Vanishing Box Elder Bug News

Jurgen Klinsmann: "I have had no contact or interest at all from the United States."
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The World Cup Final
Sunday July 9
Berlin
Italy (wearing blue) v France (wearing white)
1pm central time
ABC TV
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Italy's star defender Alessandro Nesta will again not play Sunday due to his continued right thigh muscle strain.
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Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo will call the final. The other games he did were:
Germany 4-2 Costa Rica (opening match)
Czech Republic 0-2 Ghana (group stage)
Switzerland 2-0 South Korea (group stage)
England 0-0 Portugal - Port won on PK's (quarterfinal)
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Wash Post's Stevie Goff previews the Azzuri, while their John Ward Anderson looks at Les Bleus.
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The International Herald Tribune has Final previews from Rob Hughes and Peter Berlin.
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Matthew Engel of the Financial Times looks at what the World Cup Final means for the future of Berlin as a major city.
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The du Nord World Cup First XI:
Ricardo, Gianluca Zambrotta, Lilian Thuram, Fabio Canavaro, Phillip Lahm, Frank Ribery, Maxi Rodriguez, Maniche, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joe Cole, Miroslav Klose
Coach: Marcello Lippi
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Sports Illustrated's star reporter Grant Wahl picks his First XI too.
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FIFA have named a 23 player All-tournament Team:
Goal: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Jens Lehmann (Germany), Ricardo (Portugal).
Defense: Roberto Ayala (Argentina), John Terry (England), Lilian Thuram (France), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal).
Midfield: Ze Roberto (Brazil), Patrick Vieira (France), Zinedine Zidane (France), Michael Ballack (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Luis Figo (Portugal), Maniche (Portugal).
Forward: Hernan Crespo (Argentina), Thierry Henry (France), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Francesco Totti (Italy), Luca Toni (Italy).
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And FIFA has given its Best Young Player award to Germany's Lukas Podolski. You will be able to watch this young striker every week next season at his new club Bayern Munich.
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The hate is on! (Thanks NC)
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FIFA has an interview with the less obnoxious of the two overrated and washed up Gallagher brothers of rock band Oasis, Noel.
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The saga of soccer in the prisons of Robben Island, South Africa, from USA Today.
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Here's an American sports writer who is not soccer-mad, but gets it in a big way. From the LA Times.
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And that same papers elder (read: sometimes really crabby) soccer writer Grahame Jones bids adios to ZiZou.
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SI's Wahl also has an interview with US Soccer President Sunil Gulati. Unfortunately he doesn't say a whole lot.
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USA Today examines the age old question: Why isn't soccer more popular in America?
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Robert Wagman of the Soccer Times looks at the USA's disappointing World Cup run.
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Eric Wynalda is still hammering Bruce Arena and Team USA about their World Cup wash-out. Go to the very bottom for his latest comments.
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John Lopez of the Houston Chronicle looks at what kind of coach US Soccer needs next.
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West Ham's newest defender, young USA star Jonathan Spector, has a Q & A on the team's website.
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MLS has named Kansas City defender Jose Burciaga as the league's Player of the Month for June.
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The LA Galaxy will play Mexican team Necaxa next Wednesday at the Home Depot Center.
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The weekly paper Columbus Alive has an interview with Columbus Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven where he talks about his life, and loves, and learning and other things that start with "L", plus more.
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The Clean Sheet from Tino of Minnesota.
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The latest from Dan Loney: Prognosis (Note: I love the Seinfeld episode where they are obsessed with a movie called "Prognosis Negative"!)
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The dude who owns the Oakland A's baseball team is getting more serious about reviving the Earthquakes of San Jose MLS team. They have moved the baseball VP of Sales and Marketing over to Exec VP of Soccer. Interesting. He has been with the team for 14 years, so he is no young whippersnapper, but rather a seasoned ass kicker.
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Dylan Butler at Big Apple Soccer says Mo Johnston has been interviewed for the coaching position in Toronto.
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Soccernet profiles Chivas USA's little known Jewish Mexican-American defender/midfielder Jonathan Bornstein.
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MLS games this Saturday:
Houston v Chivas - 4pm on ESPN
Columbus v DC - 630pm on Direct Kick
Dallas v New York - 730pm on Direct Kick
Chicago v New England - 730 pm on Direct Kick
Colorado v Kansas City - 8pm on HDNet
Los Angeles v Salt Lake - 930pm on Direct Kick
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And Here are the du Nord picks for the MLS 2006 All Star XI
Goalkeeper
Tony Meola - New York
Defenders
Facundo Erpen - DC United
Eddie Robinson - Houston
Jose Burciaga - Kansas City
Midfielders
Ben Olsen - DC United
Dwayne De Rosario - Houston
Clint Dempsey - New England
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles
Shalrie Joseph - New England
Forwards
Jaime Moreno - DC United
Carlos Ruiz - Dallas
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First Division games this weekend:
Friday
Montreal v Vancouver - 7pm on Fox Soccer Channel
Virginia Beach v Puerto Rico
Saturday
Atlanta v Virginia Beach
Rochester v Charleston
Sunday
Toronto v Charleston
Tuesday
Montreal v Toronto
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Word is out that Montreal is being added to the long list of clubs building their own new home stadium. Excellent news!!
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Matchnight's Bill Urban took in his local Atlanta clubs latest 2-0 win over my Minnesota boys at their new home field and gives his views of attending a First Division match! We need more soccer fans like Bill in America. Let's go!