It has lavished cheap loans on firms that it sees as national champions, partly to counteract the strength of the real.

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The group has recommended forming a committee to select the four teams, using a methodology that would consider strength of schedule and give more weight to conference champions.

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It was a theory that held steadfast in soccer until countries like world champions Spain, and Germany, moved away from height and physical strength as a cornerstone of their philosophy, turning to a new generation of more diminutive, technically gifted players.

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But the Scottish champions fought back to defeat an in-form Stuttgart side who were at full strength after influential defender Marcelo Bordon appeared despite pre-match fitness fears.

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Gordon Strachan's side was below-strength and it showed as they never looked like making a dent in a dismal Champions League record on their travels that now reads played 17, lost 16 and drawn one.

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Tottenham, in contrast, provided further evidence of their growing maturity and strength of squad that has enabled them to perform with such distinction domestically and in the Champions League.

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Simmons, who coached Zimbabwe in 2004-05, said the strength in depth in Ireland, who are current Under-19 and Under-17 European champions, convinced him to take the job.

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Russia's strength in depth - with six players in the WTA top 20 - proved decisive, with the champions able to retain the trophy in the absence of star names such as Maria Sharapova and Olympic champion Elena Dementieva.

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