The Official 2010 Pre- World Cup Thread

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[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][b][size="5"]U.S. national team weekend

[/size][/b][b][size="1"]March 21st, 2010 7:38PM[/size][/b][/color][/color][/color][/color][/color][/color]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"] [/color][/color][/color][/color][color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"] [/color][/color][/color][/color]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][color="#FF0000"][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color][b]Maurice Edu[/b] came on after halftime in Rangers' 1-0 win over St. Mirren in the final of the Scottish League Cup. [b]Eddie Johnson[/b] scored for Aris in the Greek club's 1-1 tie at Panionios. Here's how U.S. national team players did in weekend action abroad ...

[color="#FF0000"]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color]
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Clint Dempsey[/b], sub: 38 minutes (Fulham, 1-2, vs. Man. City)[/color][/color][/color][/color]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"] [/color][/color]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][color="#FF0000"]GREECE, Super League[/color]
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Eddie Johnson[/b], 90 minutes (1 goal) (Aris, 1-1, at Panionios)[/color][/color]

[color="#FF0000"]SCOTLAND, League Cup (Final)[/color]
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Maurice Edu[/b], sub: 45 minutes (Rangers, 1-0, vs. St. Mirren) [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37330/us-national-team-weekend.html"]http://www.soccerame...am-weekend.html[/url]

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[quote][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#7A7A7A"][size="1"]March 22, 2010[/size][/color][/font]
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[/size][/color][b][size="5"]U.S. forward Davies resumes training[/size][/b][/size][/size][/font]
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[/b][/size][/size][size="3"][size="1"]Associated Press[/size][/size][/size][/font]
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[/size][/size][/size][color="#333333"][size=2]SOCHAUX, France -- American forward Charlie Davies has resumed training less than six months after he was nearly killed in a car accident.[/size][/color][size=2]

[/size][color="#333333"][size=2]Still recovering from injuries sustained in the Oct. 13 crash in Virginia, Davies rejoined his Sochaux club last week after several weeks of rehabilitation. The club says he went for a jog Monday morning.[/size][/color][size=2]

[/size][color="#333333"][size=2]The 23-year-old player will keep working with a physiotherapist before joining his teammates in 2-4 weeks.[/size][/color][size=2]

[/size][color="#333333"][size=2]Davies was likely to be on the U.S. World Cup squad before the crash.[/size][/color]

[/font][color="#333333"][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]His injuries included two broken bones in his right leg, a broken and dislocated left elbow, a broken nose, forehead and eye socket, a ruptured bladder and bleeding on the brain.[/font][/color] [/quote]


[url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5018001/ce/us/us-forward-charlie-davies-training-months-car-crash?campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines&cc=5901&ver=us"]http://soccernet.esp...&cc=5901&ver=us[/url]

[JC]

Who says Chuck Deezy can't make the 23?!

What a incredible story..

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[quote][font=arial][size=4]
[b][size=5]Charlie Davies and the World Cup[/size][/b]

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[/size][color=#000000]The news involving [b]Charlies Davies[/b] seems to get better by the day. Just five-plus months since being severely injured in an auto accident near Washington, the U.S. national team forward began light jogging Monday with his French club, Sochaux. He will continue to work with a physiotherapist for two to four weeks, and if all goes well, participate in full sessions.[/color]

[color=#000000]Davies' comeback, in life and soccer, has been nothing short of remarkable. And as his outlook continues to improve, his place in [b]Bob Bradley[/b]'s plans will, undoubtedly, become one of the most closely followed storylines in the build-up to the World Cup.[/color]

[color=#000000]Davies will not be a sympathetic, token selection; if Bradley does not believe he can help the team, he won't be included on the 23-man roster. So Davies must not only regain his fitness, but earn his way back into Sochaux's rotation and show that his speed, touch and finishing ability have not been lost. The club has 10 league matches remaining, with the finale May 15. Sochaux also remains in contention for the French Cup and will play in the quarterfinals Wednesday at Monaco.[/color]

[color=#000000]At the rate he has been progressing, Davies seems likely to be included on the U.S. team's 30-man preliminary roster that must be submitted to FIFA by May 11. Bradley could certainly use him, for there is not exactly an abundance of swift, internationally seasoned forwards in the American system.[/color]

[color=#000000]But unlike other Americans seeking to return from long-term injuries, this is uncharted territory. In his rehabilitation from a ruptured patella tendon suffered in October, veteran defender [b]Oguchi Onyewu[/b] is following a routine used by players who have suffered similar ailments. Like Davies, he too is in need of competitive matches as soon as possible.[/color]

[color=#000000]But because of Davies' unique circumstances and the variety and extent of his injuries (ranging from a fractured tibia and femur in his right leg to a lacerated bladder), no one really knows what to expect. Not the Sochaux coaching staff, not Bradley and the U.S. Soccer Federation, and probably not Davies himself. Being able to run is one thing; being able to play at a World Cup level is another.[/color]

[/size][/font][font=arial][size=4]Based on his rapid recovery from what was career-threatening trauma, he has given everyone reason to believe that he will be in the mix when Bradley begins trimming his player pool and making plans for the start of training camp on May 16. But until we see him on the field in Ligue 1 and playing at a world-class level, we won't know definitively whether this inspiring return will become a personal and professional triumph in time for the World Cup.[/size][/font] [/quote]



[url="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/03/charlie_davies_and_the_world_c.html"]http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/03/charlie_davies_and_the_world_c.html[/url]

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[b][size=5]South Africa Losing World Cup Bonanza as Costs Keep Fans Away[/size][/b]
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[font=Verdana, sans-serif]By Mike Cohen[/font]
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[font=Verdana, sans-serif]March 23 (Bloomberg) -- South Africa has spent 34 billion rand ($4.6 billion) to host the soccer World Cup, including building 10 world-class stadiums. All it needs now is fans.The government had expected the world’s most-watched sporting event to attract 450,000 international spectators, spurring economic growth that would help create [url="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=SAUERATQ%3AIND"]jobs[/url] for the one in four people without work. Three months before the June 11 kickoff, about 100,000 international air tickets have been sold, the visitor estimate has been cut to 350,000 and the expected contribution to economic growth has been halved.

“When the World Cup was awarded to us in 2004, the economic situation was completely different,” Sports Minister [url="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Makhenkesi+Stofile&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1"]Makhenkesi Stofile[/url] told reporters in Pretoria on March 19. “We have to revisit those projections and be realistic.”

Low attendance would be a blow to the government’s efforts to expand the tourism industry and revive consumer spending following the country’s first[url="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=SAGDPANN%3AIND"]recession[/url] in 17 years. It would also be an embarrassment for President [url="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Jacob+Zuma&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1"]Jacob Zuma[/url] and [url="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Sepp%0ABlatter&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1"]Sepp Blatter[/url], president of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body. Both gave repeated assurances that holding the event in Africa for the first time would be a success.

The Ministry of Finance said on March 17 that the tournament would boost[url="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=SAGDPANN%3AIND"]gross domestic product[/url] by about 0.5 percent this year, half of what was projected before the global recession.

MATCH Services AG, which FIFA contracted with to supply ticketing and accommodation services for the tournament, has relinquished rights for more than 450,000 nights of hotel room bookings due to a lack of demand.

Returning Tickets

Sales of corporate hospitality packages were 50 percent short of the target, with tournament sponsors and partners returning thousands of tickets for premium-price seats in luxury boxes, FIFA said in a Feb. 19 presentation at its Zurich headquarters.

Banks, including Frankfurt-based [url="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=DBK%3AGR"]Deutsche Bank AG[/url] and [url="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=CBK%3AGR"]Commerzbank AG[/url], that paid millions of dollars to attend the 2006 tournament in Germany are among those staying away, [url="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Peter%0ACsanadi&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1"]Peter Csanadi[/url], Zurich-based MATCH’s head of marketing, said in a Feb. 19 interview.

The Germany World Cup attracted about 2 million tourists, earned the tourism industry an extra 300 million euros ($407 million) in revenue, added 2 billion euros to retail sales and yielded 50,000 new jobs, according to a report by Chancellor [url="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Angela+Merkel%3Fs&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1"]Angela Merkel’s[/url] cabinet.

2006 Sellout

More than 600,000 of the 2.9 million South Africa tickets remain, [url="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Horst+R.+Schmidt&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1"]Horst R. Schmidt[/url], the competition’s head of ticketing, said on March 13. The highest availability is for those exclusively for South Africans, the lowest price bracket at 140 rand. Schmidt said at this stage four years ago virtually all the tickets were sold out.

“We don’t know how long the people will stay or who the tickets have gone to,” Brett Dungan, chief executive officer of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa, a Johannesburg-based industry body, said in a March 9 interview in Cape Town. “We truly don’t know what the benefits of hosting the tournament will be.”

About 130,000 jobs have been created since 2007 in the construction of five new stadiums and the refurbishment of five others, the Treasury estimates. Even so, South Africa’s [url="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=SAUERATQ%3AIND"]unemployment rate[/url] was 24.3 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, near the highest in five years. The Treasury expects the rate to remain above 21 percent until 2014.

Jobless Again

As many as 30,000 workers who built the [url="http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/stadiums/index.html"]stadiums[/url] and provided related services are back on the streets, said Issac Ntshangase, who coordinates construction for the National Union of Mineworkers in Johannesburg.

“The event will not help to significantly mitigate poverty” even though it will leave behind “many positives,” said Udesh Pillay, co-author of “Development and Dreams: The Urban Legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”

The cost of long-haul flights and accommodation has been a deterrent to international fans.

“A group of us were really seriously looking into it but were priced out,” said David McNally, an accountant from Swindon in southern England. “The whole trip for a couple of weeks would have ended up setting us back more than 3 grand each. That’s just too much.”

Thomson Sport, a unit of Crawley, England-based [url="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=TT%2F%3ALN"]TUI Travel Plc[/url], has advertised packages that include tickets for one of England’s first-round games, flights and five nights accommodation, starting at 2,495 pounds ($3,765).

Driving Distance?

“Any European World Cup has the benefit of having approximately half of the participating teams being within driving distance of the hosts,” Jaime Byrom, MATCH’s chairman, said in a March 9 interview in Cape Town. “That has tremendous advantages.”

The portrayal of South Africa as a crime-ridden country in the international media may also be scaring off tourists, Pule Selepe, the Department of Transport’s aviation coordinator for the World Cup, told lawmakers on March 2.

South Africa had 2.1 million serious crimes, including 18,148 murders, in the year through March 2009, a slight decline from the previous year, according to the latest police statistics.

The government expects a last-minute rush for tickets for the 32-nation tournament as tour operators bring down prices.

[/font][font=Verdana, sans-serif]“There is no need to panic but rather to start selling South Africa even more feverishly,” Finance Minister [url="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Pravin%0AGordhan&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1"]Pravin Gordhan[/url] told reporters in Cape Town on March 11.[/font] [/quote]


[url="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=aRFbYA.VfNxA"]http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=aRFbYA.VfNxA[/url]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Big win for Hahnemann's Wolves

[/size][size=1]March 24th, 2010 12:28AM[/size][/color][/color]
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[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] [b]Marcus Hahnemann[/b] was outstanding in goal for Wolves in its 3-1 victory at West Ham that moved it seven points out of the relegation zone. [b]Jonathan Spector[/b] played the second half for the Hammers, who are only one point clear from the drop zone.

[color=#FF0000]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]Marcus Hahnemann,[/b] 90 minutes (Wolves, 3-1, at West Ham)
[b]Jonathan Spector[/b], sub: 45 minutes (West Ham, 1-3, vs. Wolves)

[color=#FF0000]SWEDEN, Allsvenskanliga[/color]
[b]Alejandro Bedoya[/b], 90 minutes (Orebro, 0-3, at Malmo) [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37361/big-win-for-hahnemanns-wolves.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37361/big-win-for-hahnemanns-wolves.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

I don't know Ivory Coast, England and Mexico were happy to get rid of him.


[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][b][size=5]Eriksson to lead Ivory Coast's Elephants

[/size][/b][size=1]March 23rd, 2010 12:56PM[/size][/color][/color]
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[/color]
[color=#FF0000][WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN][/color] Swede [b]Sven-Goran Eriksson[/b], who was fired as Mexico's national team coach during World Cup qualifying, could be headed to South Africa all. Eriksson, who coached England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, was named the Ivory Coast national team coach, replacing Bosnian [b]Vahid Halilhodzic[/b].

Eriksson, who lost out to Swedish compatriot [b]Lars Lagerback[/b] for the vacant Nigeria job, had resigned as director of soccer at debt-ridden English fourth division club Notts County in February.

Ivory Coast is considered the most talented of the six African teams headed to the World Cup but disappointed at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37358/eriksson-to-lead-ivory-coasts-elephants.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37358/eriksson-to-lead-ivory-coasts-elephants.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Beasley and Edu go distance in Scottish FA Cup loss

[/size][b][size=1]March 24th, 2010 6:13PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] [b]DaMarcus Beasley [/b]and[b] Maurice Edu[/b] both started for Rangers in its 1-0 loss at Dundee United that knocked it out of the Scottish FA Cup and ended its bid for a treble. In England, Clint Dempsey's Fulham fell to Tottentham, 3-1, in their quarterfinal replay in the FA Cup.

[color=#FF0000]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]Brad Friedel[/b], 90 minutes (Aston Villa, 1-1, vs. Sunderland)[b]
Tim Howard[/b], 90 minutes (Everton, 2-0, at Man. City)

[color=#FF0000]ENGLAND, Premier Championship
[/color][b]Jay DeMerit[/b], 90 minutes (Watford, 1-2, at Sheffield Wed.)

[color=#FF0000]ENGLAND, FA Cup[/color]
[b]Clint Dempsey[/b], sub: 21 minutes (Fulham, 1-3, at Tottenham)

[color=#FF0000]SCOTLAND, FA Cup[/color]
[b]DaMarcus Beasley[/b], 90 minutes (Rangers, 0-1, at Dundee United)[b]
Maurice Edu[/b], 90 minutes (Rangers, 0-1, at Dundee United) [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37374/beasley-and-edu-go-distance-in-scottish-fa-cup-los.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37374/beasley-and-edu-go-distance-in-scottish-fa-cup-los.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Michael Bradley breaks nose

[/size][b][size=1]March 24th, 2010 4:36PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] [b]Michael Bradley[/b] broke his nose in practice at German club Borussia Moenchengladbach but could return to training next week.

Bradley, the son of U.S. national team coach [b]Bob Bradley[/b], was already scheduled to miss Sunday’s Bundeslida game against Hamburg.

He was suspended for having picked up his fifth yellow card. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37373/michael-bradley-breaks-nose.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37373/michael-bradley-breaks-nose.html[/url]

[JC]

I wish the WC would just get here already..

[MAGICTOUCH]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Charlie Davies is 'closer and closer to being back'

[/size][b][size=1]March 26th, 2010 6:08PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] [b]Charlie Davies[/b] says the next three weeks will be important in his bid to return to action this season with French club Sochaux and hopefully make the U.S. World Cup team. [b]
[/b]
He has resumed training at Sochaux and spoke on Friday, five months after the serious car accident in Virginia that left him with multiple injuries, and said he is "closer and closer to being back."

"It's great to prove people wrong," he said. "It just adds more fuel to the fire when people tell me, `There's no way you're going to be back for Sochaux this season. There's no way you're going to be in the World Cup.' It really speaks volumes to how much I want it."

Since returning to France and completing a rehab program, Davies started an individual training program.

"I've done technical training," he said. "Just individual, not team stuff. I don't have any pain anymore. That's a big positive. I'd say the most difficult is maybe just to get fit again. I started running, and it was difficult just to get my fitness back. But I'd say in three days I already got it back. I can run now without getting so tired." [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37406/charlie-davies-is-closer-and-closer-to-being-back.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37406/charlie-davies-is-closer-and-closer-to-being-back.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]U.S. national team weekend: Jozy wins in return

[/size][b][size=1]March 27th, 2010 6:05PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color][b]Jozy Altidore [/b]returned to the Hull City lineup and helped the Tigers win, 2-0, at Fulham to pull even with West Ham in the relegation zone. Altidore was taken down for the penalty -- a clumsy challenge by Fulham's [b]Chris Smalling[/b] -- that led to the first goal.
With [b]Jonathan Spector [/b]again starting on the backline, the Hammers fell at home to Stoke City. The 1-0 loss may mean the end for West Ham manager [b]Gianfranco Zola[/b].

Elsewhere, [b]Brad Friedel[/b] endured a long day in goal as Aston Villa lost to Chelsea, 7-1.

[b]Steve Cherundolo[/b] also suffered a lop-sided loss, but the right back scored Hannover 96's only goal with a 20-yard free kick in a 4-1 defeat to Cologne FC.

The only other American starter besides Altidore to win on Saturday was [b]Jose Francisco Torres[/b], who went 70 minutes in Pachuca's 1-0 victory over Morelia.

[color=#FF0000]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]Jozy Altidore[/b], 79 minutes (Hull City, 2-0, at Fulham)
[b]Clint Dempsey[/b], 90 minutes (Fulham, 0-2, vs. Hull City)[b]
[/b][b]Brad Friedel[/b], 90 minutes (Aston Villa, 1-7, vs. Chelsea)
[b]Marcus Hahnemann[/b], 90 minutes (Wolves, 0-0, vs. Everton)
[b]Tim Howard[/b], 90 minutes (Everton, 0-0, at Wolves)
[b]Jonathan Spector[/b], 90 minutes (West Ham, 0-1, vs. Stoke City)

[color=#FF0000]ENGLAND[/color][color=#FF0000], Championship League[/color]
[b]Jay DeMerit[/b], 90 minutes (Watford, 1-1 vs. Middlesbrough)[b]
[/b]

[color=#FF0000]GERMANY, Bundesliga 1[/color]
[b]Steve Cherundolo[/b], 90 minutes (Hannover, 1-4, vs. FC Cologne)

[color=#FF0000]MEXICO, Torneo Bicentenario[/color]
[b]Edgar Castillo[/b], 35 minutes (Tigres, 0-1, vs. Toluca)[b]
[/b][b]Jose Francisco Torres[/b], 70 minutes (Pachuca, 1-0, vs. Morelia)

[color=#FF0000]SCOTLAND, Premier League[/color]


[b]Maurice Edu[/b], sub: 27 minutes (Rangers, 4-1, at Hearts) [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37415/us-national-team-weekend-jozy-wins-in-return.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37415/us-national-team-weekend-jozy-wins-in-return.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][size="5"]U.S. national team weekend[/size][/color][/color]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][b] [/b][/color][/color]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"] [b][size="1"]March 29th, 2010 12:24AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]

[color="#FF0000"][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color][b] Carlos Bocanegra[/b] made it four wins in four games in March with French club Rennes when it beat Le Mans, 3-1, in Sunday. [b]Freddy Adu[/b] and [b]Eddie Johnson[/b] both started for Aris in its 1-0 victory over Levadiakos in Greece's Super League. Here's how U.S. national team players did in weekend action abroad, including video of [b]Steve Cherundolo[/b]'s goal for Hannover ...

[color="#FF0000"]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]Jozy Altidore[/b], 79 minutes (Hull City, 2-0, at Fulham)
[b]Clint Dempsey[/b], 90 minutes (Fulham, 0-2, vs. Hull City)[b]
[/b][b]Brad Friedel[/b], 90 minutes (Aston Villa, 1-7, vs. Chelsea)
[b]Marcus Hahnemann[/b], 90 minutes (Wolves, 0-0, vs. Everton)
[b]Tim Howard[/b], 90 minutes (Everton, 0-0, at Wolves)
[b]Jonathan Spector[/b], 90 minutes (West Ham, 0-1, vs. Stoke City)

[color="#FF0000"]ENGLAND[/color][color="#FF0000"], Championship League[/color]
[b]Jay DeMerit[/b], 90 minutes (Watford, 1-1 vs. Middlesbrough)[b]
[/b]

[color="#FF0000"]FRANCE, Ligue 1
[/color][color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Carlos Bocanegra[/b], 90 minutes (Rennes, 3-1, at Le Mans)

[color="#FF0000"]GERMANY, Bundesliga 1[/color]
[b]Steve Cherundolo[/b], 90 minutes (1 goal) (Hannover, 1-4, vs. FC Cologne)

[color="#FF0000"]GREECE, Super League[/color]
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Freddy Adu[/b], 90 minutes (Aris, 1-0, vs. Levadiakos)
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Eddie Johnson[/b], 62 minutes (Aris, 1-0, vs. Levadiakos)

[color="#FF0000"]MEXICO, Torneo Bicentenario[/color]
[b]Edgar Castillo[/b], 35 minutes (Tigres, 0-1, vs. Toluca)[b]
[/b][color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Hercules Gomez,[/b] sub: 31 minutes (1 goal) (Puebla, 2-1, vs. Club America)[b]
Jose Francisco Torres[/b], 70 minutes (Pachuca, 1-0, vs. Morelia)

[color="#FF0000"]NORWAY, Tippeligaen[/color]
[b]Clarence Goodson[/b], 90 minutes (Start, 1-1, vs. Molde)

[color="#FF0000"]SCOTLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]Maurice Edu[/b], sub: 27 minutes (Rangers, 4-1, at Hearts) [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37424/us-national-team-weekend-video.html"]http://www.soccerame...kend-video.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Gomez makes it seven goals in last nine games[/size]

[b][size=1]March 29th, 2010 12:13AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color][b]Herculez Gomez[/b] scored his seventh goal of the season, all in the last nine games, to lead Puebla to a 2-1 win over Club America Sunday in Mexico's Torneo Bicentenario. The Las Vegas product is now tied for second place in the league behind only rising Guadalajara star [b]Javier Hernandez[/b].Mexico national team star [b]Guillermo Ochoa [/b]was at fault on the goal, a free kick that he failed to hold on to.

Former MLS star [b]Carlos Ruiz[/b] had the first goal for Puebla, which won for only the third time in 12 games. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37423/gomez-makes-it-seven-goals-in-last-nine-games-vid.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37423/gomez-makes-it-seven-goals-in-last-nine-games-vid.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

I'm sure whatever it is, he will be ready for the WC. However, take away England's most dangerous player and our match becomes quite interesting.


[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]An anxious nation awaits the results of Rooney ankle scan ...

[/size][b][size=1]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size=1]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size=1], March 30th, 2010 4:45PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000] [UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] [/color]To his detriment, [b]Wayne Rooney[/b] was everywhere at Allianz Arena Tuesday night.He scored the first goal for Manchester United -- his 34th of the season -- after only two minutes, had [b]Franck Ribery[/b]'s free kick deflect off him for the Bayern Munich equalizer an hour and a quarter later and was desperately trying to help protect the away tie when [b]Mario Gomez[/b] accidentally stepped on his foot in the Bayern half in the dying seconds of stoppage time.

Not only did United lose the game on the ensuing play, but Rooney went down with an ankle injury. According to midday reports out of England on Wednesday, he might be sidelined for as long as a month, though the extent of the damage to his ligaments won't be known until after an MRI is performed.

The Bayern Munich-Manchester United match in the quarterfinals of the Champions League brought back memories of their meeting in the 1999 final won by United on two late goals. On Tuesday, history repeated itself -- only in reverse.

Bayern deservedly won, 2-1, on two late goals, the second by Croatia[b]Ivica Olic[/b] in stoppage time.

Rooney was injured when [b]Mario Gomez[/b] accidentally stepped on Rooney's left foot, forcing the Englishman to land awkwardly on his right ankle in the Bayern half. The United star had to be helped off the field and left Allianz Arena on crutches.

His foot was in a protective boot and will be scanned on Wednesday.

There were concerns that Rooney could face a layoff of up to six weeks -- long enough that he'd miss the rest of the Premier League but short enough that he could come back for the World Cup and England's opener against the USA on June 12.

"He's obviously hurt his ankle," said United manager [b]Alex Ferguson[/b] immediately after the game. "It's too early to say. I don't think it's terribly serious."

Images of the grimacing Rooney being helped off the field, and England fans waited nervously results of a MRI on his injured foot -- the 12th leg or foot injury of his career.

"Not since Cinderella has so much rested on one foot," said the Daily Mail. "Pray," declared the Sun. "England's worst nightmare," added the Times.

Olic scored when he stole the ball from French defender [b]Patrice Evra[/b] in the penalty area after Gomez's initial charge was stopped. Olic moved to his left before beating goalie [b]Edwin van der Saar[/b].

The goal concluded a wild final minutes to the match that included a header by [b]Nemanja Vidic[/b] off the Bayern crossbar and a several Bayern chances.

Frenchman [b]Franck Ribery[/b], who had an excellent game, equalized for Bayern on a free kick that deflected off Rooney in the 77th minute.

Rooney scored for United in the second minute. It was his 34th goal of the season.

Ferguson bemoaned United's failure to hold on to the ball.

"The first goal was a bit of luck with a deflection but the last goal, I don't know how you describe it. The game was done and we gave a terrible goal away."

He still feels the series is winnable.

"Old Trafford will be a different game, obviously," he added. "We will be much better, no doubt about that, and hopefully we can recover. We have the away goal and we'll go out to win the game."

[/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37457/an-anxious-nation-awaits-the-results-of-rooney-ank.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37457/an-anxious-nation-awaits-the-results-of-rooney-ank.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[size=5]Glasgow Rangers routed

[/size][b][size=1]March 30th, 2010 12AM[/size][/b]


[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color]Midfielder [b]Maurice Edu[/b] came on at halftime for Glasgow Rangers but couldn't help sway the momentum as his team suffered its worst loss of the season. In England, [b]Jay DeMerit[/b]and [b]Kenny Cooper[/b] saw action for their second division teams.

Edu entered with Rangers down 3-1 in the 4-1 loss to seventh-place St Johnstone. Rangers still holds a 10 point lead over second-place Celtic.

DeMerit went the distance as 21st-place Watford fell, 3-1, to relegation threatened Crystal Palace, for which former MLS star Stern John opened the scoring. [b]Kenny Cooper[/b] was a late Plymouth Argyle sub in a scoreless game with Barnsley. Plymouth is in second-to-last place.

It was Cooper’s fifth appearance, all off the bench, since arriving from Germany’s 1860 Munich in January. The striker has yet to score.

[b]SCOTLAND, Premier League
Maurice Edu[/b], sub: 44 minutes (Rangers, 1-4, at St. Johnstone)

[b]ENGLAND, League Championship
Kenny Cooper[/b], 12 minutes (Plymouth Argyle 0-0, vs. Barnsley
[b]Jay DeMerit[/b], 90 minutes (Watford, 1-3, vs. Crystal Palace)[/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37469/glasgow-rangers-routed.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37469/glasgow-rangers-routed.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

Interesting concept.

[quote]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif"][font="arial"][size="4"][font="Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif"][size="3"][font="inherit"][size="4"][b][font="Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif"][size="3"]
[b][size="5"]Sponsors flock to Spain's national soccer team[/size][/b]
[color="#666666"][font="inherit"][size="3"][font="inherit"] [/font][font="inherit"][size="1"]By [/size][b][size="1"]Al Goodman[/size][/b][size="1"], CNN Madrid Bureau Chief[/size][/font][/size][/font][/color][/size][/font][/b][/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"][/size][/font][font="inherit"][size="4"][/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"][b]Madrid, Spain (CNN)[/b] -- Spain is a perennial underachiever at the World Cup. It's been in the competition 12 times before yet never finished higher than fourth place, and that was in 1950.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]But this time in South Africa could be very different.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]Spain heads into this World Cup as a firm favorite to win. It's ranked number one by FIFA and is the defending European champion, having beaten Germany to win Euro 2008.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]And sponsors are flocking to the Spanish team like never before.[/size][/font]

[/size][/font][/size][/font][/font]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif"][font="arial"][size="4"]In 2008, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona were seen as the only big football showcases here. Now Spain's national side is even a bigger draw," says Jesus Samper, president of Grupo Santa Monica Sports, which manages the Spanish team's rights for Spain's football federation.[/size][/font][font="inherit"][size="4"]When Spain recently beat France -- in Paris -- the game had a 48 percent rating on Spanish television, with 9 million viewers, almost half of everyone watching TV at that time, Samper said.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"][url="http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/worldcup/"]World Cup Special[/url][/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]The team already has raked in $80 million from sponsors and TV rights, Samper said. "It's the first time that the Spanish team have really the opportunity to win the World Cup, and we want to be part of it," said Rami Aboukhair, marketing director of Spain's Banesto bank, which is a new sponsor of the team.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]The bank has launched a new credit card -- red like the team's jersey. Clients who spend a certain amount on the card can get an official team jersey for free.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]The bank in February and March also collected more than a billion dollars in new deposits on the promise they would earn 3 percent interest now, but 4 percent if Spain becomes World champion, Aboukhair said.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]Banesto estimates it will cost the bank about $13 million in extra interest payments --- to reach the 4 percent mark -- if the team wins it all in South Africa, Aboukhair said.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]Another relatively new sponsor is Chevrolet, a well-known brand in America but which is practically brand new in Spain.[/size][/font]

[font="inherit"][size="4"]Chevrolet has just a 2 percent market share in Spain, but hopes to break into the top 10 brands by sales locally, in part through its association with the team, says Joaquin Torres, Chevrolet's public relations manager in Spain.[/size][/font]

[/font][font="arial"][size="4"]TV ads show stars of the team, in their red jerseys, driving Chevrolets, which the company is not giving away for free.[/size][/font] [/quote]




[url="http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/03/30/spain.world.cup.sponsor/?hpt=C2"]http://edition.cnn.c...sponsor/?hpt=C2[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Feilhaber returns, Tracy finished for season at AGF

[/size][b][size=1]April 1st, 2010 1:20AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] [b]Benny Feilhaber[/b] returned to action for Danish club AGF Aarhus, making his first appearance of the spring season in its 4-0 victory over Esbjerg on Wednesday. Meanwhile, fellow American [b]Marcus Tracy[/b] will miss the rest of AGF's 2010 Superligaen season with knee problems.

Feilhaber hurt his ankle in training with AGF Aarhus on Feb. 15. At first, it was thought he'd only be sidelined for two weeks, but he ended up missing six weeks.

Like Feilhaber, Tracy was called in to the January national team training camp, but he had to head back to Denmark early because of knee tendinitis. He had been receiving treatment on both knees before arriving at the Home Depot Center.

If healthy, Feilhaber should make the U.S. World Cup team. Tracy's knee problems kept him from making his U.S. international debut. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37478/feilhaber-returns-tracy-finished-for-season-at-ag.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37478/feilhaber-returns-tracy-finished-for-season-at-ag.html[/url]

[JC]

How far has Kenny Cooper fallen. Going from MLS star, to scoring a few for 1860, to playing twelve minutes in a second tier league.

Sucks.

[MAGICTOUCH]

Regardless, Ching will be on the 23. He has incriminating photos of Daddy Bradley with some Euro-Trash skank when the team was over in Europe. Ching and BornSuck are blackmailing him.


[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]World Cup hopeful Ching injured

[/size][b][size=1]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size=1]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size=1], April 2nd, 2010 2:57AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[color=#FF0000][MLS][/color] [b]Brian Ching[/b], who overcame injury problems, to put himself back in contention for a berth on the U.S. World Cup team, left the Houston Dynamo's game against Real Salt Lake in Thursday night with a hamstring strain. It remains to be seen how serious the injury and whether it might jeopardize his chances of making the U.S. World Cup team.

Ching left the game in the 30th minute after suffering the injury on a sprint toward the RSL goal. He clutched his his left hamstring and was helped off the field.

[b]UPDATE: [/b]Dynamo spokesman [b]Lester Gretsch[/b][url="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-04-02-1627936670_x.htm"] told[/url] the Associated Press Friday that Ching will be out at minimum of a few weeks but the projected length of the layoff won't be known until early next week. Team doctors re-evaluated Ching on Friday, but no MRI was taken because of the Good Friday holiday.

“I felt a pretty strong pull in the left hamstring,” Ching[url="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/6940671.html"] said [/url]in a statement to the Houston Chronicle. “Now it’s going to be a number of weeks before I’m back on the field again. But I’m going to do everything in my power to get back on the field as soon as possible.”

The Dynamo was trailing, 1-0, when Ching left the game. It went on to win, 2-1, on a pair of [b]Brad Davis[/b] penalty kicks. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37507/world-cup-hopeful-ching-injured.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37507/world-cup-hopeful-ching-injured.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

If you're a US MNT fan, you got to get excited about having a healthy Deuce in South Africa. [img]http://forum.go-bengals.com/public/style_emoticons/default/music_mini.gif[/img]


[quote]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][size="5"]Dempsey helps Fulham down Wolfsburg

[/size][b][size="1"]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size="1"]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size="1"], April 1st, 2010 5:17PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]

[color="#FF0000"][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color]With [b]Clint Dempsey[/b] leading way, Fulham defeated German champion Wolfsburg, 2-1, in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal series.

Dempsey was involved in both goals, feeding [b]Bobby Zamora[/b] for the first goal in the 59th minute and making the initial pass in the buildup to [b]Damien Duff[/b]'s goal four minutes later.

Dempsey had three chances of his own during the game but did not connect.

"I thought we dominated both halves," Dempsey [url="http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/matches/season=2010/round=2000040/match=2000955/postmatch/quotes/"]said[/url] afterwards. "We had most of the possession and took the game more to them than they took it to us. We could have possibly won 3-0 if a few shots had gone our way. I had a shot that was going far post but was deflected that looked like it was going to go in. [b]Zoltan [Gera[/b]] had a good chance that was deflected. We were more dangerous throughout the game and I thought the better team won."

The second leg will be played Thursday at Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37490/dempsey-helps-fulham-down-wolfsburg.html"]http://www.soccerame...-wolfsburg.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Herculez Gomez strikes again
[size="5"][size=5]
[/size][/size][/size][b][size=1]April 4th, 2010 2:46AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color][b]Herculez Gomez[/b] continued one of the hottest streaks ever by an American abroad, scoring his eighth goal of the season, all in the last 10 games, to give Puebla a 1-1 tie at Morelia Saturday in Mexico's Torneo Bicentenario.

The Las Vegas product scored only six minutes after entering the game in the second half. He got on the end of a long diagonal pass from midfield and scored on a low shot with his left foot to the far post.

He is in second place in the league behind only rising Guadalajara star [b]Javier Hernandez[/b]. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37524/herculez-gomez-strikes-again-video.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37524/herculez-gomez-strikes-again-video.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Edu leads Rangers past Hamilton

[/size][b][size=1]April 3rd, 2010 2:13PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color][b]Maurice Edu[/b]'s left-footed goal from close range gave Rangers a 1-0 win over visiting Hamilton on Saturday the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.

Only a minute earlier, Edu had hit the post from 35 yards.

Rangers now leads second-place Celtic by 13 points. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37518/edu-leads-rangers-past-hamilton.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37518/edu-leads-rangers-past-hamilton.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]

[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]U.S. national team weekend

[/size][b][size=1]April 3rd, 2010 3:05PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color]Perhaps the best performance by an American on Saturday came in a losing effort as goalie [b]Marcus Hahnemann [/b]was excellent for Wolves and unlucky not to escape the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal with a shutout. Dane [b]Nicklas Bendtner[/b]'s goal in the 90th minute gave Arsenal a 1-0 win. Here's how U.S. national team players did in weekend action abroad ...

[color=#FF0000]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]Jozy Altidore, [/b]sub: 25 minutes (Hull City, 0-2, at Stoke City)[b]
[/b][b]Brad Friedel[/b], 90 minutes (Aston Villa, 1-0, at Bolton Wanderers)
[b]Marcus Hahnemann[/b], 90 minutes (Wolves, 0-1, at Arsenal)
[b]
[/b][color=#FF0000]ENGLAND, League Championship
[/color][b]Kenny Cooper[/b], sub: 9 minutes (Plymouth, 2-1, at Doncaster)[b]
[/b]
[color=#FF0000]FRANCE, Ligue 1
[/color][b]Carlos Bocanegra[/b], 90 minutes (Rennes, 1-2, vs. Lyon)

[color=#FF0000]GERMANY, Bundesliga 1[/color]
[b]Michael Bradley[/b], 88 minutes (Bor. M'Gladbach, 1-2, at VfB Stuttgart)[b]
[/b]
[color=#FF0000]MEXICO, Torneo Bicentenario[/color]
[b]Herculez Gomez[/b], sub: 45 minutes (1 goal) (Puebla, 1-1, at Morelia)[b]
Jose Francisco Torres[/b], 90 minutes (Pachuca, 2-1, at Indios)

[color=#FF0000]SCOTLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]Maurice Edu[/b], 90 minutes (1 goal) (Rangers, 1-0, vs. Hamilton) [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37519/us-national-team-weekend.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37519/us-national-team-weekend.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]U.S. national team weekend

[/size][b][size=1]April 5th, 2010 12:52AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] [b]Tim Howard[/b] saved a penalty kick by Egyptian[b]Mido[/b] in the first half of Everton's 2-2 tie with West Ham. [b]Jonathan Spector[/b] played the entire game for the Hammers, who moved a point outside the relegation zone. [b]Clint Dempsey[/b] also played 90 minutes for Fulham, which beat Wigan, 2-1. Here's how U.S. national team players did in weekend action abroad ...
[color=#FF0000]
[/color][color=#FF0000]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color][b]
[/b][color=#FF0000]Sunday: [/color][b]Clint Dempsey[/b], 90 minutes (Fulham, 2-1, vs. Wigan)
[color=#FF0000]Sunday: [/color][b]Tim Howard[/b], 90 minutes (Everton, 2-2, vs. West Ham)
[color=#FF0000]Sunday: [/color][b]Jonathan Spector[/b], 90 minutes (West Ham, 2-2, at Everton)

[color=#FF0000]DENMARK, Super Ligaen
[/color][color=#FF0000]Sunday: [/color][b]Benny Feilhaber[/b], sub: 74 minutes (AGF, 0-0, vs. Randers)
[color="#FF0000"]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000]GERMANY, Bundesliga 1[/color]
[b][color=#FF0000]Sunday: [/color]Steve Cherundolo[/b], 90 minutes (Hannover, 0-0, at Hamburg) [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37528/us-national-team-weekend.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37528/us-national-team-weekend.html[/url]