The Official 2010 Pre- World Cup Thread

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[b][size=5]French soccer rattled by ‘escort girl’[/size][/b]
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[color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif][size=2]PARIS (AP)—A young woman says she had paid sex with several players on France’s World Cup team, adding that none of her customers knew she was under 18 years old at the time.Zahia Dehar, now 18, said in an interview published Thursday by the French weekly magazine Paris Match the stars included Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and Sidney Govou.

The players have testified to police and could face up to three years in prison and a $60,000 fine if found guilty. Prostitution is legal in France, but prostitutes must be over 18, and clients are liable if they are not.

The case is at the judicial inquiry stage and no charges have been filed. None of the players publicly commented on Dehar’s allegations Thursday. France opens World Cup play June 11 against Uruguay.

“I never told anybody I was a minor,” Dehar told Paris Match. She said she had been paid for sex since she was 16 when she began partying in Paris nightclubs and charged customers about $2,650 a night.

She contended in the interview she is not a prostitute but an “escort girl” because she didn’t belong to a network or a pimp and sometimes chose not to have sex with customers she didn’t like.

Dehar said she has cooperated with police because they threatened to revoke her French citizenship. Born in Algeria, Dehar said she and her family obtained French nationality in 2009. She said her family never knew she worked in nightclubs, thinking she was spending nights at a friend’s house.

[/size][/font][/color][color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif][size=2]Dehar said she initially became an escort to save money to buy a beauty parlor.[/size][/font][/color] [/quote]



[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-france-prostitution"]http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-france-prostitution[/url]

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=5]U.S. Soccer CEO sees progress amid challenges[/size][/font]
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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]Dan Flynn is the most important man in U.S. Soccer you've probably never heard of.[/size][/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]As CEO/Secretary General of the Chicago-based U.S. Soccer Federation, Flynn runs the day-to-day operations of the business, working to develop the national-team programs and coordinating the Federation's efforts with the professional soccer leagues here, including MLS and WPS. He prefers to stay out of the limelight, a strategic decision to make sure there is a consistent message coming from the Federation's communications department and USSF President Sunil Gulati.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]"He (Gulati) clearly is the spokesperson and provides the vision and the strategy as well with our board as to where the Federation ought to be played as well," Flynn said.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]But just more than 40 days removed from the men's World Cup, there are few better people to talk to about the state of American soccer than Dan Flynn.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]In 10 years at the helm of the Federation, Flynn has seen the sport grow in this country, with the development of the pro leagues, the successes of the national teams at tournaments like last year's Confederations Cup, the soccer-specific stadiums in MLS, and the increase in the number of games shown on TV. Still, it's far from a finished product.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]"The sport continues to be in its growth mode," Flynn said.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]TV represents one of the all-important barometers of the sport's growth.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]"Our TV ratings for our sport, as a national team they've grown and in other areas they've grown, but they're not to the level we want them to be," Flynn said.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]So when will the sport realize its potential? When will hype meet reality?[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]"What I try to do, and I am often asked that question, is I think our sport is relevant. And I think the challenge is how do we become relevant 365 days a year," he said.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]Part of the way to make it more relevant is to attract the fan of foreign soccer leagues to domestic teams, to convince a Manchester United fan living in Chicago to give the Chicago Fire a serious look.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]"The one area that I'd like to see is the continued growth of that average fan connecting with and watching Major League Soccer or watching and following the men's and women's national teams. That's one area that everybody is trying to work hard at, trying to figure out what's the best way to connect that fan, that consumer," he said.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]For the national teams, and possibly even MLS, the answer is simple.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]"Winning on the field certainly helps. Let's put it that way," he said with a laugh.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]The next big chance to attract new fans is June's World Cup. Some U.S. success can go a long way. But it will take much more than one tournament to make soccer the major American sport its leaders dream of, or even to make it so the United States can play Mexico in front of a pro-U.S. crowd.[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]"We talk about it a lot," Flynn said. "I think to be pretty direct, we've got to grind it out. We've got to win every fan over. It's a little bit like a consumer product. You have to stay with it, you have to grind it out in the market place."[/size][/font] [/quote]



[url="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=376737"]http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=376737[/url]

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[b][size=5]New Zealand Thinking About Taking Four Goalkeepers To South Africa[/size][/b]
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[color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif][size=2]New Zealand are contemplating taking four goalkeepers to the 2010 World Cup.

The All Whites situation stems from the fact that number one goalkeeper Glen Moss is suspended for the opening two matches of Group F after serving just two matches of a four-match ban handed out for swearing at a referee during qualification.



Number two is Mark Paston and number three is James Bannatyne.



Coach Ricki Herbert is worried that if the two goalkeepers get injured then New Zealand could be without a man between the sticks for their biggest games since the 1982 World Cup.



The New Zealand media suggests that Auckland City’s Jacob Spoonley could be next in line.



"It's a tough one with Glen [Moss]. He's not not available for the World Cup,” Herbert said according to the [i]New Zealand Herald[/i].



“I think it's a pretty tough ban but we've been down that path, and with his age and his ability, he's certainly going to be in the forefront in the future."



[/size][/font][/color][color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif][size=2]"The biggest fear for me at the moment is injuries. You just don't need them. I don't want to single anyone out, but you certainly don't need them to key players."[/size][/font][/color] [/quote]



[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=goal-newzealandthinkingabouttaki"]http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=goal-newzealandthinkingabouttaki[/url]

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Picture of new MNT home white jersey at this link. US Soccer doesn't want the article copy and pasted. [img]http://forum.go-bengals.com/public/style_emoticons/default/boese035.gif[/img]



[url="http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2010/04/US-Mens-National-Team-Unveils-Home-Uniform.aspx"]http://www.ussoccer....me-Uniform.aspx[/url]

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[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][size="5"]Bob Bradley: 'The team picks the team'

[/size][b][size="1"]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size="1"]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size="1"], April 30th, 2010 12:43AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]

[color="#FF0000"][USA] [/color]Just 16 days before players are supposed to begin reporting to camp for final preparations for the World Cup, U.S. national team coach [b]Bob Bradley[/b] is still not sure just how many of the spots on the 23-player roster are secure ("somewhere between 16 and 18, some days a little higher") and just how many players will be invited to the camp ("we're probably thinking more along the lines of 26 to 28 guys in").

According to FIFA's rules for the 2010 World Cup, Bradley must submit a 30-player short list by May 11 and a 23-player final roster by June 1.

Bradley was speaking at a U.S. Soccer event at New York's Niketown, where the new U.S. home uniform was unveiled.

His uncertainty relates in part to the number of key players who have been injured or have not been playing regularly for their clubs and the number of players who have not been a part of the national team during World Cup qualifying but have enjoyed excellent springs.

While he acknowledged he and his staff will need to make some difficult decisions in the next couple of weeks, he was confident the right decisions will be made.

"There's an old expression that the team picks the team," he said. "That's pretty true because usually things establish themselves pretty well. Players know who are the ones that should be there, and that kind of thing."

The most publicized case involves [b]Charlie Davies[/b], who has made a remarkable comeback after the car accident six months ago in which he almost died and sustained numerous injuries.

Bradley praised Davies' recovery effort and noted how important returning for the World Cup has been as motivation but said the national team staff must assess how far along he is.

"There's going to be a decision on our end that is simply about the World Cup," said Bradley.

Bradley on other players:

-- Central defender [b]Oguchi Onyewu[/b], who hasn't played since tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee the day after Davies' car accident and hasn't played for AC Milan since:

"Our expectation is that it may be hard for him at the end of the year to get back into the team there, play games, but certainly good news just in terms of regular training."

-- Schalke midfielder [b]Jermaine Jones[/b], who has been sidelined with a shin injury this season, preventing him from playing for the USA since FIFA cleared his request to change affiliations from Germany:

"If it's not going to happen for the summer, he may need to have another surgical procedure that would then get him back in time for the start of the season next year. We're at that sort of cross in the road. We'll know in the next week whether there's any hope."

-- Houston Dynamo striker [b]Brian Ching[/b], who injured his left hamstring four weeks ago and hasn't resumed full training:

"Again, a guy that in the next two weeks we have to assess."

-- Glasgow Rangers midfielder [b]DaMarcus Beasley[/b], who hasn't played in the Scottish Premier League in the last six months:

"DaMarcus has been tricky in this last year. He had some very good games in December, got back into the team and I think did well. And since then it's been up and down, more down certainly of late."

Bradley also talked about the Los Angeles Galaxy's [b]Edson Buddle[/b] and Puebla's [b]Herculez Gomez[/b], who have enjoyed hot streaks. He said the success of both players, who have limited experience with the national team, was consistent with the form they enjoyed earlier in their careers.

Regarding Buddle, who has scored all seven Galaxy goals this season, "The easy thing to see so far this year is that he scored some incredible goals. That actually fits if you look back over Edson's career. As a young striker in the league, his talent came through based upon his ability at times to score some great goals — a variety of goals, goals from outside the box, goals where he dribbled, goals with his head. I think that part is not new, but that's been there of late. And quickly I think there has been a lot of maturing that has taken place, so in less obvious ways he seems to be doing a lot of little things on the field that make a difference for his team."

As for Gomez, who tied for first in the Mexican First Division with 10 goals, "He came into the scene in LA and what you would say is everything he touched went into the net — his pure ability to strike a ball was pretty obvious. And I think that that's kind of come back again a little bit at Puebla."

Bradley also spoke about [b]Jozy Altidore[/b] following his red card last weekend that prematurely ended his English Premier League season.

"His experience this year at Hull, I think, has helped him," said Bradley. "There's been some good days. I remember for sure the game against Chelsea, where you could tell he was motivated that day. It was an extra edge in everything he did. I think that seeing that makes you feel good, tells you that some of the things that we've talked to Jozy about, things that he needs to do to keep growing, are happening. There are moments when it goes the other way."[/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37869/bob-bradley-the-team-picks-the-team.html"]http://www.soccerame...s-the-team.html[/url]

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[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][size="5"]Dempsey on the verge of history

[/size][b][size="1"]April 30th, 2010 1:14AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]

[color="#FF0000"][EUROPA LEAGUE] [/color]English club Fulham advanced to the final of the Europa League against Atletico Madrid thanks to a 2-1 win over Hamburg on Thursday that gave it an aggregate victory by the same score. [b]Clint Dempsey[/b], who played the last 31 minutes of the second leg at Craven Cottage, will become the first American-bred player to compete in a major European final if he plays in the May 12 game at Hamburg's Nordbank Arena.

Fulham looked to be trouble when [b]Mladen Petric[/b] put Hamburg ahead with a superb free kick from 30 yards in the first half. The meant that Fulham needed to score twice to win.

[b]Danny Murphy[/b] found [b]Simon Davies[/b] for a brilliant equalizer in the 69th minute, and Hungarian [b]Zoltan Gera[/b] put Fulham ahead six minutes later.

Fulham was on the verge of relegation two and a half years ago when [b]Roy Hodgson[/b] took over as manager and it finished seventh last season to qualify for the Europa League, the former UEFA Cup.

Its Europa League campaign began in July.

"The time at Fulham has been quite magical for me," Hodgson said. "I think we've made a major piece of history here tonight. That atmosphere is something I think we'll all remember for a long time. Tonight is a reward for the fans who have supported us so well over the last two years and it's certainly for all those really faithful Fulham fans who have seen some bad times through the years."

In the other semifinal, Uruguayan [b]Diego Forlan[/b]'s overtime goal was the difference for Atletico against Liverpool.

Liverpool won the game, 2-1, to even the series at 2-2 but lost on the away goal Atletico scored at Anfield.

[color="#FF0000"]April 29 in London[/color]
[b]Fulham 2 Hamburg 1. [/b]Goals: Davies 69, Gera 75; Petric 20.
[b]Fulham -- [/b]Schwarzer, Pantsil (Nevland, 75), Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky; Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Davies; Gera; Zamora (Dempsey, 57).
[b]Hamburg -- [/b]Rost, Demel, Boateng, Mathijsen, Aogo; Tesche (Rincon, 56; Guerrero, 79), Jarolim (Rozehnal, 90), Ze Roberto, Pitroipa; Petric, Van Nistelrooy.
[b]Referee: [/b]Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).[/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37870/dempsey-on-the-verge-of-history.html"]http://www.soccerame...of-history.html[/url]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Klinsmann hired by ESPN to work World Cup

[/size][b][size=1]April 29th, 2010 2:44PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[color=#FF0000][TELEVISION WATCH][/color] Former German star [b]Juergen Klinsmann[/b] won't be coaching the USA at the 2010 World Cup, as was once hoped, but he will be commenting on it for ESPN and ABC as a studio analyst during the finals.

Klinsmann, who coached Germany to third place in 2006, will appear on prematch, halftime and postgame shows from South Africa, and on “SportsCenter.”

“Very few people in the world possess the firsthand knowledge and experience of playing and coaching in a FIFA World Cup match,” said[b]Jed Drake[/b], ESPN executive producer for the World Cup, "and Juergen is one of them."

Klinsmann's most recent job was as head coach at Bayern Munich, a position that lasted less than a season. He will also be serving as an analyst for the BBC (UK) and Germany's RTL.

“I hope that I can give American viewers insight into the world’s greatest game," he said. "Living in the U.S. for more than 10 years, I’ve seen soccer grow incrementally, and I think ESPN’s coverage of this exciting World Cup will take it to a new level.”

Also hired by ESPN are former South African national team player [b]Shaun Bartlet[/b][b]t[/b], who played in the 1998 World Cup, and [b]Robbie Mustoe[/b], Middlesbrough’s longest-serving player.

They join previously announced analysts [b]Ruud Gullit[/b], [b]John Harkes[/b], [b]Alexi Lalas[/b], [b]Efan Ekoku [/b]and [b]Steve McManaman[/b]. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37862/klinsmann-hired-by-espn-to-work-world-cup.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37862/klinsmann-hired-by-espn-to-work-world-cup.html[/url]

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[font="Arial, sans-serif"][size="2"] [/size][/font][font="Arial, sans-serif"][size="2"][size="5"]Zimbabweans to protest N. Korean soccer team visit[/size][/size][/font][font="Arial, sans-serif"][size="2"]

[color="#676767"][size="1"]By CHENGETAI ZVAUYA (AP) – [/size][color="#000000"][size="1"]3 days ago[/size][/color][/color]
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HARARE, Zimbabwe — A Zimbabwean opposition group said Thursday it will protest against North Korean soccer players when they come to train here ahead of the World Cup because of North Korea's role in the massacres of tens of thousands of Zimbabweans in the 1980s.

Up to 40,000 civilians were massacred by an army brigade trained by North Korean instructors in western Zimbabwe's Matabeleland province during a five-year uprising.

"We have not forgiven them for that. We are totally opposed to the North Koreans coming to any part of Zimbabwe. We don't want them here. We are going to follow them (to Harare) and demonstrate against them," Methuseli Moyo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe African People's Union party, or ZAPU, told The Associated Press by phone.

North Korea's World Cup soccer team initially was to train in Bulawayo, in Matabeleland province. Zimbabwe Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi said the team now plans to train at a stadium in Harare, the capital, next month ahead of the tournament in neighboring South Africa. Mzembi denied the change of venue was politically motivated and said sporting facilities in Bulawayo were not adequate.

ZAPU, which is based in western Zimbabwe, said the whole affair has reopened wounds for families of victims massacred by troops loyal to President Robert Mugabe — a longtime ally of North Korea.

Troops were trained and commanded by North Koreans to crush the uprising after Zimbabwe won independence from colonial-era rule in 1980. Some human rights activists liken the five-year purge to genocide. Parts of Matabeleland were blocked from access to medicine and food during a drought.

The uprising ended when Mugabe signed a peace pact with ZAPU rebels and made party leader Joshua Nkomo a vice president in 1987.

Sports Minister David Coltart said Thursday the dates of the North Koreans' visit are still to be confirmed.

"It is important that the Zimbabwe government deals with this matter in a very sensitive way and does not ignore the history of North Korea here, and does not do anything that might inflame passions or reopen old wounds," he said.

But he added: "I don't think it is right to attack a group of young players for what happened 27 years ago in this country."

North Korea has qualified for its first World Cup since 1966 and will play Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast at the 2010 World Cup in what is probably the toughest of the eight competing groups.

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[font="Arial, sans-serif"][size="2"]Coltart described as speculation reports that North Korean team managers favored staying in Zimbabwe in the run-up to the World Cup amid fears some players might defect if they went elsewhere.[/size][/font] [/quote]



[url="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkSNZorkSrwpKbFIEOnu9H6yRYdAD9FCQTAO0"]http://www.google.co...6yRYdAD9FCQTAO0[/url]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Buddle makes World Cup case

[/size][b][size=1]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size=1]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size=1], May 2nd, 2010 6:45AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[color=#FF0000][MLS][/color] How can you leave [b]Edson Buddle[/b] off the U.S. World Cup team? The Los Angeles striker added two more goals, his eighth and ninth of the young MLS season, in the Galaxy's 3-1 with over Philadelphia. But as [b]Bob Bradley[/b] alluded to on Thursday, equally impressive about Buddle are "the little things on the field that make a difference for his team," like his assist 39 seconds into Saturday's match that makes him again No. 1 in our Saturday's Three Stars awards ...[color=#FF0000]Saturday's Three Stars[/color]

[color=#FF0000]1. EDSON BUDDLE (Los Angeles).[/color]

Scorer of the Los Angeles Galaxy's first seven goals of the season, Buddle turned provider 53 seconds into Saturday's game against Philadelphia, breaking through the Union backline and feeding [b]A.J. DeLaGarza[/b] at the far post for the first goal. Buddle then put the game away with two goals, the first an opportunistic finish in the penalty area and the second after being fed by [b]Landon Donovan[/b].

[color=#FF0000]2. LUIS ANGEL LANDIN (Houston).[/color]

The jury is still out on the young Mexican striker, signed on loan to a Designated Player contract last season, but he had arguably his best game with the Dynamo, scoring the first goal with a delicate chip and setting up [b]Bryan Mullan[/b] for the second goal in its 3-0 win over Kansas City. Landin's partnership with [b]Dominic Oduro[/b] clicked as they repeatedly broke open the Wizards' defense.

[color=#FF0000]3. CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI (San Jose).[/color]



Wondolowski scored his third goal in as many matches to give the Quakes a 1-0 victory over Colorado. He ran on to a feed from [b]Ryan Johnson[/b], let the ball bounce once and then struck a vicious left-footed shot that gave Rapids keeper [b]Matt Pickens[/b] no chance. The win was the Quakes' third in five games. It took them until their 14th game last year to get three wins. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37887/buddle-makes-world-cup-case.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37887/buddle-makes-world-cup-case.html[/url]

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

[/size][b][size="1"]May 1st, 2010 4:25PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]

[color="#FF0000"][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] All three U.S. keepers were in action in the English Premier League on Saturday, but only [b]Tim Howard[/b]'s Everton earned a point, tying Stoke City, 0-0, on the road.[b]Brad Friedel[/b]'s Aston Villa lost at Manchester City, 3-1. The result all but ended Villa's bid to claim fourth place -- which is worth a berth in next season's UEFA Champions League preliminary round.

[b]Marcus Hahnemann[/b]'s Wolves fell at Portsmouth, 3-1, but got avoided relegation when Burnley fell at Birmingham, 2-1.

[b]DaMarcus Beasley[/b] played his first Scottish Premier League game for champion Rangers in more than a month, coming on early in its 2-1 win at Dundee United. For all the Saturday action ...

[color="#FF0000"]DENMARK, Superligaen[/color] [b]Benny Feilhaber[/b], 71 minutes (AGF, 1-4 at Silkeborg)

[color="#FF0000"]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]Brad Friedel[/b], 90 minutes (Aston Villa, 1-3, at Man. City)[b]
[/b][b]Marcus Hahnemann[/b], 90 minutes (Wolves, 1-3, at Portsmouth)
[b]Tim Howard[/b], 90 minutes (Everton, 0-0 at Stoke City)

[color="#FF0000"]GERMANY, Bundesliga 1[/color]
[b]Michael Bradley[/b], 90 minutes (Borussia M'Gladbach, 1-6, at Hannover 96)
[b]Steve Cherundolo[/b], 90 minutes (Hannover, 6-1, vs. Borussia M'Gladbach)
[b]Ricardo Clark[/b], 90 minutes (Eintracht Frankfurt, 1-2, vs. Hoffenheim)

[color="#FF0000"]SCOTLAND, Premier League[/color]
[b]DaMarcus Beasley,[/b] sub: 62 minutes (Rangers, 2-1, at Dundee United)
[b]Maurice Edu[/b], 90 minutes (Rangers, 2-1 at Dundee United) [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37879/us-national-team-weekend.html"]http://www.soccerame...am-weekend.html[/url]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Altidore needs focus, says manager

[/size][b][size=1]May 2nd, 2010 2:38AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color]Hull City manager [b]Iain Dowie[/b] says U.S. striker[b]Jozy Altidore[/b], on loan this season from Villarreal, must focus on training harder and work on his "football intelligence" if he is to achieve his potential.Altidore is suspended for the rest of the English Premier League season following his red card on April 24 against Sunderland.

He finished with one goal in 28 EPL games. According to Dowie, "for the level of investment it's probably not enough."

"I've spoken to Jozy a number of times since I've been here and, if Jozy can train the way he plays, I think he's got a great opportunity but he needs to understand that it's that day in, day out," said Dowie. "He's a lovely, laid-back boy and there's no side to him but he needs to focus on training at a better level.[b] Kevin Kilbane[/b] keeps turning it out because he trains at that level, [b]Nicky Barmby[/b] can keep playing because he trains at that level. It's a different level than Jozy's used to training at and he's got to get used to it. He found the physicality of the Premier League very hard when he came in. He's got used to that now but he must not get comfortable."

Dowie, who he would not be surprised if Altidore would have a good World Cup, has lots of qualities.

"He's got the right attributes if he can play to his strengths," said Dowie, "and that is turning defenders and running at goal. He's a monster of an athlete but he's got to use that physicality, it's about imposing that."

Dowie said the key to a player's makeup was his mental approach, listing players such as [b]Teddy Sheringham[/b], [b]Alan Shearer[/b], [b]Paul Scholes[/b], [b]Ryan Giggs[/b] and [b]Wayne Rooney[/b], who are "two yards ahead of you in their head."



"Their football intelligence is bright," he said, "and I think that's also something probably Jozy needs to work on." [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37884/altidore-needs-focus-says-manager.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37884/altidore-needs-focus-says-manager.html[/url]

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[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Dempsey scores in Fulham victory

[/size][b][size=1]May 2nd, 2010 5:58PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] [b]Clint Dempsey [/b]scored his seventh English Premier League goal of the season and ninth overall in Fulham's 3-2 win over West Ham United on Sunday. The seven EPL goals match his season-high set in 2008-09. His nine goals are the most by a U.S. national team player in Europe this season. For all the U.S. goal scorers ...
[color=#FF0000]U.S. national team scorers (Europe 2009-10):[/color][b]
9 Dempsey[/b] (Fulham, England)
[b]4 Johnson[/b] (Aris, Greece)
[b]3 Bedoya[/b] (Orebro, Sweden)
[b]3 Cooper[/b] (1860 Munich, Germany)
[b]2 Adu[/b] (Aris, Greece)
[b]2 Beasley[/b] (Rangers, Scotland)
[b]2 Bradley[/b] (Borussia M'Gladbach, Germany)
[b]2 Davies[/b] (Sochaux, France)
[b]2 Donovan[/b] (Everton, England)
[b]2 Edu [/b](Rangers, Scotland)

[i](League and cup goals.)[/i] [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37889/dempsey-scores-in-fulham-victory.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37889/dempsey-scores-in-fulham-victory.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

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

[/size][b][size="1"]May 3rd, 2010 1:19AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]

[color="#FF0000"][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] [b]Freddy Adu [/b]and [b]Eddie Johnson[/b] started for Aris in its 2-0 loss at PAOK that all eliminated it from the UEFA Champions League playoffs in Greece's Super League. For all the weekend action ...

[color="#FF0000"]DENMARK, Superligaen[/color][b]
[/b][color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Michael Parkhurst[/b], 90 minutes (FC Nordsjaelland, 1-1, vs. Randers)

[color="#FF0000"]ENGLAND, Premier League[/color]
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Clint Dempsey[/b], 85 minutes (1 goal) (Fulham, 3-2, vs. West Ham)
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Jonathan Spector[/b], 90 minutes (West Ham, 2-3, at Fulham)

[color="#FF0000"]GERMANY, Bundesliga 2[/color]
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Luis Robles[/b], 90 minutes (Kaiserslautern, 2-2, at Koblenz)

[color="#FF0000"]GREECE, Super League Playoffs[/color]
[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Freddy Adu[/b], 67 minutes (Aris, 0-2, at PAOK)

[color="#FF0000"]Sunday: [/color][b]Eddie Johnson[/b], 90 minutes (Aris, 0-2, at PAOK) [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37894/us-national-team-weekend.html"]http://www.soccerame...am-weekend.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]U.S. opponent Algeria makes surprise picks

[/size][b][size=1]May 4th, 2010 10:43PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] [/color]Algeria, which will meet the USA in their third group match at the World Cup on June 23, selected seven uncapped players --including three for mer French youth internationals who will need FIFA clearance -- in its preliminary 25-player squad for the World Cup.

But Coach [b]Rabah Saadane[/b]'s biggest worry is the long list of injured players who'll need to be rehabilitated between now and June 5 when the Desert Foxes leave their training camp in Nuremberg, Germany, for South Africa.

Much of the coverage by the Algerian media of Tuesday's press conference concerned the medical and training staff Algeria had assembled to get its players fit. Saadane mentioned doctors from France, Italy, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"The fact that we qualified for the World Cup is in itself a good thing, considering we've been absent for 24 years," said Saadane. "We're going to do everything we can to make the second round. This goal will depend on our squad. For the time being, I don't know what squad I'll take to the World Cup. I'd like to work with the backbone of the team, but unfortunately there are many injured players like [b][Madjid] Bougherra[/b] (he's injured but not seriously),[b][Hassan] Yebda[/b], [b][Nadir] Belhadj[/b], [b][Yacine] Bezzaz[/b], [b][Hameur] Bouazza[/b], [b][Medhi] Lahcen[/b] (he's playing again at Racing Santander), [b]Mourad Meghni[/b]. These are all the key players on the national team. We are used to these sort of problems, though. We are going to overcome them, God willing."

Of the players Saadane mentioned, Bezzaz and Bouazza are not on his 25-player list.

The selections include former France under-21 captain [b]Carl Medjani[/b], defender [b]Habib Belaid[/b] and [b]Riad Boudebouz[/b]. Algeria's national team is loaded with players born in France to Algerian parents. Most began their international careers in the French national team system, but Algeria has taken advantage of FIFA's relaxed rules on players switching national teams to enlist players.

In the World Cup qualifying playoff against Egypt, the Fennecs started eight French-born players, including Meghni and Yebda, who won the 2001 Under-17 World Cup with France.

Other uncapped players are Wolves midfielder [b]Adlane Guedioura[/b], Valenciennes midfielder [b]Fouad Kadir[/b], Lecce defender [b]Djamel Mesbah[/b], and goalkeeper [b]Mbohi Rais Ouhed[/b], who plays in Bulgaria for Slavia Sofia.

[color=#FF0000]Algeria Roster:[/color]
[b]Goalkeepers: [/b]Fawzi Chaouchi (Entente Setif), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Mbohi Rais Ouheb (Slavia Sofia, Bulgaria), Mohamed Amine Zemmamouche (Mouloudia Algiers).
[b]Defenders: [/b]Habib Belaid (Boulogne-sur-Mer, France), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth, England), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers, Scotland), Rafik Halliche (Nacional, Portugal), Abdelkader Laifaoui (Entente Setif), Carl Medjani (Ajaccio, France), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce, Italy), Anthar Yahia (Bochum, Germany)
[b]Midfielders:[/b] Djamel Abdoun (Nantes, France), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux, France), Adlane Guedioura (Wolves, England), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes, France), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander, Spain), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient, France), Mourad Meghni (Lazio, Italy), Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth, England), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg, Germany).
[b]Forwards: [/b]Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens, Greece), Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena, Italy), Karim Matmour (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Rafik Saifi (Istres, France). [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37917/us-opponent-algeria-makes-surprise-picks.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37917/us-opponent-algeria-makes-surprise-picks.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Beasley absent again from Old Firm derby

[/size][b][size=1]May 5th, 2010 1:01AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color][b]Maurice Edu[/b] started for Rangers but there was no room for [b]DaMarcus Beasley[/b] on its bench for its final Old Firm derby of the 2009-10 season, won by Celtic, 2-1.

[b]Lee Naylor [/b]and [b]Marc-Antoine Fortune [/b]scored in the first half for Celtic, which won for the first time in four league games against Rangers, which had already clinched the Scottish Premier League title.

Edu had scored in stoppage time in Rangers' 1-0 win in late February for the win that broke open the league race.

Beasley had played for Rangers for the first time in the SPL in six weeks on Saturday when he came on as a substitute in the first half.

He has played in only one Old Firm game since arriving at Rangers from Manchester City in 2007. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37923/beasley-absent-again-from-old-firm-derby.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37923/beasley-absent-again-from-old-firm-derby.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[font="arial, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#404040"][size="2"][color="#000000"][size="2"][color="#404040"][size="2"][color="#000000"][size="2"]
[b][color="#000000"][size="2"][size="5"]World Cup bargains for football fans as hotels slash prices[/size][/size][/color][/b]



[b]Football fans are being offered World Cup bargains as hotels struggle to fill empty rooms ahead of the tournament which begins in just two months time.[/b]
[/size][/color][/size][/color]

[color="#404040"][size="2"]Hundreds of hotel owners in South Africa have reported a low uptake of accommodation and are desperately cutting prices in an attempt to get bookings before the 2010 Fifa World Cup kicks off on 11 June.[/size][/color]

[color="#404040"][size="2"]Dozens of bed and breakfast and hotel proprietors now seem set to miss out on the massive cash windfall predicted when the country became the first African host nation to be awarded the tournament in 2004.[/size][/color]

[/size][/color][/size][/color][/size][/font]
[font="arial, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#404040"][size="2"]Many spent thousands of pounds renovating their properties and are struggling to recoup the costs.[/size][/color][color="#404040"][size="2"]Thomas Cook has already slashed travel prices by more than £1,000 after only half the expected 500,000 fans booked flights to see matches live.[/size][/color]

[color="#404040"][size="2"]England's World Cup bid begins on 12 June against USA at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.[/size][/color]

[color="#404040"][size="2"][b][i]Muriel Vos, 57, spent £400,000 upgrading her 62 room property in Rustenburg, just 15 minutes from the city's stadium, but has yet to receive a single booking. [/i][/b][/size][/color][/size][/font]
[font="arial, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#404040"][/color][/size][/font]
[font="arial, sans-serif"][size="2"] [color="#404040"][b][i][Edit: Ouch!]
[/i][/b][/color]
[color="#404040"][size="2"]Leon Pieterse, a 26-year-old general manager at the nearby upmarket Boschal guesthouse won an contract from MATCH – the FIFA selected company organising tickets, official accommodation and event information – to house fans, FIFA officials and staff.[/size][/color]

[color="#404040"][size="2"]But he received a huge blow when MATCH suddenly halved their booking on April 4, leaving him just over two months to fill his rooms.[/size][/color]

[/size][/font][color="#404040"][font="arial, sans-serif"][size="2"]Analysts believe many tourists have been put off by fears of violent crime and the economic recession.[/size][/font][/color] [/quote]



[url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/7672893/World-Cup-bargains-for-football-fans-as-hotels-slash-prices.html"]http://www.telegraph...ash-prices.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

Possible Stage 2 opponent. Our group is matched with Germany's group in the second stage.

[quote]
[font="verdana"][size="2"]
[b][size="5"]Germany 'keeper Adler out of World Cup[/size][/b]
[/size][/font]

[font="verdana"][size="2"]BERLIN (AP) -Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler will miss the World Cup because he has to undergo surgery on a rib injury.Germany coach Joachim Loew says he was informed Tuesday that the 26-year-old Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper won't be able to travel to South Africa.

Loew says "of course we are very sorry that Rene now has to undergo an operation and so is out of the World Cup.''

Adler broke his rib last month. Loew is set to announce his 30-man World Cup squad on Thursday.

Earlier Tuesday, Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes told Loew that he will miss the World Cup because of a knee injury.



Read More:[url="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/wires/05/04/2050.ap.soc.germany.adler.0187/index.html#ixzz0n5AKvBoj"]http://sportsillustr...l#ixzz0n5AKvBoj[/url]
Get a free NFL Team Jacket and Tee with[url="http://tcr81.tynt.com/ads/2/0n5AKvBoj"]SI Subscription[/url][/size][/font] [/quote]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Dempsey spared in Shawcross challenge

[/size][b][size=1]May 6th, 2010 2:11AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD] [/color][b]Clint Dempsey[/b] was the only U.S. World Cup candidate to play on Wednesday, starting his 100th game in Fulham's 1-0 loss at home to Stoke City in the English Premier League.
The most tense moment for Dempsey took place in the first half when [b]Ryan Shawcross[/b] -- whose tackle was responsible for young Arsenal star [b]Aaron Ramsey[/b]'s broken leg -- came in on a late challenge on Dempsey. The players exchanged words but no card was issued.

Shawcross was later in the second half booked for a foul on Dempsey.

Bosnian-Canadian goalie [b]Asmir Begovic[/b] stopped Dempsey on a volley.

[b]Carlos Bocanegra[/b] did not suit up for Rennes in its 3-1 loss to Marseille that gave the winning team the 2010 French league title. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37937/dempsey-spared-in-shawcross-challenge.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37937/dempsey-spared-in-shawcross-challenge.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color="#111111"][font="arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif"][size="2"][size="3"]
[b][size="5"]2 newcomers in Germany squad for World Cup[/size][/b]
[/size]


FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)—Germany coach Joachim Loew picked a 27-member provisional World Cup roster Thursday, including seven players from Bayern Munich.

Two new players were selected: Bayern central defender Holger Badstuber and Hamburg defender Dennis Aogo. Veteran Bayern goalkeeper Joerg Butt also was picked.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 players shortly before the three-time champions travel to the World Cup.

"They are brimming with confidence," Loew said of the Bayern players
[/size][/font][/color]
[color="#111111"][font="arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif"][size="2"]Bayern has a three-point lead in the Bundesliga with one game left and has a big advantage in goal difference over second-place Schalke. Bayern also is in the German Cup final against Werder Bremen on May 15 and meets Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 22."We are proud of Bayern's achievements," Loew said. "They've shown great performances."

Loew's squad includes several young players, among them Badstuber, Bayern forward Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos (on loan from Bayern to Bayer Leverkusen) and Werder Bremen's Marko Marin.

"We specifically picked younger players. They may be short on experience but they have a lot of qualities," Loew said at a news conference in Stuttgart.

Six players are 20 or 21. Badstuber is 21 and Mueller is 20, and both are coming off debut seasons in the Bundesliga.

"He is clear headed and makes few mistakes," Loew said of Badstuber. "Mueller has an incredible instinct to be in the right place and the right time to score, and he can play in several positions."

Mueller has played every game for Bayern so far this season (49), scoring 19 goals. He could push out some established strikers.

Loew stuck with experienced forwards Miroslav Klose of Bayern, who has just three goals this season, and Lukas Podolski of Cologne, who has two.

Also included were Mario Gomez, who mostly sits on Bayern's bench, and Stuttgart's Brazil-born Cacau. One of the six forwards is likely to be dropped.

While the choice of Butt was expected after the injury of No. 1 goalkeeper Rene Adler, the selection of Aogo was a surprise. It remains to be seen whether Aogo makes the final cut.

"He is technically very good and can go forward well," Loew said of the 23-year-old defender.

Butt also was on the roster for the 2000 European Championship and the 2002 World Cup. He has three games for Germany, which is more than either Manuel Neuer of Schalke and Tim Wiese of Werder Bremen. Both have two appearances each for Germany and none was a full game.

"Butt has tournament experience, he has had an outstanding season and he provide support to younger players," Loew said.

Loew would not identify a starting goalkeeper, and the 35-year-old Butt is thought to have a chance. Robert Enke, who would have been the No. 1 goalkeeper, committed suicide in November.

Adler pulled out earlier this week because of a rib injury that needs surgery. Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes dropped out with a knee injury and Lazio midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, who has hardly played this season, has been dropped.

"I am sure that it's never been so difficult and complicated to pick a squad and prepare for a major tournament," Loew said.

With Bayern still chasing titles and captain Michael Ballack's Chelsea in the FA Cup final, Loew won't have many of his top players until late in the month.

Germany plays exhibitions against Malta on May 13, at Hungary on May 29 and against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Frankfurt on June 3. It is in a first-round group with Australia, Serbia and Ghana, a team that advances could meet the United States in the second round.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Joerg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)

Defenders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburg), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke)

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea, England), Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Mesut Oezil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Christian Traesch (Stuttgart), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg)

[/size][/font][/color][color="#111111"][font="arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif"][size="2"]Forwards: Cacau (Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)[/size][/font][/color] [/quote]



[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-wcup-germanysquad"]http://sports.yahoo....up-germanysquad[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

LOL, maybe US Soccer should entice our guys like this.

[quote]
[font="Arial, sans-serif"][b][size="5"]South Africa could get bonus for World Cup goals[/size][/b][/font]
[font="Arial, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#676767"](AP) – [color="#000000"]1 day ago[/color][/color]

JOHANNESBURG — The World Cup could really pay off for South Africa players.

The country's soccer association wants to give its team $131,000 for each goal it scores at the World Cup next month, a move designed to inspire the team

Chief executive Leslie Sedibe said Wednesday on a local TV station that SAFA would "dearly love" to pay the one million rand reward. Sedibe said the last thing SAFA wanted was for the host nation to not qualify for the knockout stages and players "to go home with nothing."

[/size][/font][font="Arial, sans-serif"][size="2"]His comments came the same day that organizers conceded their budget to stage the tournament was severely stretched. He was quoted by the SAPA news agency last week as saying the World Cup had "blown" the country's soccer budget.[/size][/font] [/quote]


[url="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hCttkOANzhdRG6F2ohbC-8-_tbsQD9FGQ2N80"]http://www.google.co...-_tbsQD9FGQ2N80[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif][size=2][size=3]
[b][size=5]Beasley: I would take pay cut to stay at Rangers[/size][/b]
[/size][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif][size=2]
[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif][size=2]GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)—DaMarcus Beasley says he would take a pay cut if that’s what it takes to get a new contract with Scottish champion Rangers.The American midfielder is among six Rangers players whose contracts end after the season, and says the club has not spoken to him about a new deal.

The 27-year-old Beasley says “you can put two and two together and make your own conclusions, but never say never.”

Beasley told yanksabroad.com that his life is “perfect” in Glasgow.

Beasley started just six of Rangers’ 37 league matches this season. The club hosts Motherwell on Sunday in its last match.

[/size][/font][/color][color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif][size=2]He joined Rangers in 2007 from PSV Eindhoven.[/size][/font][/color] [/quote]



[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-rangers-beasley"]http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-rangers-beasley[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

Oh, and according to the WC app on my Droid...there is 34 days 19 hrs 15 min and 40 sec til the World Cup!

[JC]

[quote name='MAGICTOUCH' date='06 May 2010 - 10:45 PM' timestamp='1273200318' post='886709']
Oh, and according to the WC app on my Droid...there is 34 days 19 hrs 15 min and 40 sec til the World Cup!
[/quote]
Nice! Can't wait for the 30 preliminary roster. I think not focusing on it much has made it go much faster. I just cannot fathom another 4 year wait to not make it out of group stages. This team was so focused on clicking on all cylinders last summer, (yeah I can't believe the CC was a year ago). I just won't be able to accept 3rd or fourth place when we are clearly the second best team in the group. I don't know if there has been a team that has seen so many injuries though so close to the WC. It's like we sold our soul for a good CC. I want a good WC. No reason we can't win the whole damn thing unless Bob brings his boys Sacha Connor Bornstink and Ching.

Let's hope #8,9,10,17 can reinvent the magic.

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote name='JC' date='06 May 2010 - 10:45 PM' timestamp='1273203950' post='886723']
Bob brings his boys Sacha Connor Bornstink and Ching.

Let's hope #8,9,10,17 can reinvent the magic.
[/quote]



NO DOUBT!

Hopefully Ching's injury will keep him off.

I've reluctantly faced the reality that Bornstink will be there. He has incriminating photos of Bob from one of their away qualifiers.

I don't think Sacha has much chance (but then again he is one of Bob's Boys) and hopefully Buddle gets a shot in camp and can go ahead of Connor.

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Bedoya returns to action in Sweden

[/size][b][size=1]May 7th, 2010 1:50AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][AMERICANS ABROAD][/color] Back from a one-game suspension, U.S. World Cup candidate [b]Alejandro Bedoya[/b] played the entire game for third-place Orebro in its 2-1 loss to Helsingborgs, the leader of Sweden's Allsvenskan, on Thursday.

The only other American in action on Thursday was [b]Benny Feilhaber[/b], who went 78 minutes in AGF's 2-1 loss to visiting Sonderjyske in a battle of Danish SAS-Ligaen relegation candidates.

AGF is in 11th place in the 12-team league, two points behind Randers FC and three behind Sonderjyske, with two games to play [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37950/bedoya-returns-to-action-in-sweden.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/37950/bedoya-returns-to-action-in-sweden.html[/url]