the Russian nationals, made him fall so far behind. "Im not confident on it yet," he said. The Europeans end on Sunday with the pairs free skate. Xander Bogaerts Jersey . Torres tells Spanish daily AS "in football you never know where you will be inside one month. Im going to work hard, thats all you can do with this last part of the season so important. Rick Porcello Jersey . -- Kael Mouillierat scored three times and set up one more as the St. http://www.redsoxjerseyauthenticshop.com/authentic-mitch-moreland-red-sox-jersey/ . The 21-year-old Wickham headed Sunderland into a 26th-minute lead --to add to the double he scored at Manchester City and his strike in last weekends win at Chelsea -- and then sealed the win with a late header.On April 6, 1996, MLS was born. A crowd of 31,683 saw San Jose Clash beat DC United 1-0 thanks to Eric Wynaldas 88th-minute goal, and much has changed two decades on. One man in the sell-out Spartan Stadium crowd that day was Chris Wondolowski, current San Jose Earthquakes captain, all-time top scorer and USA international. The occasion made a clear impression on the 13-year-old, who is now fifth in the all-time MLS scorers list with 112 goals, 32 behind leader Landon Donovan. He played in the 20th anniversary match on Saturday evening, a 1-1 draw against DC United at the Earthquakes new Avaya Stadium courtesy of another 88th-minute San Jose goal, in front of their 18th straight sell-out crowd. Wondolowski also has 31 caps for the USA national team The Earthquakes epitomise the rise of MLS in recent years. Their 29 per cent rise in attendances from 2014 to 2015, helped by their own exclusive stadium, aided the leagues overall 12.5 per cent rise, the largest in its history.The total MLS gate has more than doubled to 7.3m since David Beckham first arrived at LA Galaxy in 2007, and on the pitch, the product has matched the growth.The teams are more international than ever, the players arrive from overseas younger, youth academies are developing and the competitiveness remains. Wondolowski, now 33, has seen it all since making his debut in 2005.The league just keeps growing exponentially, its amazing to see the growth and development of each team and each player, Wondolowski told Sky Sports. The teams are so deep, the product out there just continues to grow. San Jose Clashs Eric Wynalda celebrates scoring the first MLS goal back in 1996 The league reaches so far globally now, with Sky Sports as well, its all over the world. Its a huge thing, and the players were bringing in too match that.Passionate and organised supporters groups have added colour to what was previously a seen as merely a spectator sport in the US, and the league sits ninth in average attendance figures across world league football, ahead of Eredivisie, the Championship and both the Argentine and Brazilian top flights.Back in 1996, it was the noise and camaraderie that struck a chord with Wondolowski.It was fun to watch it, it was just loud, he recalls. I remember being excited for professional soccer in the area, and there was still the buzz of the 1994 World Cup.Playing soccer is what we strived for. I remember going to Grizzlies (indoor soccer) games before that, and I thought it was a cool thing to have professional soccer. The 33-year-old attended the first MLS game, and has 114 goals in the competition It was crazy, hectic. We got there early for tailgate, and there was just people everywhere. I think its crazy to see where it has gone. It has continued to take these strides. Its amazing.Its great to have a stadium to call our own, for the fans, the team and the community. It gives us a sense of identity, and I love playing there. The fans drive us through the 90 minutes, its great to see.Two years after the World Cup in 1994, US soccer fans had an appetite for a major professional league, cue the birth of MLS.Jump forward to nnow, and promising national team performances both in the womens and mens game means the hunger for soccer is arguably at an all-time high, and this summers US-hosted Copa America tournament gives the game another chance to reinforce its ever-growing status in American sport. Jim Rice Jersey. Jurgen Klinsmanns USA side are in transition after the 2014 World Cup Jurgen Klinsmanns national side have been in and out of form since exiting the World Cup at the last-16 stage in 2014, but Wondolowski is excited for the summer festival of football, and says the concern surrounding the US side is solely from outside the camp.The Copa America is a great tool to have to show the fans some great soccer, not only from the US team but to have the South American players, their teams and some of the best players in the world, to see them up close. We dont always get that opportunity here.Hopefully people can take advantage of it because its a special thing that doesnt happen often.Any time you are with the national team you have to play at a high level, even the training is very demanding. I always try to play to the best of my ability because you want to be out there. You take every practice and every shot seriously. USA have been in and out of form since the World Cup in 2014 Its always a transition period (in national team football), and in any cycle there are always ups and downs, its how you deal with it.Klinsmanns transition period since Brazil has been rocky; wins against Germany, Mexico and the Netherlands have been levelled out by defeats against Jamaica, Panama and Guatemala.They are close to qualifying for Russia 2018, but the next challenge will be to get through a less than desirable Copa America group against Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay.Theres always going to be panic moments, but I dont think the team is panicking, and I know for sure the coach isnt, and to a player everyone believes in the system and believes in each other. Attendances are up in MLS, helped by the passionate and organised supporters groups Its kind of funny to see everybody around it very nervous and very critical. But its part of it, and its how you rebound from it that makes the team.For Wondolowski personally, Donovans record is not yet in his sights. Three goals in four appearances this season edges him closer, and shows the 33-year-olds touch in front of goal remains.Right now I cant reach it, I cant reach it in a game, I probably cant reach it in a year, so right now its not even a thought.I enjoy coming out here every day, I really do, I look forward to coming to training and I enjoy the game. Its what drives me.It also helps to have great team-mates around me who have helped me along the way, again, thats the joy of it, and it keeps me going.Watch live MLS this weekend on Sky Sports, including New York Red Bulls v Sporting Kansas City, NYCFC v Chicago Fire and LA Galaxy v Portland Timbers. 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