Red Hot Cleavage News

Jack Bell of the New York Times is riding the wave that says many former New York Cosmos will take over the operations of Red Bull New York. Franz Beckenbauer will be at the helm. The depressing news for fans though is speculation that Red Bull may scrap plans to build the team their own stadium in Harrison. What a shame that would be. Giants stadium and its field turf suck, and a team without its own home is a step backwards. The other serious rumor is that the name "Cosmos" may be used as well.
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Another rumor say that Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz will be back sooner than expected from injury and will play this week. Would be great to see. I love the little fish.
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The latest from Kansas City on finding new ownership for the team.
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Followed immediately by a story saying that due to stadium rebuilding, the team might not have a home for '07.
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And more from the Cleveland area on a possible new MLS team and stadium there. They are probably in a race with St Louis to get this thing rolling.
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USA & Hannover defender Steve Cherundolo sends his latest "Postcard from Germany" for USA Today.
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DaMarcus Beasley gets popped for DUI in Holland. The always alert Big Soccer poster called "johan dersken" wrote this, and I stole it for you.
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Luis Bueno looks at how Chivas USA are dealing with a week off this early in the season, after that soul-crushing loss to the Galaxy (which gave me gallons of unbridled glee), for MLSnet.
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Another story from MLSnet says that Dallas coach Colin Clarke and his staff are in Monterrey Mexico today to meet with the staff of their sister club Tigres and see the Libertadores match tonight v Chilean team Catolica.
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Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune talks to announcing legend Andres Cantor about the World Cup, and of course his "gooooooooooooal" call.
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MLS is expected to announce tomorrow that Chelsea will take on the league All-Stars in Chicago at Bridgeview Stadium, later this summer.
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Andrea Canales at ESPN Soccernet looks at Lalas in LaLaLand.
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Hear a podcast with USA U20 coach Thomas Rongen as he prepares his team for a series of matches in Argentina. His 19 man squad consists of 16 pro's and 3 collegiate's. Remember back a few years when this entire team would have been college players? Its very exciting how this is all changing. The experience these guys gain is incalculable.
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Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune with his excellent weekly column, on the Lalas-Sampson relationship, plus his usual Red Cards, Trophies and Sidelines.
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I just came across an interview on the FIFA site with Italy & Milan super-centerback Alessandro Nesta. He talks some about the World Cup and his teams opponents.
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CUP MANIA:
The UEFA Champions League Semifinals are upon us:
Tuesday:
Milan 0-1 Barcelona - Milan started out strong, but Barca got lucky and held it scoreless until their midfield and strikers turned it on. It should have been more than 0-1, but that's life. The away goal could be huge. Ronaldinho was amazing, of course. (second leg on April 26) - see both legs on Setanta & ESPN Deportes at 1:30pm central - or catch a delayed showing on Fox Soccer Channel on Wed at 6pm central
Wednesday:
Villarreal v Arsenal - (second leg on April 25) - see both live on ESPN2 at 1:30pm central
-The Grand Finale will be played May 17 at Stade de France in Paris.
-In player news:
Villarreal will be without BOTH centerbacks - Gonzalo Rodriguez & Juan Manuel Pena are both injured, and keeper Sebastian Viera is suspended.
The Arse may be missing Jose Antonio Reyes, but it wasn't confirmed. A foot injury to Cesc Fabregas will NOT keep him out, but Sol Campbell is out with a broken nose.
-The Arsenal defense of Emmanuel Eboue, Mathieu Flamini, Philippe Senderos & Kolo Toure have not been scored against in 8 straight Champions League matches! That is a record. And quite an unreal feat. Keeper Jens Lehman deserves credit too.
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And the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Final is Today!!
America v Toluca (0-0 first leg) - this sets the stage at for America to win the cup at home in Mexico City - see the game live at 9pm central on FSC
-They do NOT use the "away goals break ties" rule. All ties will be settled with PK's after extra periods are played.
-The winner plays in the FIFA World Club Championship next December in Japan.
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French Cup Semifinals:
The matches will be played on April 20
Olympique Marseille v Stade Rennes
Nantes v Paris Saint Germaine
-The final is April 29
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The UEFA Cup Semifinals:
Played on 4-20 and 4-27
Steaua v Middlesbrough
Schalke v Sevilla
-The final will be May 10 in Eindhoven.
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This will be the last week of the Copa Libertadores Group mathces, and there are only 4 spots in the round of 16 left to be filled!! Here are the games and scores:
Apr 18
Universitario 1-1 Rocha FC - Grupo 5
Vélez Sarsfield 2-2 Liga Dep. Universitaria - Grupo 5
Pumas UNAM 1-1 Nacional - Grupo 6
Internacional 4-0 UA Maracaibo - Grupo 6
Apr 19
Newell's Old Boys - The Strongest - Grupo 3
Goiás EC - Unión Española - Grupo 3
Tigres UANL - Universidad Católica - Grupo 4
Corinthians - Deportivo Cali - Grupo 4
Apr 20
Chivas Guadalajara - Cienciano - Grupo 1
São Paulo FC - Caracas FC - Grupo 1
River Plate - Libertad - Grupo 8
Paulista FC - El Nacional - Grupo 8
-Who has advanced from the groups to the round of 16:
Group 1 - Chivas Guadalajara & Sao Paulo
Group 2 - Independiente Santa Fe & Estudiantes LP
Group 3 - Goias EC & ?
Group 4 - ? & ?
Group 5 - Vélez Sarsfield & Liga Dep Universitaria
Group 6 - Internacional & Nacional
Group 7 - Atlético Nacional & Palmeiras
Group 8 - Libertad & ?
-We will have all the details on the knock out stages in a couple of days.
-Libertadores' Tuesday match recap via Sports Illustrated - more teams move on to the next round.