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.

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

Tim Cahill has been called up to represent Australia in World Cup qualifiers, putting him in doubt for the Red Bulls June 1 match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Union set to deal Soumare to Fire

On the heels of a pair of shutout losses to a Philadelphia Union defense that featured Bakary Soumare, the Chicago Fire are on the verge of acquiring Soumare from the Union. A deal is expected to be finalized by Friday.

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 | Leave a comment

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 | 47 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 | 5 Comments

Union set to deal Soumare to Fire

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 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.

Some minor details were still being worked out on the trade as of Thursday afternoon, but sources tell SBI the deal is expected to go through.

When completed, the deal will reunite Soumare with the Fire, which 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 | 22 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 | 6 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 | 92 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 | 38 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 | 38 Comments

SBI MLS Best XI: Week 12

Jamison Olave

By IVES GALARCEP

The Real Salt Lake team that won the 2009 MLS Cup and put together a run of some of the most attractive soccer in league history has been dismantled, but the efforts of several members of that team provided a reminder of just how good that RSL team was.

Four current and former members of the 2009 MLS Cup-winning RSL team made SBI MLS Team of the Week for Week 12. Current RSL players Ned Grabavoy and Chris Wingert played key rolls in their team’s 4-1 thrashing of Chivas USA. Two former RSLers who were traded away last winter, Jamison Olave and Will Johnson, were both instrumental in helping their new teams earn key results.

New England posted one of the better team efforts last weekend, beating Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium, and the Revs’ shutout was pulled off thanks to the outstanding work of teammates Jose Goncalves and Andrew Farrell. Goncalves has been playing like an MLS Newcomer of the Year contender while Farrell has done his part to show why New England traded up to make him the first player chosen in the 2013 MLS Draft.

Here is a the SBI MLS Best XI for Week 12:

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Posted in Featured, SBI MLS Best XI, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Thursday Kickoff: PSG offer to match Rooney’s current wages; Higuain nears Juventus move; and more

WayneRooney1-FulhamFACup (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

David Moyes has just begun his term as Manchester United manager, but it’s becoming clearer and clearer that he’ll have to start next season without Wayne Rooney.

The former Everton youth graduate has been linked with a transfer to French club Paris Saint-Germain, and according to reports in England, PSG told Rooney’s representatives that they would be willing to match his wages if he agrees a transfer to France.

The England international is currently on a reported $22.5 million per season contract, a number that is currently hurting Rooney’s chances of leaving due to the lack of teams willing to match that number. But if the latest reports are accurate, Rooney’s days at United could be numbered.

PSG are hoping to put Rooney up top with Ligue 1 Player of the Year Zlatan Ibrahimovic next season, creating a formidable strike force that can contend in the Champions League. After a season where Rooney scored 27 Premier League goals, including the famous scissor kick goal against Manchester City, the 27-year-old managed just 16 goals across all competitions this season.

Here are some more stories to get your Thursday kicked off:

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Posted in European Soccer, Featured, South American Soccer | 15 Comments