ALGIERS, Algeria -- The Muslim players in World Cup teams that have qualified for the second round in Brazil face a thorny question on Sunday when much of the Islamic world will start observing the holy month of Ramadan with a dawn to dusk fast. Philipp Lahm Jersey . The question is trickiest for the Algerian team, which faces a formidable German side on Monday. There are also Muslims on the Nigerian and French teams and those players also will have to weigh their religious convictions against the possible effects of fasting on their performance. "We need to discuss it among ourselves," Algerian player Djamel Mesbah said. "Its clear that our religion is very important for the team, so we will talk about it and see how to go forward." Athletes in the Olympics in 2012 faced the same hurdle, with many teams allowing their players to eat during Ramadan so as not to impair their performance and make up for it at another time or make donations to charity. While fasting during daytime over the 30 days of Ramadan, including abstaining from drinking liquids, is mandatory for all able bodied Muslims and one of the five pillars of Islam, there are exemptions, including for the sick, pregnant, infirm or elderly. Those travelling or going to war are also excluded and it is under this provision that most athletes will likely delay the fast until a more suitable time. Algerian team captain Madjid Bouguerra pointed out in interviews with the Algerian press that it is a challenge Muslim players in European clubs have long faced and when he was with the Glasgow Rangers, he fasted but made sure he kept his performance up. "The hardest thing is staying hydrated, but its ok, the weathers good here," he said. "Some players will postpone their fast for another time, but depending on my physical condition, I think I will do it." Bacary Sagna, a Muslim player in the French squad, said that many of the players who do it are used to it from their time in the European leagues and able to function. "As a Muslim I know that there are certain rules that allow us to avoid it," he told The Associated Press in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. "Personally Im not going to do it, everyones free to do as they will and I totally respect those that will do it." From a religious standpoint, however, it becomes a bit more complex. Islam lacks a central hierarchy like the Catholic church and any imam can issue an opinion that is then obeyed depending on how much respect they command. Even in Algeria, which is bathing in the euphoria of qualifying for the second round of the World Cup for the first time in its history, there have been a range of opinions from religious scholars, with some coming out quite strongly against fasting exemptions. "It is not allowed for an Algerian player to avoiding fasting just for a game -- they must fast because God is with those who fast and young people can fast and play at the same time," said Mohammed Mekerkab, the head of Algerias association of religious scholars. He also dismissed the exemption for travel claimed by most athletes since the provision was only for voyages undertaken in the search for knowledge, health reasons or fighting jihad. Algerias government-appointed High Islamic Council, however, has come down in favour of those wanting to delay their fast. Sheikh Mohammed Sherif Kaher, the head of the councils commission for religious opinions said "those playing can abstain from fasting." Dr. Hakim Chalabi, a specialist in sports and fasting who accompanied the team to Brazil, admitted in an interview that it is a delicate question because of the need for hydration and the increased risk of injuries. He noted, though, that fasting wasnt always a total hindrance to players. "We are often asked to urge players not to fast, but oddly, in some cases, there are athletes that get better results during Ramadan because they are fasting and want to," he said. "It can be a spiritual and psychological aid." Fabian Benko Jersey . Whenever United loses, its crisis. When other top teams slip up, its the quirky nature of the Premier League. The predictable reaction speaks to the sky-high expectations for a team proven perennial contender and 13 times Premier League champion. Timothy Tillman Jersey .com) - Pavel Datsyuk and Gustav Nyquist both scored in the shootout as the Detroit Red Wings denied the Minnesota Wilds comeback bid with a 5-4 win on Tuesday. http://www.bayernmunichfcstore.com/authentic-mats-hummels-bayern-munich-jersey/ . Jimmy Howard made 44 saves and Henrik Zetterberg scored two goals, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.CHICAGO - Once again, Antti Raanta filled in flawlessly for Corey Crawford.Raanta made 32 saves to earn a shutout in his first start of the season, and Patrick Kane scored two power-play goals to lead the Chicago Blackhawks past the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 on Tuesday night.Raanta was sharp as he subbed for Crawford — Chicagos No. 1 goalie who is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury — to record his second career shutout. Among his saves were two point-blank stops on Philadelphias Claude Giroux and one on Matt Read late in the second periodI found out this morning, Raanta said regarding his start. Youre always ready when you come to the rink.Coming up big when Crawford gets hurt is nothing new for Raanta. The 25-year-old Finn started 10 games in a row last season after Crawford suffered a groin injury in a Dec. 8 game against Florida. The Blackhawks went 7-1-2 during that stretch.He was real solid, square, confident, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. He was definitely in control tonight.Chicagos Brandon Saad and Bryan Bickell scored along with Kane in a 2:06 flurry late in the first period to stake the Blackhawks and Raanta to an early lead.We have struggled a little bit with goal scoring, so it was good to see that guys were shooting a lot and we got nice goals in the first period, Raanta said. It helped of course.Besides their first goals this season, Saad and Bickell each had assists as Chicagos third line, centred by Brad Richards, clicked and the Blackhawks improved to 4-0-1. Richards, who signed as a free agent last summer following a contract buyout by the New York Rangers, set up Saads goal to earn his first point as a Blackhawk.The Richards and Saad line tonight was very good for us, Quenneville said. When we get rolling in all the lines, we get that predictability and familiarity. Hopefully, we get that pace.Philadelphias Steve Mason made 39 saves. He was back in net for his fifth start in six games despite being pulled after two periods in the Flyers come-from-behind 6-5 overtime win at Dallas on Saturday — their only victory.Masson might have been the Flyers best player in this one, especially in the first period when Chicago dominated. David Alaba Jersey. We had a horrible start, Flyers defenceman Mark Streit said. Mase was pretty much the only guy out there playing his game. Its just not acceptable having a start like that, and if you do youre going to get punished.The Blackhawks came out strong for the third straight game. Chicago outshot Philadelphia 19-9 in the first and connected on three of five shots during a flurry late in the period.You cant stand there and watch them pass the puck around and skate, especially a team like that, Flyers coach Craig Berube said. We were like deer in the headlights in the first period.Saad opened the scoring 11:54 in. Mason made flashy, close-in saves on Saad and Richards, but then Saad outmuscled the Flyers Michael Del Zotto to the net and tucked in a loose puck from the goal line after Richards centred it.Kane made it 2-0 with a power-play score 32 seconds later. He swatted in the puck from the left side of the net after Patrick Sharps shot from the blue line caromed off the back boards.Bickell extended the lead to 3-0 with 6:00 left in the period when he motored down the slot and ripped a shot over Masons shoulder.Raanta was most heavily tested in the second period when he turned aside 10 shots, and late in the third during a Flyers power play.Kane added his second power-play goal from a goalmouth scrum at 3:50 of the third to complete the scoring.Raanta came up with a shoulder save on Jakub Voracek with 6:30 left to preserve the shutout.NOTES: Chicago LW Kris Versteeg returned after suffering a lower body injury in practice two days before the season opener. He skated on a line with Kane and C Andrew Shaw. To make room, F Jeremy Morin sat out. ... The Blackhawks recalled G Scott Darling from Rockford of the AHL to fill Crawfords roster spot. Darling is a native of Lemont, Ill., a Chicago suburb. ... 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