ands four-man defense is a key platform for the team and will have to

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg look more closely matched than ever before in their time as Mercedes teammates. A title battle that seemed to be drifting towards an inevitable fourth crown for Hamilton has been shaken up since the summer break by a hat-trick of wins for Rosberg, who now leads the championship by eight points.With the 150 points on offer over the remaining six races of 2016 set to decide who will be champion, ESPN looks at how the two men have fared in the closing stages of the season since being paired together three years ago.2013Rosberg: 7th, 8th, 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 5th (Points: 55)Hamilton: 5th, DNF, 6th, 7th, 4th, 9th (Points: 38)Hamilton and Rosbergs first season together coincided with a more competitive Mercedes package -- the team claimed eight pole positions in the first 11 races but did not have the race pace to compete regularly with Red Bull. Before the summer break Nico Rosberg claimed two wins (Monaco and Great Britain), before Lewis Hamilton claimed his first win for the team at the Hungarian Grand Prix.For all the optimism of the first half of the season, the team dropped off in the closing stage of the year. Lewis Hamilton endured a frustrating end to 2013, failing to make the podium during the run-in and banging wheels with Valtteri Bottas at the finale to end his season on a low note. Despite being revitalised at Mercedes and claiming five pole positions, Hamilton had never looked completely happy with the car in 2013 -- admitting after the finale he was glad the season was over and that he had failed to live up to his own expectations.For Nico Rosberg, the story was different. Though he finished the season as second best of the two Mercedes drivers he had the strongest finish and, crucially, scored back-to-back podiums in India and Abu Dhabi which helped the team beat Ferrari to second in the championship.2014Hamilton: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st (Points: 143) Rosberg: DNF, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 14th (Points: 79)A lot changed in a year -- Hamilton and Rosberg were now equipped with the class-leading Mercedes W05 and were engaged in a bitter duel for the world title. Coming into the final six races, the momentum had just changed hands. After their collision in Belgium -- for which Mercedes blamed and punished Rosberg -- Hamilton had forced his teammate into a mistake in Italy, giving him the race win. It was a sign of things to come -- Rosberg looked like a beaten man from the moment Hamilton found his form again.That Italy win was the first of five in a row for Hamilton, who had been 29 points down on Rosberg after Belgium. That gap soon evaporated when Rosberg encountered race-ending problems in Singapore, before the German crumbled under pressure from Hamilton in the rain at Suzuka a week later. A clumsy lunge for the lead in Russia at Turn 1 ended his chances of victory, before the season-defining moment at Austin -- Hamilton forcing his way past Rosbergs weak defence in Austin to snatch the lead and victory from his title rival.Rosberg finally returned to the top step in Brazil, leading Hamilton in a Mercedes one-two, leaving him 24 points behind with Abu Dhabis controversial double-points finale to come. As it turned out, the derided points format would never be an issue -- Hamilton beat Rosberg off the line and into the lead at Turn 1. Rosberg, who needed Hamilton to finish outside the top two to have any chance, then suffered an ERS failure which soon dropped him out of contention and out of the points. Memorably, late in the race Rosberg was advised to retire the car but responded by saying he wanted to take the car to the end, but the day, and the championship, was Hamiltons.2015Hamilton: 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd (Points: 129) Rosberg: 2nd, DNF, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st (Points: 111)Coming into the final six races in 2015 Hamilton was in a much more comfortable position, leading by 41 points. Mercedes had just mysteriously dropped off the pace in Singapore but bounced back in style in Japan, with Hamilton leading Rosberg home in a comfortable one-two. Having claimed pole position in Sochi a fired up Rosberg led the early stages of the Russian Grand Prix, only to encounter a throttle problem on lap seven which ended his race and all but ended the championship fight.Hamilton would claim the win and the title at the U.S. Grand Prix, which saw Rosberg make a mistake while leading late on. Infamously, Rosberg threw his cap back at Hamilton after the race as they waited to take the podium, hinting at lingering problems between the two after another bitter campaign. The bad blood continued in Mexico, with Hamilton taunting Rosbergs claim that a gust of wind had led to his costly error in Austin. With the title secured, Hamilton seemed to take his eye of the ball -- in the days before Mexicos return race he was involved in a minor car accident in Monaco -- and Rosberg returned to the top step.Seemingly revitalised from that victory, Rosberg led Hamilton across the line in Brazil, where the latter grew frustrated at Mercedes decision not to put him on an alternate strategy. Rosberg then rounded off the season with a dominant victory over Hamilton in Abu Dhabi. Though much was made of Hamilton losing motivation after his title win the three-race streak gave Rosberg renewed confidence he could beat the three-time world champion, and he would go on to win the next four races of 2016.2016 verdictNico Rosberg looks readier than ever to win his first world championship. Though Hamiltons problems gift-wrapped him a win in Belgium before the Brits slow start in Monza helped Rosberg to another, he looked in commanding form last time out in Singapore. It is also important to note that, for whatever argument there is for Hamilton going off the boil after winning last years title, Rosbergs strong finish last year carried into 2016 and meant he always had the points in the bank to make this year a genuine fight.But what the last three years have proven is how dangerous Hamilton can be with a little momentum, while 2014 proved his ability to take wins and a championship from another driver. Six races is ample time to get a run of form going again but he will be fully aware he went eight without a win across the end of 2015 and 2016. However, looking at the tale of the tape, it is hard to look past a fourth world title for Hamilton.For all his impressive drives this year and at the tail-end of 2015, we are still yet to see Rosberg snatch a win from another driver. The last two seasons are hardly ringing endorsements of his ability to win a title: he crumbled in 2014 and only got a run of form together in 2015 when there was nothing left to play for. His attitude has seemed to swing between one of supreme confidence and lingering self-doubt in 2016. However if Rosberg has learned the lessons of the last two years, with momentum and the points gap crucially on his side this time around, it could finally be the year he joins his father Keke in the pantheon of F1 champions.?Authentic Custom Nationals Jersey . 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Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations.NICE, France -- Iceland has become the darling of the European Championship thanks to its underdog status and an uncompromising 4-4-2 formation that has made the team unbeatable so far in France.Dont expect any changes when the smallest country in the tournament takes on the host nation at the Stade de France on Sunday.We didnt have so much problems defending (against) the English, and also in ball possession we created a lot of good chances, the teams co-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said after his team came back from an early deficit to stun England 2-1 in Nice. If the players play with the same attitude, we can beat anyone.In qualification and now in France, the collection of unheralded Icelandic players has forged into a tight-knit formation that gives away almost no chances and has proved clinical when it has broken out to swiftly turn defense into attack. Two 1-1 draws against Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal and then Hungary followed by a 2-1 defeat of Austria ensured Iceland qualified for the knockout stage in its first appearance at a major tournament.Then came Monday nights round-of-16 clash with England and another victory that sent the remote island nation of 330,000 people into ecstasy.Whoevers not out celebrating is probably trying to get a ticket to France for the next game, Thorir Gudmundsson, a charity worker from Reykjavik, said after the win.The fever pitch in Iceland is matched by the teams traveling fans in France.After the game at the Stade de Nice, the Iceland players led thousands of their supporters inn a traditional Viking chant called the Huh! -- repeating the guttural-sounding title over and over in an effort to terrify opponents.ddddddddddddThe chant also echoed through the streets of Nice, where fans wandered through the city deep into the night looking for one more beer to celebrate, while many England fans trudged back to their hotels.They were amazing, the boys on the pitch were fantastic but the fans were amazing, said Hallgrimsson, a dentist when he is not coaching his country. Hopefully in Stade de France we will have more tickets and we can import a lot of Icelanders.Kari Arnasons pairing with Ragnar Sigurdsson at the heart of Icelands four-man defense is a key platform for the team and will have to be at its best against the likes of Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann at the Stade de France.Me and Ragnar have got such a good cooperation now, Arnason said. We felt we had it under control the whole game.And if their opponents do get past the back four, there is always goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson to stop them.Halldorsson, a film director when he is not keeping for Iceland or Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt, has saved a tournament-leading 23 shots.He may well be among Icelanders able to pick up a lucrative new club contract after the teams showing in France.Some of these players ... deserve to get contracts at higher levels than they are playing now, co-coach Lars Lagerbaeck said. ' ' '