Lunchtime Cryogenics Lecture Series News

The Soccer Reports of North America has awarded their Best Feature Story of 2007 to Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune for his story on Chicago Fire midfielder Bakarey Soumare and his amazing tale from Africa to Paris to New York to MLS, and none of it on the easy path. Congrats to Luis. One of the good guys.


MLS News

MLS's Deputy Dawg Ivan Gazidis talked to the media yesterday and outlined the 2008 plan for the league. Luis Bueno on his Sideline Views blog gave what I think is the most succinct recap. There are not any earth shattering bits in here, but some nice stuff.
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The San Jose Mercury News talks to Gazidis about the Earthquakes building a brand new team from scratch.
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Ives Galarcep at Soccernet says bad boy Amado Guevara is headed for Toronto FC. He is currently back in his native Honduras playing for Motagua.
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Steve Davis at Soccernet with their season preview of Dallas.
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Glenn Davis of the Houston Chronicle calls Dwayne De Rosario the proto attacking midfielder in MLS. Um, duh!
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Ben Knight of the Toronto Globe & Mail's On Soccer blog looks at the good and bad of signing Guevara.
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Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star gives us some more insight into TFC coach John Carver.
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Jimmy McNulty of the Toronto Sun says that even though MLS changed some citizenship rules for rosters, TFC is still at a disadvantage.
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Nick Green from the LA Daily News wonders why Chivas USA has done so little in the offseason to upgrade their team on and off the field.
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Frank Dell'apa of the Boston Globe says New England joins the list of MLS team going to a preseason tournament only to find a terrible field. From New Orleans.
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Salt Lake has hired former Minnesota Thunder and Tampa Bay Mutiny General Manager Bill Manning as the teams President. He was recently with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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While LA was in Dallas for the match last weekend midfielder Douglas Borgman had a flashback to 1989 courtesy of the Daily Mirror. No, they didn't spike his Vitamin Water with aceeeeed.
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MLS Expansion News

The Philadelphia Inquirer has an Opinion piece on the soon-to-be new team in Philly. Written by a journalism teacher.
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MLS Rumors - Don't Tease Me Bro

Ives Galarcep says is New York v Barcelona on Aug 7 at Giants Stadium.
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It looks like Toronto is set to sign defender Marco Velez from the Puerto Rico Islanders.
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Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune on his Red Card blog with the latest in the battle between Chicago and New York over midfielder Lider Marmol. Plus some other goodies.
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USL First Division & PDL News

The Portland Tribune with a big feature story on Timbers owner Merritt Paulson.
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USA Olympic Team

Official team blog.
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Jonathan Spector has joined the USA team from his club West Ham. I can't imagine him not starting at centerback. So which two of these three sits out? Ianni, Orozco or Sturgis?
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CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying

The 2 semifinal winners will qualify for the Olympics in Beijing in late summer.
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As of Monday 7000 tickets had been sold for the Semifinals.
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Semifinal Matches & Scores (both games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Thu Mar 20
Guatemala v Honduras
USA v Canada
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Final Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Sun Mar 23
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Ives Galarcep at the Herald News says the USA's job is very straight forward. Beat Canada.
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Beau Dure of USA Today checks in on the defecting Cubans.
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The Tennessean in Nashville with the obligatory Freddy Adu story.
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US Soccer with a report on the USA team as they arrive in Nashville, and some quotes from players and coaches.
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Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star looks ahead with the Canadians.
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Jeff Carlisle of Soccernet says the USA better take Canada seriously.
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FIFA.com previews the two underdogs - Guatemala & Canada.
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Soccer In America

The Livingston Daily Press & Argus from Western Michigan has a story on a local boy who just returned from an eye opening football trip to Spain.
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Americans In Europe

The BBC has video interview footage with Brian McBride after he scored the game winner for Fulham over the weekend. (thanks to Brian for this)
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The Sporting News says Fulham's survival in the Premiership would benefit an awful lot of people.
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The Daily Post of Wales talks to McBride about the man who initially brought him to England, current Everton coach David Moyes.
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CONCACAF Champions Cup

Quarterfinals - 2nd Leg Matches & Scores (with 1st leg scores included):
-Tue Mar 18
DC v Harbour View (1-1)
-Wed Mar 19
Pachuca v Motagua (0-0)
Houston v Municipal (0-0)
-Thu Mar 20
Saprissa v Atlante (1-2)
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NOTE: There is no away-goals tie breaker used in this tournament.
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Jaime Moreno will NOT play on Tuesday for DC United due to his hamstring strain.
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Steven Goff of the Washington Post looks at DC as they prepare for the 2nd leg with Harbour View.
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Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner says DC are really looking forward to playing a game at their home - RFK Stadium.
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John Haydon of the Washington Times previews DC for tonight’s game.
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The Jamaica Gleaner with a Harbour View preview.
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Jeff Carlisle of Soccernet previews both DC & Houston.
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Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle looks ahead to Wednesday night when the Dynamo host Los Rojos.
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CONCACAF News

Luis Bueno at the Press Enterprise looks at the pressure now piling up on Mexicoach Hugo Sanchez.
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FMF News

Soccer365 with a week 10 round up.
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Mexican Premiera Top 6 (10 of 17 rounds played):
22 Guadalajara
19 San Luis
16 Cruz Azul
16 Santos Laguna
15 Chiapas
15 Toluca
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South American News

Argentina Primera Division Top Seven (after 5 of 19 games played):
13 Velez Sarsfield
13 Estudiantes
12 Boca Juniors
10 Independiente
10 Newell's Old Boys
10 Tigre
10 Arsenal
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Copa Libertadores

Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 18
Audax Italiano v Atletico Nacional
Estudiantes v Danubio
Caracas v Cruzeiro
-Wed Mar 19
San Jose v Santos
Flamengo v Nacional
Libertad v Fluminense
-Thu Mar 20
Deportivo Cuenca - Lanus
Sportivo Luqueno v Sao Paulo
Colo Colo v Boca Juniors
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Group Stage Standings
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European News

A story from the Times of London on how the English Football Assoc is planning a $400million investment in the youth game.
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The Times looks to Turkey and sees why Fenerbahce are having success.
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Martin Samuel of the Times with a great weekly column touching on subjects like Valentino Rossi, Mido, and Sepp Blatter, but first focusing on why the English Premier League is not big for Brazilians.
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The rumors are back - Italian paper Gazetta dello Sport reports that an American is going to buy Roma. This time it's John Fisher who is a part owner of the San Jose Earthquakes and Oakland A's baseball team.
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Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian takes us to opening day in the Russian League, and a show down between the top 2 - Zenit v Spartak.
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Ben Lyttleton of the Guardian looks in on the bottom dwellers in France.
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The Independent looks ahead to Scotland's first match under new manager George Burley. They host Croatia on Mar 26.
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FIFA.com has an article on one of the surprise teams in Spain this season - Getafe. They have also made the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup.
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Euro League Cup Competitions

-Coupe de France-
Round of 16 - Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 18
Paris Saint Germain v Bastia
Dijon Football v Tours
Sedan Ardennes v Angers
Lyon v Sochaux
-Wed Mar 19
Bordeaux v Lille
Amiens v Arles
Lorient v Metz
Carquefou v Marseille
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-DFB Pokal-
Semifinals - Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 18
Borussia Dortmund v Carl Zeiss Jena
-Wed Mar 19
Bayern Munchen v Wolfsburg
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-KNVB Beker-
Semifinal Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 18
Feyennord v NAC Breda
-Wed Mar 19
Heracles Almelo v Roda JC Kerkrade
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World News

Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune writes about football players, and associations and how some of them spend their money giving back to the world and their community.

Type ZYX Blood News

Adios Mexico!! We hardly knew ye. Massive ego coach Hugo Sanchez and his Mexicano Olympic team were knocked out of qualifying in the group stage. Ouch. What does this mean for Hugo's job? I cannot imagine that his gets him fired, but it does shorten the leash.

~and~

Kansas City gettin down with some TV advertising. Good job! (thanks to Anthony for this) [Mike was kind enough to inform us that this is LAST years ad campaign - oh well]


MLS News

Grahame Jones of the LA Times feels the Galaxy look a little thin on personnel as the season gets closer.
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Frank Dell'apa of the Boston Globe checks in on New England as their preseason trek takes them to New Orleans for a pair of match v Marathon, and Dell'apa gives us a Honduran soccer primer.
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RevsNet looks at the quiet influx of new talent to New England.
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Mike Biglin of Metro West Daily News looks at the Rev's second year forward Adam Cristman and what his role might be on the team this season.
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The Jamaica Gleaner with an article on their native defender Shavar Thomas and his long wait for a new visa to rejoin his club team Chivas USA in LA.
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Andrea Canales of Soccernet gives a season preview of Chivas USA.
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While Ives Galarcep does the same for the New York Red Bulls.
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Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports writes about New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio and the big job in front of him.
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Former Salt Lake trialist Indra Sahdan Daud of Singapore talks to his local newspaper The Electric New Paper about his try out, and not receiving a contract offer after a month with RSL.
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John Haydon of the Washington Times writes about the young English midfielder Dan Stratford who hoping to change the streak of English failure at DC United.
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Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch with an article on the Crew's newest forward with MLS experience - Nico Hernandez, who they acquired from Colorado.
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Mitchell with several Crew notes on his Covering The Crew blog.
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James Edward of the Deseret Morning News takes a closer look at all the changes going on with Real Salt Lake, on and off the field.
-Check out this incredible picture of construction on RSL's stadium with the gorgeous mountains in the back ground. Wow.
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Diego Aparicio of the Dallas Morning News with a story on the "all new Dario Sala", goalkeeper for Dallas.
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Bob Luder of the KC Star says Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad is out to prove that he and his team are of a high quality this season.
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MLS Preseason Friendlies

Matches & Scores:
-Fri Mar 14
New England 4-0 Marathon (Honduras) in New Orleans
-Sat Mar 15
Dallas 0-0 Los Angeles at PHP
Chivas USA 2-1 San Diego State at HDC
-Sun Mar 16
New England 0-0 Marathon (Honduras) in New Orleans
Fresno Fuego 0-4 Chivas USA in Fresno
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The Fresno Bee with a match report of Fresno v Chivas.
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3rd Degree with post game analysis of Dallas v LA.
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Steve Davis of Soccernet on the Dallas v LA game.
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Tobias Xavier Lopez of the Fort Worth Star Telegram was in attendance at Pizza Hut Park and gives us this report.
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The Dallas Morning News covered the Dallas v LA game too.
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The Times of London with an article on an England assistant coach who took in the game in Dallas to check on the progress being made by Damon Beckford.
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FC Dallas received a note from England representative Franco Baldini after the match. Read it here at FC Dallas Updates.
-FCD Updates had many other good newsy tidbits after the game as well.
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Carolina Challenge Cup

-Preseason Tournament March 15-22 in Charleston South Carolina
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Teams: Charleston Battery, New York Red Bulls, San Jose Earthquakes & Toronto FC
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Matches & Scores:
-Sat Mar 15
San Jose 1-0 Toronto - lightning shortened the game to 77 minutes.
New York 1-1 Charleston - weather caused them to move the game to Sunday.
-Wed Mar 19
New York v Toronto
San Jose v Charleston
-Sat Mar 22
Toronto v Charleston
San Jose v New York
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The Charleston Post & Courier with a match report of Charl v NYRB.
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More game reports and news at the Charleston Battery website.
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MLS Rumors - Don't Tease Me Bro

Two more get tryouts with Toronto: outside midfielder Martin Brittain of English League Two club Walsall & defender Marco Velez from the Puerto Rico Islanders.
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USL First Division & PDL News

Soccernet editor Jen Chang is in Charleston and is going to train with the Battery and tell us all just exactly how hard that task is.
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USA Olympic Team

Official team blog.
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CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying

Group A Matches & Scores (all games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa FL):
-Tue Mar 11
Panama 0-1 Honduras -Hon goal by Hendry Thomas.
USA 1-1 Cuba - USA goal by Freddy Adu. Cuba goal by Roberto Linares.
-Thu Mar 13
Honduras 2-0 Cuba - Hon goals by Marvin Sanchez & Hendry Thomas.
USA 1-0 Panama - USA goal by Freddy Adu(PK).
-Sat Mar 15
Cuba 1-4 Panama - Cuba goal by Leonel Duarte. Pan goals by Edwin Aguilar(2), Nelson Barahona & a Cuba Own Goal.
USA 1-0 Honduras - USA goal by Eddie Gaven(PK).
Match report from US Soccer.
Post game quotes by USA players and coach from US Soccer.
Match photos from US Soccer.
Post game video from US Soccer.
Match report from the Bradenton Herald.
Post game analysis by Ives Galarcep of Soccernet.

Group B Matches & Scores (all games at Home Deport Center in Carson CA):
-Wed Mar 12
Haiti 0-1 Guatemala - Guat goal by Marvin Avila.
Canada 1-1 Mexico - Can goal by Will Johnson. Mex goal by Luis Landin.
-Fri Mar 14
Canada 1-2 Haiti - Can goal by Tyler Rosenlund. Hait goals by Alain Gustave & Leonel Saint Preux.
Mexico 1-2 Guatemala - Mix goal by Edgar Castillo. Guat goals by Carlos villa & Maynor Ignacio Lopez.
-Sun Mar 16
Guatemala 0-5 Canada - Can goals by Will Johnson(2), Tosaint Ricketts(2) & Kyle Hall.
Mexico 5-1 Haiti - Mex goals by Cesar Villaluz, Edgar Andrade, Santiago Fernandez, Enrique Esquade & Luis Angel Landin. Hait goal by Leonel Saint Preux.
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Semifinal Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Thu Mar 20
Guatemala v Honduras
USA v Canada

Final Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Sun Mar 23
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Jaime Cardenas of the LA Times on Mexico's ouster from the tournament.
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What a couple of big Mexican newspapers are saying about Hugo today. Via FIFA.com
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Just so you know, Mexico missed a PK in this game, and was facing a team down to 9 men. Wow.
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Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald writes an open letter to the Cuban defectors, and praises their bravery.
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Jeff Rusnack of the South Florida Sun Sentinel writes about the defection of the 7 Cuban players and one coach during this tournament.
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The US Nation Soccer Players Assoc says USA Olympic team coach Peter Nowak is doing exactly what he said he was going to do, get the team qualified in any way possible. No promises of anything beautiful or fabulous, just results. On that he is delivering.
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US Soccer has a new video from Studio 90, full of updates from last weekend and the days ahead in qualifying. Which is actually quite a bit like Studio 54. If only you knew what went on behind the scenes at Studio 90. Sadly though, Bianca Jaeger is not there.
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Americans In Europe

du Nord's AIE of the Week: Brian McBride - got a huge goal for Fulham in a 1-0 win over Everton. They still sit in the relegation zone but now another 3 points will tie them with the team in 17th. This was also an amazing game because 6 Americans took the field.
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How'd their recent matches go:
-Bryan Arguez - Hertha Berlin - did not dress for his teams 0-0 road draw with Hansa Rostock.
-Gregg Berhalter - 1860 Munich - played all 90 and got his teams goal on a Penalty Kick, but could only tie Mainz 1-1 at home.
-Carlos Bocanegra - Fulham - came off the bench in the 74th minute and beat Everton 1-0 at home.
-Michael Bradley - Heerenveen - played the full game as they won 0-1 at Groningen.
-Dan Califf - Aalborg - started and went 90, earned a Yellow Card and drew 1-1 at Odense. to start the second half of the season. He will be suspended for the next game due to Yellow Card accumulation.
-Steve Cherundolo - Hannover - went the distance in a 2-2 home tie with Arminia Bielefeld.
-Bobby Convey - Reading - did not dress for his teams 2-1 loss at Liverpool.
-Clint Dempsey - Fulham - came off the bench in the 88th minute as they beat Everton 1-0 at home.
-Jay DeMerit - Watford - played all 90 in a 0-0 home tied with Stoke City.
-Benny Feilhaber - Derby County - did not dress for his teams 0-1 home loss to Manchester United.
-Brad Friedel - Blackburn - as usual in the goal but lost 2-1 at West Ham.
-Marcus Hahnemann - Reading - played the entire games as always but lost 2-1 at Liverpool.
-Tally Hall - Esbjerg - was on the bench for his teams 0-4 road win at Viborg.
-Tim Howard - Everton - spent the whole game in the nets but lost 1-0 at Fulham.
-Nate Jaqua - Rheindorf Altach - went the entire 90 and they drew 1-1 at Wacker Tirol. No one who followed his MLS career will be surprised to read he got a Yellow Card.
-Will John - Randers - did not dress as the team lost 3-1 at Brondby.
-Eddie Johnson - Fulham - went the distance in a 1-0 victory over Everton at home.
-Kasey Keller - Fulham - played the full match and got a big 1-0 home win over Everton.
-Eddie Lewis - Derby County - played his damnedest for all 90 but lost 0-1 at home to Manchester United.
-Clint Mathis - Ergotolis - did not play but the team got 3 more important points, beating Veria 2-0 at home.
-Brian McBride - Fulham - started and played 88 minutes, scored the games only goal as they won 1-0 over Everton.
-Lee Nguyen - Randers - did not dress as the team lost 3-1 at Brondby.
-Oguchi Onyewu - Standard - went the full 90 and got a 1-2 road win at Germinal Beerschot.
-Heath Pearce - Hansa Rostock - did not dress for his teams 0-0 home tie with Hertha.
-Matt Pickens - Queens Park Rangers - on the bench for a 3-1 home win over Scunthorpe.
-Jonathan Spector - West Ham - played a full 90 minutes in a 2-1 win over Blackburn.
-Neven Subotic - Mainz - played all 90 of a 1-1 road draw at Munich 1860.
-Danny Szetela - Brescia - did not play in his teams 1-1 draw at Mantova.
-Jeremiah White - Aarhus - started and went 90 in a 0-0 road draw at Horsens.
-Josh Wolff - 1860 Munich - played 90 minutes in a 1-1 tie at home with Mainz.
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CONCACAF Champions Cup

Quarterfinals - 2nd Leg Matches & Scores (with 1st leg scores included):
-Tue Mar 18
DC v Harbour View (1-1)
-Wed Mar 19
Pachuca v Motagua (0-0)
Houston v Municipal (0-0)
-Thu Mar 20
Saprissa v Atlante (1-2)
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NOTE: There is no away-goals tie breaker used in this tournament.
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Jaime Moreno will NOT play on Tuesday for DC United due to his hamstring strain.
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The Jamaica Gleaner says 2 Harbour View players were not allowed to come to the USA with their team after being denied visa's.
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South American News

The New York Times Goal blog looks at the nastiness of violence surrounding the game in Argentina. There was some real ugly stuff between fellow supporters of Boca Juniors over the weekend. With lots of links to stories of violence from all over the country.
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Copa Libertadores

Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 18
Audax Italiano v Atletico Nacional
Estudiantes v Danubio
Caracas v Cruzeiro
-Wed Mar 19
San Jose v Santos
Flamengo v Nacional
Libertad v Fluminense
-Thu Mar 20
Deportivo Cuenca - Lanus
Sportivo Luqueno v Sao Paulo
Colo Colo v Boca Juniors
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Group Stage Standings
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European News

In Scotland, Rangers won the League Cup beating Dundee 3-2 on Penalty Kicks after regulation and extra time ended tied at 2-2.
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Frightening stupidity has surfaced with Real Betis fans again. Last year when they took on their inner-city nemesis Sevilla a fan threw a bottle that hit Sev coach Juande Ramos in the head. This time a fan has thrown a bottle and hit Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Armando right in the face. He needed stitches to patch him up. The referee called the game off in the 71st minute with Bilbao up 1-2. I have heard that fans in the stand rounded up the bottle thrower and handed him over to security. Good for them. But what a fool that guy is. The main part of the story from Reuters.
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Football Italia's week 28 round up from Serie A.
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Lots of stuff from the Guardian today:
-David James, goalkeeper for Portsmouth, talks about his old Pack-A-Day cigarette habit.
-Sid Lowe calls this the worst La Liga season in memory.
-Raphael Honigstein sees Bayern Munich fall flat on their face, again.
-Paolo Bandini looks at Roma who are doing everything in their power to keep the race for the Scudetto alive.
-Paul Wilson says that Fabio Capello may not be able to pull off what he wants to with England due to the players he has to chose from.
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World Soccer calls Milan teenager Alexandre Pato the real thing. Via Sports Illustrated.
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Greg Lalas at Sports Illustrated takes in some Serie B while in Sicily. Besides the good view, how was it?
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Phil Ball of Soccernet makes a trip back to his home country but still takes in all the Liga action he could want.
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Big Euro Club Matches This Weekend

Valencia 1-2 Sevilla - two teams with tons of great players who are totally underachieving. The win gets Sevilla within striking distance of next years Champs League.
Roma 2-1 Milan - like two giant rams butting heads in Italy, and Milan goes home with only a headache.
Zenit St Petersburg 0-0 Spartak Moscow - last seasons #1 opens the new season v last seasons #2. Nothing ever gets settled on the first day anyways.
Juventus 1-0 Napoli - practically a medieval rivalry.
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World News

FIFA.com has a Q & A with 170 times capped Egyptian Hossam Hassan who has take off the players shirt and become a coach.

Enjoy A Burro Burrito Today News

Yes, I think it's a Penalty!

~and~

A Cuban assistant coach has joined the ranks of the defectors in Tampa. The total is now 7 players and 1 coach.

~and~

Fulham's website has a video, of advertisement quality, begging the fans to support them and help the team rise up and avoid relegation. It's a little over the top on the melodrama, but not bad. (thanks to Brian for this)


MLS News

MetroFanatic has a picture of a new Red Bulls billboard featuring Jozy Altidore in New York City. Cool.
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Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune looks at Real Salt Lake's worldwide search for players.
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Lewis also looks at last years frustration and how it can make this years team stronger.
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Steve Pastorino also writing for the Salt Lake Tribune, is Real Salt Lake's former General Manager and he lends his insights to look at the teams new foreign signings.
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MLS Preseason Friendlies

Matches & Scores:
-Thu Mar 13
Dallas 4-2 U Tulsa at PHP
Tristan Suarez (Argentina) 1-1 Kansas City in Buenos Aires
-Fri Mar 14
New England v Marathon (Honduras) in New Orleans
Estudiantes (Argentina) v Kansas City in Buenos Aires
Bermuda (National team) v Colorado in Bermuda National Sports Center
-Sat Mar 15
Dallas v Los Angeles at PHP
Chivas USA v San Diego State at HDC
Ohio Dominican U v Columbus in Columbus
-Sun Mar 16
New Orleans v New England in New Orleans
Fresno Fuego v Chivas USA
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John Connolly of the Boston Herald looks at New England's games in New Orleans this weekend.
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Carolina Challenge Cup

-Preseason Tournament March 15-22 in Charleston South Carolina
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Teams:
Charleston Battery
New York Red Bulls
San Jose Earthquakes
Toronto FC
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Matches & Scores:
-Sat Mar 15
San Jose v Toronto
New York v Charleston
-Wed Mar 19
New York v Toronto
San Jose v Charleston
-Sat Mar 22
Toronto v Charleston
San Jose v New York
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MLS Rumors - Don't Tease Me Bro

Forward Indra Sahdan Daud, captain of the Singapore national team was not offered a contract by Salt Lake after a month long trial.
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Soccer By Ives is reporting that Columbus is about to sign an Argentine centerback, Gino Padula, from Montpellier in France.
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New York has acquired defender Scott Palguta from Rochester on a loan deal.
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England is sending their #2 Franco Baldini to Dallas to check on the progress of their former captain Daniel Bleckdom.
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Talented Colombian midfielder Victor Danilo Pacheco from the club Boyaca Chico is going to Toronto (this comes right from Chico's own website). The club is said to be in very bad financial shape, so they let the player out of his contract. Another report says another Chico player, forward Leonardo Mine Pole, is headed to Toronto FC as well, but there is no real word on that. USA Residency Academy coach Wilmer Cabrera once played for Chico.
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Other word from TFC land is that Kiki Musampa is no longer in the teams plans. Seems he wanted more money than they were willing to pay.
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USL First Division & PDL News

My Minnesota Thunder has signed midfielder Tighe Dombrowski. He played for the old San Jose Earthquakes, and most recently in Sweden at Start.
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USA Olympic Team

Official team blog.
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US Soccer's video show Studio 90 comes to us from Tampa, and features an interview with Dax McCarty, and other goodies.
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CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying

Group A Matches & Scores (all games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa FL):
-Tue Mar 11
Panama 0-1 Honduras -Hon goal by Hendry Thomas.
USA 1-1 Cuba - USA goal by Freddy Adu. Cuba goal by Roberto Linares.
-Thu Mar 13
Honduras 2-0 Cuba - Hon goals by Marvin Sanchez & Hendry Thomas.
USA 1-0 Panama - USA goal by Freddy Adu(PK).
Match report from US Soccer.
Match report by Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer.
Match report from the St Petersburg Times.
Match report from the Tampa Tribune.
Match report from the Bradenton Herald.
Match report from the New York Times.
Match report by Ridge Mahoney at Soccer America.
Post game analysis by Ives Galarcep at Soccernet.
Post game quotes from USA coach and players via US Soccer.
Game photos from US Soccer.
Behind the scenes post game & player interview video from US Soccer.
Post game press conference audio from coach Peter Nowak and midfielder Sacha Klejstan from US Soccer.
Players ratings for Team USA from Goal.com
-Sat Mar 15
Cuba v Panama
USA v Honduras - live at 6pm central on Fox Soccer Channel
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Group B Matches & Scores (all games at Home Deport Center in Carson CA):
-Wed Mar 12
Haiti 0-1 Guatemala - Guat goal by Marvin Avila.
Canada 1-1 Mexico - Can goal by Will Johnson. Mex goal by Luis Landin.
-Fri Mar 14
Canada v Haiti
Mexico v Guatemala
-Sun Mar 16
Guatemala v Canada
Mexico v Haiti
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The top 2 teams from each group will meet in the semifinals: A1 v B2 & B1 v A2.

Semifinal Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Thu Mar 20

Final Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Sun Mar 23
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer talks to USA striker Jozy Altidore who says he was pulled from Tuesdays game due to a stomach ailment, not injury. I think that means he had "the runs."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Luis Bueno at Sports Illustrated wonders why after 3 matches played the USA & Mexico only have 2 draws, 1 win and 3 total goals between them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My notes from USA v Panama:
-It was far from a pretty or entertaining game. But the USA did grind out the win they needed. And that in itself is good.
-Lots of changes from Game 1 on the field for our boys. 5 new starters, and 2 holdovers in new positions.
-As a matter of fact, all 4 defensive spots were changed. Marvell Wynne came on at rightback for Kamani Hill. Michael Orozco was at centerback for Patrick Ianni. Maurice Edu from defensive midfield slid back to centerback for Nathan Sturgis. And Sturgis slid out to leftback in place of Hunter Freeman.
-The USA defense did not give Panama a single quality look at goal.
-The USA team just looked a lot tougher over all. This was my first chance to see Michael Orozco and he is just what I had heard he was, a strong presence at centerback. I like him (and he wore the #3 which is always a brilliant move if you want me to like you). But I gotta say, there was one exception to the toughness - Eddie Gaven is a wimp out there. He is just so soft with his passes and defense and attack. Its kinda sad to see cuz I know he has talent, but.....
-Panama had some real bruisers out there too. Their team captain looked like a linebacker. But he was also a very cool calm head. Several times when things got tense and the two teams looked like they were ready to duke it out, he was always right in the middle getting his teammates out of there. I like that guys attitude - rugged yet smart.
-Dax McCarty had another strong game in the center of midfield. He and Sacha Klejstan were a decent combo behind Freddy Adu, except that for about the first 40 minutes of the second half I forgot Klejstan was out there, so maybe it wasn't such a good combo.
-The only real sub for the USA was Sal Zizzo in the 65th or so minute. He was immediately effective with his speed and attacking attitude - the team was falling into too much of a bunker at that point. Great job by him.
-The other two USA subs were Robbie Findley & Charlie Davies, but they didn't come on until after the 90th minute, and really had no impact on the game at all.
-Like the first game, I thought the referee did a good solid consistent job.
-Several USA players who needed to deliver upped their game. Maurice Edu, Jozy Altidore and Nathan Sturgis all improved.
-Goal keeper Chris Seitz was not really tested, and he did good covering the crosses. His distribution is really good, not just cranking it up the field all the time.
-Panama defense collapsed on Freddy & Jozy every time they touched the ball.
-The USA still needs to move the ball a lot faster and sharper though. Too many guys held the ball way too long and had it easily taken away. And so many passes were not nearly strong enough and were intercepted or guys received them with defenders already crawling over their back. This needs to improve for the team to advance to Beijing.
-I was again disturbed at seeing guys playing out of their normal positions. But luckily it was only two this game as compared to five in game 1. Nowak had central midfielders Maurice Edu & Nathan Sturgis at centerback & left fullback respectively. Luckily they both more than held their own.
-For game 3 I would make two changes, First I would start Sal Zizzo over Eddie Gaven. And second I would sub in attackers earlier.
-Several times during last nights game, TV cameras showed USA senior team coach Bob Bradley in the stands, and I noticed he was wearing an earpiece of some kind. I wonder who he was getting orders from. Aliens? Putin? Chavez? Cheney? Bruce?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Miami Herald with the story on the Cuban team that played the entire 90 minutes with 10 men, due to the defections and a Red Card.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Andrea Canales on her Sideline Views blog has the story of an unintentionally funny exchange between Mexicoach Hugo Sanchez and a reporter from San Diego.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Americans In Europe

Ravi Ubha of Soccernet talks to young forward Gabriel Ferrari who has been a reserve player at Sampdoria in Italy, but is now training with the first team and has actually on the bench a couple times in the last month or so.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Goal.com's weekly Starting XI column - 11 little known Americans who play in Europe.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

FIFA.com with a profile on another small CONCACAF nation - Aruba.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

CONCACAF Champions Cup

Quarterfinals - 1st Leg Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 11
Motagua 0-0 Pachuca
-Wed Mar 12
Harbour View 1-1 DC - Harb goal by Lovell Palmer. Dc goal by Devon McTavish.
Municipal 0-0 Houston
-Thu Mar 13
Atlante 2-1 Saprissa - Atl goals by Gabriel Pereyra & Christian Bermudez. Sup goal by Walter Centeno.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Quarterfinals - 2nd Leg Matches & Scores (with 1st leg scores included):
-Tue Mar 18
DC v Harbour View (1-1)
-Wed Mar 19
Pachuca v Motagua (0-0)
Houston v Municipal (0-0)
-Thu Mar 20
Saprissa v Atlante (1-2)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

NOTE: There is no away-goals tie breaker used in this tournament.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

FMF News

El Clasico Joven - the Young Classic - two huge Mexico City clubs
-Sun Mar 16
Cruz Azul v America
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Copa Libertadores

Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Mar 11
Chivas Guadalajara 0-1 Cucuta Deportivo - Cuc goal by Matias Urbano.
Cienciano 1-0 Coronel Bolognesi - Cien goal by Carlos Solis.
Bamin Real Potosi 2-3 San Lorenzo - Pot goals by Matias Loayza & Alvaro Pintos. San goals by Bernando Romeo, Cristian Chavez & Aureliano Torres(PK).
-Mar 12
Arsenal 0-1 Liga Universitaria Quito - Quito goal by Patricio Urrutia (PK).
Universidad Catolica 1-2 River Plate - Cat goal by Roberto Gutierrez. Riv goals by Sebastian Abreu & Mauro Rosales.
Atlas 3-0 Maracaibo - Atl goals by Gerardo Flores, Jorge Achucarro & Bruno Marioni.
-Mar 13
America 3-1 Dep Univ San Martin - Amer goals by Daniel Marquez, Rodrigo Inigo & Salvador Cabanas. Dep goal by Roberto Silva.
Lanus 0-0 Deportivo Cuenca
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Group Stage Standings
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

European News

Russian club Zenit of St Petersburg has adamantly denied that their fans racially abused players from Marseille during the UEFA Cup game this week. But I have to say that I find their argument a bit baffling. Read it yourself and see what you think.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jeffrey Marcus of the New York Times Goal blog fills us in on the kick off of the new Russian season today with a game played in Chechnya.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

UEFA Champions League

The draw for the Quarterfinals was held Friday, and here are the results:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

-Apr 1 & 2 First Leg
Arsenal v Liverpool
Fenerbahce v Chelsea
Roma v Manchester United
Schalke v Barcelona
-Apr 8 & 9 Second Leg
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Paul Doyle of the Guardian gives his analysis of the draw (mainly for the English teams).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

UEFA Cup

Round of 16 - 2nd leg Matches & Scores (with first leg scores included):
-Wed Mar 12
Bayern 1-2 Anderlecht - Bay adv 6-2 on agg.
Hamburg 3-2 Leverkusen - series ends tied 3-3, with Lev adv on the away goals tie breaker.
Getafe 1-0 Benfica - Get adv 3-1 on agg.
Everton 2-0 Fiorentina - series ends tied 2-2, with Fior adv 4-2 on PK's.
PSV 0-1 Tottenham - series ends tied 1-1, with PSV adv 6-5 on PK's.
Zenit 2-0 Marseille - series ends tied 3-3, with Zen adv on the away goals tie breaker.
-Thu Mar 13
Sporting 2-1 Bolton - Sporting adv 3-2 on agg.
Werder 1-2 Rangers - Rangers adv 4-1 on agg.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Quarterfinal 1st leg Matches & Scores:
-Thu Apr 3
Leverkusen v Zenit
Rangers v Sporting
Bayern v Getafe
Fiorentina v PSV
Quarterfinal 1st leg Matches & Scores (with first leg scores included):
-Thu Apr 10
Zenit v Leverkusen
Sporting v Rangers
Getafe v Bayern
PSV v Fiorentina
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Semifinals Apr 24 & May 1

Final May 14
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Big Euro Club Matches This Weekend

-Sat Mar 15
Valencia v Sevilla - two teams with tons of great players who are totally underachieving.
Roma v Milan - like two giant rams butting heads in Italy.
-Sun Mar 16
Zenit St Petersburg v Spartak Moscow - last seasons #1 opens the new season v last seasons #2.
Juventus v Napoli - practically an old world rivalry.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

World News

Tobias Xavier Lopez of the Fort Worth Star Telegram ranks the 10 players he feels have been the most hyped in modern football. #1 is an easy guess.

Pop That Balloon News

2 more Cuban players have defected today, raising the total to 7. That would bring their available squad down to 13. How can they possibly play like that? One of the defecting players told a reporter: "My dream was always to play in the MLS." Other reports are quoting Cuban team officials who are claiming to be "stunned" by the defections. St Petersburg Times has 2 articles with more info. One -and- Two.

~and~

West Ham has confirmed on their website that they will be the opponent for this years MLS All Star game. The match will be Thu Jul 24 in Toronto.


MLS News

Kartik Kirshnaiyer of the American Soccer Spot and American Soccer Radio Show has a heartfelt essay laying out how he feels MLS is failing in its original mission of growing soccer in America. There is some good stuff here.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Frank Dell'apa of the Boston Globe reports on the final weeks ahead for New England's preseason - it will be tough.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John Connolly of the Boston Herald with an article on Rev's midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. I think he quietly had a very good season last year, which is not something that I saw coming.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mike Biglin of the MetroWest Daily News on New England's trip to New Orleans this weekend for friendlies.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Buzz Carrick at 3rd Degree with his weekly report from FC Dallas practice.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

FC Dallas Updates has video of players Abe Thompson & Dario Sala talking about preseason preparations.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer on New York's #1 keeper Jon Conway.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Frank Dell'apa at Soccernet says Claudio Lopez is great player for Kansas City to sign.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star talks to TFC management about the complaints being lodged against them by fans of away teams who are being limited to 100 tickets per game.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MLS Preseason Friendlies

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Mar 12
Rosario Central (Argentina) 2-2 Salt Lake in Rosario
San Lorenzo (Argentina) 0-3 Kansas City in Buenos Aires
-Thu Mar 13
Dallas v U Tulsa at PHP
Boca Juniors or Velez Sarsfield (Argentina) v Kansas City in Buenos Aires
-Fri Mar 14
New England v Marathon (Honduras) in New Orleans
Estudiantes (Argentina) v Kansas City in Buenos Aires
Bermuda (National team) v Colorado in Bermuda National Sports Center
-Sat Mar 15
Dallas v Los Angeles at PHP
Chivas USA v San Diego State at HDC
New York v Hammarby (Sweden) at HDC
-Sun Mar 16
New Orleans v New England in New Orleans
Fresno Fuego v Chivas USA
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Diego Aparicio of the Dallas Morning News previews Dallas v LA on Saturday.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carolina Challenge Cup

-Preseason Tournament March 15-22 in Charleston South Carolina
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Teams:
Charleston Battery
San Jose Earthquakes
Toronto FC
New York Red Bulls
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Mar 15
San Jose v Toronto
New York v Charleston
-Wed Mar 19
New York v Toronto
San Jose v Charleston
-Sat Mar 22
Toronto v Charleston
San Jose v New York
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SuperLiga

The two groups were announced today for this summers tournament. Website
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Group A:
DC
Houston
Guadalajara
Atlante

Group B:
Chivas USA
Santos Laguna
New England
Pachuca
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Jul 12
DC v Guad
Hou v Atl
-Sun Jul 13
NE v Sant
Chiv v Pach
-Tue Jul 15
Dc v Atl
Hou v Guad
-Wed Jul 16
NE v Pach
Chiv v Sant
-Sat Jul 19
DC v Hou
Atl v Guad - location tbd
-Sun Jul 20
Chiv v NE
Sant v Pach - location tbd
-Tue Jul 29
Semifinal #1 - location tbd
-Wed Jul 30
Semifinal #2 - location tbd
-Tue Aug 5
Final - location tbd
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

USL First Division & PDL News

Miami has signed 2 young Brazilian midfielders, Mineiro & Caue, from the Reserve team of Vitoria.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

USA Olympic Team

Official team blog.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying

Group A Matches & Scores (all games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa FL):
-Tue Mar 11
Panama 0-1 Honduras -Hon goal by Hendry Thomas.
USA 1-1 Cuba - USA goal by Freddy Adu. Cuba goal by Roberto Linares.
-Thu Mar 13
Honduras v Cuba
USA v Panama - live at 7pm central on Fox Soccer Channel
-Sat Mar 15
Cuba v Panama
USA v Honduras - live at 6pm central on Fox Soccer Channel

Group B Matches & Scores (all games at Home Deport Center in Carson CA):
-Wed Mar 12
Haiti 0-1 Guatemala - Guat goal by Marvin Avila.
Canada 1-1 Mexico - Can goal by Will Johnson. Mex goal by Luis Landin.
-Fri Mar 14
Canada v Haiti
Mexico v Guatemala
-Sun Mar 16
Guatemala v Canada
Mexico v Haiti
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The top 2 teams from each group will meet in the semifinals: A1 v B2 & B1 v A2.

Semifinal Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Thu Mar 20

Final Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Sun Mar 23
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer previews USA v Panama.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Goal.com previews USA v Panama.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

USA Match preview from US Soccer.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2 USA players, Charlie Davies & Dax McCarty, do an audio interview for US Soccer and preview the game.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Soccer In America

Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald with a story on the first 5 Cuban Olympic team players that defected in Tampa on Tuesday night.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Americans In Europe

Wednesday games to keep an eye on:
-Benny Feilhaber - Derby - did not dress for a humiliating 6-1 loss at Chelsea.
-Tim Howard - Everton - went the full 90 in his teams 2-0 win over Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup, but went on to lose 4-2 on Penalty Kicks to decide the winner after the aggregate scored ended 2-2.
-Eddie Lewis - Derby - started and went 58 minutes in that same awful match.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

CONCACAF Champions Cup

Quarterfinals - 1st Leg Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 11
Motagua 0-0 Pachuca
-Wed Mar 12
Harbour View 1-1 DC - Harb goal by Lovell Palmer. Dc goal by Devon McTavish.
Municipal 0-0 Houston
-Thu Mar 13
Atlante v Saprissa - 10pm central on FSC

Quarterfinals - 2nd Leg Matches & Scores (with 1st leg scores included):
-Tue Mar 18
DC v Harbour View (1-1)
-Wed Mar 19
Pachuca v Motagua (0-0)
Houston v Municipal (0-0)
-Thu Mar 20
Atlante v Saprissa (-)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

NOTE: There is no away-goals tie breaker used in this tournament.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jeff Carlisle of Soccernet reviews both the DC & Houston road games.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My notes on last nights 2 games:
-Luciano Emilio did not have a good game for DC. His touch was bad, his shots weak, and his passing dreadful. But he never gave up and we all know what he can do.
-The DC back line looked pretty solid for a first game. The 2 Gonzalos in the middle are bruisers and Burch seems to picking up right where he left off.
-DC looked really out of shape though. They got so tired that they could not even jump on those last few free/corner kicks and it cost them a goal.
-New DC #10 Gallardo looks like he has some skill left in his old body. But you gotta hope he holds up all season long. (See Jaime Moreno who tweaked a hamstring 15 minutes in)
-That stadium in Jamaica looked very very small.
-Houston proves again that they have what it takes. Short on players? No problem. They didn't score, but they didn't give up a goal either.
-But Houston definitely needs more strikers. Badly. Chris Wondolowski is not gonna get it done.
-Speaking of goals - if Municipal could finish they could be a fantastic team. But they are like the Colorado Rapids in front of goal. High & Wide.
-Was it just me or did former LA midfielder Pando Ramirez of Municipal look like he wanted some revenge on MLS? He tried to kill a couple people with his wild tackles and cannon shots.
-I enjoyed watching both Harbour View and Municipal. They have some real skills and seem to have a lot of fun playing.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

FMF News

Mark Walsh of Soccer365 with another Mexican derby story - Clasico Joven. A Mexico City derby of America v Cruz Azul. Great stuff.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

South American News

FIFA.com looks at the Colombian national team and feels this one could make big strides.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gregory Sica of Sports Illustrated gushes for River Plate. He has them penciled in for a return to world power.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Copa Libertadores

Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Mar 11
Chivas Guadalajara 0-1 Cucuta Deportivo - Cuc goal by Matias Urbano.
Cienciano 1-0 Coronel Bolognesi - Cien goal by Carlos Solis.
Bamin Real Potosi 2-3 San Lorenzo - Pot goals by Matias Loayza & Alvaro Pintos. San goals by Bernando Romeo, Cristian Chavez & Aureliano Torres(PK).
-Mar 12
Arsenal 0-1 Liga Universitaria Quito - Quito goal by Patricio Urrutia (PK).
Universidad Catolica 1-2 River Plate - Cat goal by Roberto Gutierrez. Riv goals by Sebastian Abreu & Mauro Rosales.
Atlas 3-0 Maracaibo - Atl goals by Gerardo Flores, Jorge Achucarro & Bruno Marioni.
-Mar 13
America v Dep Univ San Martin
Lanus v Deportivo Cuenca
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Group Stage Standings
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

European News

Martin Samuel of The Times does not like where the Champions League is leading European football.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sports Illustrated talks to Lionel Messi's father who is very angry that rumors are spreading that growth hormones are playing a part in his sons injury problems.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Frank Lampard scored 4 goals for Chelsea in a Wednesday league match. One he scored on a PK, the other 3 from the run of play, and the team went on to a 6-1 demolition of last place Derby.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Soccernet has a Q & A with the great Robert Pires, about his current team Villarreal, and his old team Arsenal.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

James Lawton of the Independent wonders if Liverpeople coach Rafa Benitez has finally decided to scrap his rotation system so he can win more games.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are reports coming from Russia that fans of Zenit used racial slurs to taunt Marseille players yesterday in the UEFA Cup match.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And the Russian league kicks off their 2008 season on Friday. Zenit is the defending champs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

UEFA Champions League

The final 8 teams:
Arsenal - England
Barcelona - Spain
Chelsea - England
Fenerbahce - Turkey
Liverpool - England
Manchester United - England
Roma - Italy
Schalke - Germany
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The draw will be held on Friday.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

UEFA Cup

Round of 16 - 2nd leg Matches & Scores (with first leg scores included):
-Wed Mar 12
Bayern 1-2 Anderlecht - Bay adv 6-2 on agg.
Hamburg 3-2 Leverkusen - series ends tied 3-3, with Lev adv on the away goals tie breaker.
Getafe 1-0 Benfica - Get adv 3-1 on agg.
Everton 2-0 Fiorentina - series ends tied 2-2, with Fior adv 4-2 on PK's.
PSV 0-1 Tottenham - series ends tied 1-1, with PSV adv 6-5 on PK's.
Zenit 2-0 Marseille - series ends tied 3-3, with Zen adv on the away goals tie breaker.
-Thu Mar 13
Sporting v Bolton (1-1)
Werder v Rangers (0-2)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

FIFA Scandal News

The Telegraph latches onto the ISL/FIFA bribery story and keeps the momentum going against the greed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A little more on that same story from The Times Insider column.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

World News

This goes waaaay beyond any derby - Israel and Palestine club football. From the LA Times Babylon & Beyond blog.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

World Soccer has a Q & A with Frederic Kanoute of Sevilla & Mali. Via Sports Illustrated.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

World Cup 2010 - South Africa News

The Confederation Cup is a warm-up tournament sponsored by FIFA that takes place the summer before each World Cup in the host country, ie. South Africa. They use it as a test run of sorts. But it has become more than that when you see the prize money being handed out - Winner: $3.75 Million, 2nd Place: $3.25 M, 3rd Place: $2.75 M, 4th Place: $2.25 M, and the other 4 teams get $1.4 M each. The tournament is set for June 14-28 09.

Dude, Yer Like, So Busted News

5 Cuban soccer players left the team last night after their game against the USA are expected to seek political asylum.


MLS News

FIFA.com with a story on New England's two young Gambian players, Abdoulie Mansally & Sainey Nyassi.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Steven Wells of the Philadelphia Weekly gives his view of the new MLS team and the supporters group Sons of Ben. Note: Swells has been one of my favorite writes on any topic going back to the early 80's.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Real Salt Lake has launched their own official team blog - Behind the Shield
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MLS Stadium Talk

The San Jose Mercury News with the latest on stadium planning in that city.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Soccer Silicon Valley blog with more on the latest news from San Jose.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MLS Expansion News

The Chicago Daily Herald pimps for a team in St Louis.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MLS Preseason Friendlies

Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 11
CANCELED San Luis (Mexico) v Chicago in Mexicali - canceled due to poor field conditions
Platense (Argentina) 0-0 Kansas City in Buenos Aires
Central Cordoba (Argentina) 0-2 Salt Lake in Rosario
-Wed Mar 12
Rosario Central (Argentina) v Salt Lake in Rosario
San Lorenzo (Argentina) v Kansas City in Buenos Aires
-Thu Mar 13
Dallas v U Tulsa at PHP
Boca Juniors or Velez Sarsfield (Argentina) v Kansas City in Buenos Aires
-Fri Mar 14
New England v Marathon (Honduras) in New Orleans
Estudiantes (Argentina) v Kansas City in Buenos Aires
Bermuda (National team) v Colorado in Bermuda National Sports Center
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MLS Rumors - Don't Tease Me Bro

The word had been floating around the Liverpool would be the opponent for the MLS All Stars up in Toronto. But today the Toronto Star reports that it will be West Ham. Oh gee goody goody. Quick, name a player on West Ham!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New England is all set to sign Argenis Fernandez, a forward from Costa Rica who last played for Santos in CR.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Andrea Canales has this story on her Sideline Views blog, and it was so good I just had to steal it. David Beacham leaves a tip.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

USL First Division & PDL News

Vancouver re-signed centerback Adrian Cann, and signed 15 year J-League veteran midfielder Takashi Hirano.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

USA Olympic Team

Official team blog.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying

Group A Matches & Scores (all games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa FL):
-Tue Mar 11
Panama 0-1 Honduras -Hon goal by Hendry Thomas.
USA 1-1 Cuba - USA goal by Freddy Adu. Cuba goal by Roberto Linares.
Match report from US Soccer.
Match report by Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer.
Match report from the Bradenton Herald.
Match report from the New York Times.
Post game analysis by Ives Galarcep at Soccernet.
Post game analysis and USA player ratings from Goal.com
Post game analysis by Jeffrey Marcus of the New York Times Goal blog.
Player ratings from Ridge Mahoney at Soccer America.
Post game quotes from USA coach and players from US Soccer.
Game photos from US Soccer.
Post game video from US Soccer.
-Thu Mar 13
Honduras v Cuba
USA v Panama - live at 7pm central on Fox Soccer Channel
-Sat Mar 15
Cuba v Panama
USA v Honduras - live at 6pm central on Fox Soccer Channel
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Group B Matches & Scores (all games at Home Deport Center in Carson CA):
-Wed Mar 12
Haiti v Guatemala
Canada v Mexico
-Thu Mar 14
Canada v Haiti
Mexico v Guatemala
-Sun Mar 16
Guatemala v Canada
Mexico v Haiti
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The top 2 teams from each group will meet in the semifinals: A1 v B2 & B1 v A2.

Semifinal Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Thu Mar 20

Final Matches & Scores (all games at LP Field in Nashville TN):
-Sun Mar 23
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My thoughts on the USA v Cuba game:
Klunker City! Our team came out of the gate on fire, hit the post, made the keeper make a good save, and then scored a goal all in the first 10 minutes or so. Then they moved to Klunker City. My guess is that they thought it was going to be just that easy and switched off. Cuba fought back, with not very much, but got a nice goal on some really slack defending. Then Cuba put everyone behind the ball, laid on the ground in agony for minutes on end every chance they got, and earned themselves a point. Good for Cuba. Pathetic for the USA. Only 2 USA players had good games, Freddy Adu was very good early, moving, passing, shooting and scoring, after that not much. Dax McCarty played great all 90 minutes, refusing to stop or ease up, he was impressive in the center of midfield. The rest of em, well, they better work on their egos. Another problem with this whole team for me is that too many guys are playing out of position. Let's start on the left. Two right footers playing left fullback and left wing. Why? At right fullback you have a newly converted striker. A guy who has never played this position in a real game in his life. Why? At right wing you have a forward. Why? And in the center of defense you have a defensive midfielder. Why? That is 5 guys starting an important game out of position. Who is in charge of this team? Seems like the coach is Dr Frankenstein - putting the monster together from spare parts. And finally, I asked this question 2 weeks ago and will ask it again - why didn't they play any warm up matches before a competition that they say is important. PS. Paging Stuart Holden, Please pick up the white courtesy telephone, and hit your coach over the head with it so he remembers that you are there. PPS. Chad Barrett was of a particularly strong brand of horribleness.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The announced attendance was 4,359. I would believe it if they dropped the 4.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer reports that Jozy Altidore was subbed out at halftime due to injury worries. Here is the quote from coach Nowak: "Jozy got knocked a couple of times, We talked to our doctor and talked to Jozy. We have another two games. Hopefully, he will be ready for Thursday."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star says Team Canada is not ready for the qualifiers.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune previews Mexico.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Soccer In America

This Is American Soccer with another great interview. David Keyes of Culture of Soccer does the asking again, and gets answers from Luis Bueno, one of the great soccer writers in Southern California.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Oakland Tribune with a pretty cool story on a little know talent in American soccer history, and an early star of the San Jose Earthquakes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dave Lifton of the US National Soccer Players Assoc does a Q & A with Jack Huckel, director of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sports Business Journal is covering the World Congress of Sports. Guests include MLS top dog Donald Garber and Liverpool co-owner George Gillet. The event goes on all week.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Americans In Europe

The Fulham website, fans pose questions and Clint Dempsey answers them. (thanks to Brian for this)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Andrew Rogers at Soccer365 does a Q & A with Jonathan Spector.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tuesday games to keep an eye on:
-Jay Demerit - Watford - came on in the 63rd minute of a 0-0 tie game at Bristol City.
-Matt Pickens - Queens Park Rangers - parked on the bench and the team beat Blackpool 3-2 at home.
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CONCACAF Champions Cup

The action is underway!
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Quarterfinals - First Leg Matches & Scores:
-Tue Mar 11
Motagua 0-0 Pachuca
-Wed Mar 12
Harbour View v DC - 7pm central on FSC
Municipal v Houston - 9pm central on FSC
-Thu Mar 13
Atlante v Saprissa - 10pm central on FSC
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Last nights first game of the tournament ended in a scoreless draw down in Honduras.
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Steven Goff of the Washington Post says DC is all business in Jamaica.
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Match preview of Harbour View v DC from Goal.com
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The Jamaica Gleaner previews their local team Harbour View.
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Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle previews Houston's game in Guatemala.
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Ridge Mahoney of Soccer America previews the two MLS teams.
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John Haydon of the Washington Times and Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner preview DC United.
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SoccerLens previews the first round of the tournament.
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Copa Libertadores

Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Mar 11
Chivas Guadalajara 0-1 Cucuta Deportivo - Cuc goal by Matias Urbano.
Cienciano 1-0 Coronel Bolognesi - Cien goal by Carlos Solis.
Bamin Real Potosi 2-3 San Lorenzo - Pot goals by Matias Loayza & Alvaro Pintos. San goals by Bernando Romeo, Cristian Chavez & Aureliano Torres(PK).
-Mar 12
Arsenal v Liga Universitaria Quito
Universidad Catolica v River Plate
Atlas v Maracaibo
-Mar 13
America v Dep Univ San Martin
Lanus v Deportivo Cuenca
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Group Stage Standings
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European News

At the post game press conference last night Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini announced that he will leave the team at the end of the current season. Then this morning he went to speak with reporters again and said he had changed his mind, he is staying. Let the yo-yo begin!
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Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Quieroz is the man rumored to be taking over the head job at Benfica.
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Very interesting fact: Of the 92 teams in England Football League, only 2 of them have black managers.
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The Guardian with an article on highly regarded manager Martin O'Neill, and the job he is doing at Aston Villa.
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Jack Bell of the New York Times Goal blog takes us back to the days when Man U boss Alex Ferguson ruled Aberdeen.
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UEFA Champions League

Matches & Scores
Round of 16 - 2nd leg matches (with 1st leg scores included):
-Tue Mar 11
Inter 0-1 Liverpool - Liv adv 3-0 on agg. Liv goal by Fernando Torres.
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A Red Card to a centerback in each of the two games certainly didn't help Inter, but did they really deserve to win anyway? And what was the deal with Luis Figo refusing to come on as a sub? Did that really happen?
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Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune reviews last nights game and rounds up the final 8 teams.
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The Guardian with a fantastic look at Inter's San Siro stadium last night -what a scene that must have been.
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The final 8 teams:
Arsenal - England
Barcelona - Spain
Chelsea - England
Fenerbahce - Turkey
Liverpool - England
Manchester United - England
Roma - Italy
Schalke - Germany
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Four of the Quarterfinalists are from England, and the other 4 are from separate countries.
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The draw will be held on Friday.
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When Liverpool signed Fernando Torres last summer I questioned his toughness
when the games met something. He had not come through for Atletico
Madrid or Spain when he had the chance to. But I will admit my mistake
and say that he has become one hell of a striker. Great for him.
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UEFA Cup

Round of 16 - 2nd leg Matches & Scores (with first leg scores included):
-Wed Mar 12
Bayern 1-2 Anderlecht - Bay adv 6-2 on agg.
Hamburg 3-2 Leverkusen - series ends tied 3-3, with Lev adv on the away goals tie breaker.
Getafe 1-0 Benfica - Get adv 3-1 on agg.
Everton 2-0 Fiorentina - series ends tied 2-2, with Fior adv 4-2 on PK's.
PSV 0-1 Tottenham - series ends tied 1-1, with PSV adv 6-5 on PK's.
Zenit 2-0 Marseille - series ends tied 3-3, with Zen adv on the away goals tie breaker.
-Thu Mar 13
Sporting v Bolton (1-1)
Werder v Rangers (0-2)
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Euro League Cup Competitions

-FA Cup-
Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune looks at the unlikely final 4.