USMNT Daily Update: Who should start vs. Belgium?

With less than a week to go before the first of five matches for the U.S. Men’s National Team, here is a look at the players we could see starting vs. Belgium on Wednesday in Cleveland, Ohio.

Soccer Thursday: Your Running Commentary

The Liga MX Clausura finals begin tonight with Cruz Azul hosting Club America in the first-leg of the tie.

Union deal Soumare to Fire (UPDATED)

On the heels of a pair of shutout losses to a Philadelphia Union defense that featured Bakary Soumare, the Chicago Fire have acquired Soumare from the Union. A deal is expected to be announced as early as this evening.

USMNT Daily Update: Who should start vs. Belgium?

Eddie Johnson

By IVES GALARCEP

The U.S. Men’s National Team will play their first of five matches in a three-week span on  Wednesday in Cleveland, Ohio, and while it is arguably the least meaningful of the five, it should offer Jurgen Klinsmann a chance to see some different options in the starting lineup.

Michael Bradley and Fabian Johnson will miss the match due to club commitments, meaning those are two spots up for grabs in the lineup that will face Belgium. The Belgians are bringing a full-strength side so there is a good chance Klinsmann will try to start as many first-team regulars as possible.

The match will also be significant because, if he plays, DaMarcus Beasley will earn his 100th cap. The Puebla midfielder is likely to slot in at left back vs. Belgium, and should face a stiff challenge from Belgium’s speedy wingers.

Another starter who might not be in the starting lineup is Jozy Altidore, who last played on May 11th and may not be fully fit for the match. With Eddie Johnson in mid-season form with Seattle in MLS, and Clint Dempsey having finished his club season just a week ago, Klinsmann could save Altidore for the friendly against Germany, which would offer a good test for Altidore six days before facing Jamaica in World Cup qualifying.

So who could we see in the starting lineup against Belgium? Here is one possible lineup:

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Posted in Featured, U.S. Men's National Team | 123 Comments

Soccer Thursday: Your Running Commentary

IsraelCastro1 (Imago7)

By DAN KARELL

The Americas capture the world’s attention in soccer matches on Thursday, with a Liga MX playoff final, Copa Libertadores duals, and a high powered international friendly on tap.

Club America and their strike duo of Christian Benitez and Raul Jimenez travel ten miles up the road to face their Mexico City rivals Cruz Azul in the first-leg of the Liga MX Clausura playoffs finals.

Cruz Azul have only failed to pick up three points in a match once since the start of April, but they meet their match in America, who have managed to put goals in the back of the net despite poor performances in defense at times.

Also in Mexico, Club Tijuana host Ronaldinho and Atletico Mineiro in a crucial first-leg quarterfinal match in the Copa Libertadores. In Argentina, a battle between Buenos Aires and Rosario ensues as Boca Juniors host Newell’s Old Boys.

Chelsea take on Manchester City in a friendly match at a sold out Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule is after the jump):

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Posted in European Soccer, Featured, Mexican Soccer, South American Soccer | 69 Comments

Hoffenheim defeat Kaiserslautern in first-leg of relegation playoffs

HoffenheimFirmino1-Kaiserslautern (DPA)

By DAN KARELL

TSG Hoffenheim used two first half goals to take a 3-1 victory over FC Kaiserslautern in the first-leg of the Bundesliga relegation playoffs.

With Fabian Johnson starting on the left wing, Hoffenheim scored their highest goal total since April 5. Roberto Firmino scored twice for the Bundesliga side and provided the assist for the third goal scored by Sven Schipplock.

The 2.Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern scored one back through Mohammadou Idrissou but they’ll now take the two-goal deficit back to the Fritz-Walter Stadion for the second-leg on Monday, May 27.

Posted in European Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team | 24 Comments

Union deal Soumare to Fire (UPDATED)

Bakary Soumare (4)

By IVES GALARCEP

If the Chicago Fire needed some convincing that they should make a trade for Bakary Soumare, a pair of shutout losses coming at the hands of a defense featuring Soumare did the trick.

The Fire are set to acquire have acquired Soumare from the Philadelphia Union, sources confirmed to SBI on Thursday. Details of the trade have yet to be made available, but sources tell SBI that Philadelphia will be picking up a significant portion of Soumare’s salary in the trade, which is expected to be announced by Friday.

(UPDATED- Sources have confirmed to SBI that the Fire will send a 2nd-round pick in the 2014 MLS Draft and a small amount of allocation money to the Union in exchange for Soumare. The Union will also be picking up a portion of Soumare’s salary both this year and in 2014.)

Soumare is expected to join the Fire for their upcoming match vs. Real Salt Lake.

The deal reunites Soumare with the Fire, who he left in the summer of 2009 after securing a $2 million transfer to French club Boulogne. He spent parts of three seasons with Boulogne, also spending a half season on loan to Bundesliga 2 side Karlsruhe.

A finalist for MLS Defender of the Year in 2008, Soumare endured a serious knee injury that sidelined him prior to his return to MLS in 2012. His recovery from knee surgery appears to be complete after showing well in consecutive starts this month, both shutout wins vs. the Fire.

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Posted in Featured, MLS- Chicago Fire, MLS- Philadelphia Union | 43 Comments

Arrieta suspension upheld, will miss match vs. Red Bulls

JairoArrieta1 (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

Columbus Crew forward Jairo Arrieta’s two match suspension was upheld by Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber after an appeal, keeping the Costa Rica international out of the lineup for the Crew’s match on Saturday against the New York Red Bulls.

Arrieta was suspended on May 17 for violent conduct, after an elbow to the head of Colorado Rapids defender Drew Moor during a match on May 11.

What do you make of the decision? Do you believe the suspension is the correct length?

Share your thoughts below.

Posted in Major League Soccer, MLS- Columbus Crew | 2 Comments

MLS East Notes: Cahill called up by Socceroos; Koevermans eyes return in next home match; and more

Tim Cahill ,John Bostock

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

Red Bulls manager Mike Petke foreshadowed it last week on his weekly media teleconference, and the news was eventually released on late Wednesday night that midfielder Tim Cahill had been selected for Australia’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

The Socceroos are in the midst of a challenging three-game schedule to qualify for the World Cup, including a crucial match against Jordan on June 11. Australia, currently in third place in their AFC qualifying group, can qualify automatically for the World Cup with a top two finish.

Cahill’s call up means that this Sunday’s game against the Columbus Crew will likely be his last before he jets off to Australia, though there is a chance that he could feature on June 1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Red Bull Arena.

Here are some more news and notes from around the Eastern Conference heading into MLS Week 13 action:

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Posted in Featured, Major League Soccer, MLS- Chicago Fire, MLS- Columbus Crew, MLS- DC United, MLS- Montreal Impact, MLS- New York Red Bulls, MLS- Philadelphia Union, MLS- Sporting Kansas City, MLS- Toronto FC | 11 Comments

MLS West Notes: O’Neill among Rapids U.S. U-20 call-ups, RSL returns home, and more

ShaneONeill (ISIPhotos.com)

By MIKE DONOVAN 

The Colorado Rapids are the only MLS franchise with multiple players named to the most recent U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team roster, with Shane O’Neill and Dillon Serna being named to Tab Ramos’ squad for the Toulon Tournament. While the tournament runs from May 28 through June 8, O’Neill will stay with the club for its June 1 match with FC Dallas before flying to France.

O’Neill has been a key piece for the Rapids defense in 2013. In fact, Colorado is unbeaten in the seven matches that O’Neill has started (4-0-3) this season. The converted midfielder was born in Ireland and maintains dual citizenship.

Here are some more news and notes from around the Western Conference heading into MLS Week 13 action:

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Posted in Featured, Major League Soccer, MLS- Chivas USA, MLS- Colorado Rapids, MLS- FC Dallas, MLS- Los Angeles Galaxy, MLS- Portland Timbers, MLS- Real Salt Lake, MLS- San Jose Earthquakes, MLS- Seattle Sounders, MLS- Vancouver Whitecaps, U.S. Under-20 National Team | 9 Comments

Dynamo left back Ashe added to USMNT squad for Belgium friendly

CoreyAsheDynamo (ISIPhotos.com)

By IVES GALARCEP

Houston Dynamo left back Corey Ashe will join the U.S. Men’s National Team camp ahead of the team’s friendly vs. Belgium on May 29th, U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday.

Ashe will be with the team for the Belgium friendly before returning to the Dynamo.

The U.S. team is missing several players from the early part of the team’s training camp, with left backs Edgar Castillo (Copa Libertadores with Club Tijuana) and Fabian Johnson (Bundesliga relegation playoff with Hoffenheim) still with their club teams. Ashe will help provide some depth at left back.

Ashe, 27, has never been capped by the U.S. Men’s National Team, but was a regular fixture in the youth national team set-up, even serving as captain of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team.

What do you think of the call-up? Surprised to not see some other left backs called in? Think Ashe merits a look?

Share your thoughts below.

Posted in Featured, MLS- Houston Dynamo, U.S. Men's National Team | 115 Comments

UEFA considering giving Europa League winner Champions League place

EuropaLeagueTrophyinArenA1 (Getty)

By IVES GALARCEP

The Europa League is a competition that doesn’t carry quite the prestige you would expect for a European competition, particularly in country’s with larger leagues that are far more interested in Champions League glory.

UEFA just might have the way to make the competition matter much more.

Europe’s soccer governing body will announce on Friday whether Europa League winners will be granted UEFA Champions League places in the future.

A caveat that must be acknowledged is the strong likelihood that this rule could mean that a team that doesn’t finish high enough in its league to earn a Champions League berth could then wind up taking a spot from a team that did do well enough in the league. This happened when Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League a year ago. Since UEFA does not allow more than four teams from any one league, Tottenham was forced to miss out of the most recent Champions League.

What do you think of this idea? See it as a great incentive? Think it’s misguided?

Share your thoughts below.

Posted in European Soccer | 44 Comments

New Manchester City Home Jersey revealed

NewManCityHomeKit

Manchester City have decided to use their tour of the United States to unveil their new home jersey (you can see it above).

What do you think? An upgrade over the old one? Plan on buying one? Hoping New York City FC wears a similar uniform or think Yankee pinstripes are inevitable?

Share your thoughts below.

Posted in European Soccer | 39 Comments