Distorted Magic News

USA coach Bruce Arena: "I am planning to take some time off to weigh my future opportunities.”
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US Soccer President Sunil Gulati: "I'm sure I will talk to Jurgen Klinsmann. He's a very interesting coach who lives in America and has expressed a desire to remain in America. A lot of people believe he would be a good candidate."
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It's official, Bruce Arena will not be the USA coach after his contract expires on Dec. 31. No word on what he might do, or who US Soccer will hire to replace him.
-US Soccer Pres Gulati answered some press questions.
-The Washington Posts Steven Goff was the first to mention this story yesterday and has some follow up coverage.
-Soccernet has a few more tidbits including quotes from Clint Dempsey.
-Jack Bell of the New York Times with an article containing even more Gulati quotes.
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Tino Palace and the Clean Sheet says adios to Il Bruce'.
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In other huge news, the verdicts and punishment have been handed down to Italian Serie A clubs Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio for match fixing. But the punishment was not as great as some had thought it would be. For instance Milan is not even being relegated (I wonder how much their owner Berlusconi had to do with that?!?!?!), and Juve will not be relegated 2 divisions to Serie C. Juve, Fiorentina and Lazio will all play one division lower this next season in Serie B. Juve will be stripped of their last 2 scudetto's and not be involved in this years Champions League, plus they will start the Serie B season with a 30 point deficit. Fiorentina will also lose out on their shot at the Champions League this season, and have to start Serie B with a 12 point deduction. Lazio misses their UEFA Cup spot, and will have a 7 point hole to start the Serie B season. Milan got off lightest by not getting relegated at all, but still will lose 44 points from last years total and miss the Champions League, plus they will be docked 15 points to start this season in the top division Serie A.
-You can surely expect all 4 of these teams to challenge these rulings in the courts which could lead to an even bigger mess and delay to the start of the new season. Typical actions for criminals.
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In other Clint Dempsey news, New England's star midfielder has been suspended by MLS for the teams next two matches (including tonight) after he took a swing at and appeared to catch the eye of Chicago defender Gonzalo Segares in last Saturdays game. Seagares left the game shortly after the incident.
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After a vacation following the World Cup, USA midfielder DaMarcus Beasley will start his pre-season training with his club PSV Eindhoven and new coach Ronald Koeman next Monday. The team will go to England the week after that for some friendly's. Young American Lee Nguyen is at PSV as well.
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Soccernet's Frank Dell'apa says what many others are starting to say very loudly - MLS needs to start spending some real money on players. NOW!
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Roberto Donadoni who starred for Italy in the 90 World Cup & for his club team AC Milan all thru the last 80's and early 90's, and even played for the Metrostars in New York in the '96 and '97 seasons, has been named the new head coach of Italy. He replaces the victorious Marcello Lippi who resigned earlier this week. Donadoni most recently coached Livorno. (Thanks to Zath for correcting some of the dates.)
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Portsmouth offered Blackburn 4 million Pounds for former DC United centerback Ryan Nelsen but had their bid rejected.
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And did you know that Craig Bellamy has fled Blackburn for Liverpool. I didn't. That's fairly big news isn't it?
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Dan Loney of Section 138 at the Home Depot Center takes on the All-Star Game.
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The Dallas Morning News with a feature story on the local amateur team, Roma Dallas, who awesomely knocked off Chivas USA in the US Open Cup this week.
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The Soccer Capital News of Columbus OH talks to Crew coach Sigi Schmid about the keys to getting his team into a better form.
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Armando Perez of Soccer 365 previews the Mexican league fall season that kicks off soon. There is a new team in the league as Dorados has been relegated and Queretaro has been promoted.
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Here is the MLS match line up for this weekend-
Today:
New York 1-0 Colorado - Amado Guevara nabbed a 35th minute pk for a winner in a 2pm kickoff game.
New England v Salt Lake - 6:30pm on Direct Kick
Saturday:
Chicago v Dallas - 3pm on ESPN2
DC United v Columbus - 6:30 on Direct Kick
Kansas City v Houston - 7:30 no television
Chivas v Los Angeles - 9pm on Direct Kick & HDNet
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First Division matches this weekend:
Friday-
Rochester v Miami
Charleston v Portland
Minnesota v Vancouver
Saturday-
Atlanta v Portland
Seattle v Montreal
Sunday-
Puerto Rico v Virginia Beach
Toronto v Atlanta
Vancouver v Montreal
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And excitingly the The Quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores kicks back in now that the World Cup is over. It's time for the return leg matches!
-Second leg matches (with first leg scores):
July 18 Libertad - River Plate (2-2)
July 19 Internacional - Liga Dep. Universitaria (1-2)
July 19 São Paulo FC - Estudiantes LP (0-1)
July 20 Vélez Sarsfield - Chivas Guadalajara (0-0)
-The away goal rule DOES apply in the knock out stages.
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Don't forget - next week is the first leg of the Rio Grande Plate! It's a two game series between FC Dallas and UANL Tigres. The 1st leg is on Wed July 19th at Pizza Hut Park, with the return leg on Wed July 26th at Tigres' home field in Monterrey.