SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.
The game between Roma and AC Milan in the Italian capital is the best Serie A has to offer, according to Adriano Galliani. Second-placed Milan travel to the Eternal City trailing city rivals Inter by four points, with Roma just three points further behind. A draw in Rome would only benefit Jose Mourinho's Inter.
The Nerazzurri host Genoa having ended a three-match winless run last weekend by edging Udinese 3-2.
Red-hot Palermo, who head into the weekend in fourth spot, take on relegation-threatened Livorno.
Napoli and Juventus are just two points behind Palermo, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot. Napoli visit Bologna looking to end a five-match winless run, while Juve face a big test when they visit Fiorentina on Saturday.
Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has again heaped praise on "extraordinary" Sevilla winger Jesus Navas. Ramos' comments come before the weekend's mouthwatering La Liga showdown between the two high-flying clubs at the Bernabeu.
Barca have not been in top form recently, as admitted by coach Pep Guardiola, but they looked close to their best in defeating Malaga 2-1 last weekend despite needing a late winner from Lionel Messi.
The reigning champions face a potentially tough trip on Saturday though as they take on an Almeria side that has been in impressive form in 2010, winning four of nine matches and losing just once.
Preview
Holden was injured during the United States' 2-1 friendly defeat by the Netherlands on Wednesday.
After leaving Houston Dynamo, Holden signed for Bolton in January on a deal until the end of the season - and Coyle confirmed on Thursday he would be taking up an option to extend the deal until the end of next season.
Everton's No. 9 shirt has an indelible association with goalscorers. From Dixie Dean, the sole man to score 60 in a league season, through to more recent strikers such as Bob Latchford, Graeme Sharp, Duncan Ferguson and, latterly, Louis Saha, a variety of finishers have worn it. For the last two months, it has belonged to the United States' record scorer, but Landon Donovan's stint in England isn't notable for his solitary goal. Indeed, Sunday's glaring miss, from two yards against Tottenham, is more memorable than his strike against Sunderland. With the World Cup approaching, an English perspective may be to suggest that the (entirely legitimate) challenge that resulted in Ashley Cole breaking his ankle is his most significant contribution.
It was a glorious winter morning in Durham, North Carolina, when eight sides and countless supporters gathered on the pitch to clash for the Niko Cup. At the end of the morning, after fifteen 20-minute five-a-side matches were complete, The Knights Who Say Ni(ko)! emerged victorious and claimed the Cup. With Top Defender award winner Chris Cassalia anchoring the defense and former Taiwanese Foreign Player of the Year Chris Gaffney pulling the strings up top, The Knights we always favorites.
Before Wednesday night’s friendly against Holland at the Amsterdam ArenA, Bradley cheekily suggested that several of Ferguson’s peers have privately offered him their backing for when the countries meet in Rustenburg on June 12.
“I have been in Europe a lot lately and I’ve had the chance to catch up with different people,” he said. “I appreciated those opportunities, whether it was watching training sometimes or communicating about our players.
As the samba road-show wheeled back into its increasingly familiar setting of the Emirates Stadium in North London for this friendly with the Republic of Ireland, Brazil coach Dunga knew that time was running out in his bid to iron out the numerous dilemmas before him ahead of his ultimate test.
When Arsène Wenger preached recently about Arsenal as a lone force for good in an ugly football world, he was rightly slapped down in several quarters, this column among them, for one-eyed sermonising.
That case against him stands, but it does not mean we should now dismiss his concerns about the rough tactics employed against Arsenal.
Lionel Messi or Wayne Rooney? Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka? Iker Casillas or Gianluigi Buffon?Whatever your choices, we can all agree that the world's biggest sporting event can't arrive soon enough.
South Africa and Mexico kick off the World Cup on June 11, but until then we can only count down the days until the tournament begins. We're going to do that with 101 different stories running over 101 days -- call it World Cup 101.
Since Lando took out Cashley can he move up to 49...?
This week is the last for international friendies before the end of the season. It's the final chance for fringe players to push their claims for a World Cup place. Chile thought they had found the perfect way to give all their players the opportunity to show their stuff with a double-header on Wednesday against Costa Rica and North Korea, one after the other. But then the country was struck by Saturday's massive earthquake and amid the chaos and confusion the matches could clearly not go ahead. The Uruguayan FA made a swift and noble offer to stage the games in Montevideo, so Chile's preparations for the World Cup would not be disturbed, but Chile decided that calling off the friendlies was the only appropriate step.
Despite the fact he is now 33, there is a feeling that Guti remains a juvenile character and likes to rebel against authority. On the pitch, he has always been unpredictable, as he can play three different games in the space of 90 minutes.
At his best, Guti is among the top five midfielders in the world. He has the skills to unlock any defence, devastating passing ability and is as natural in front of goal as a striker. At his worst, Guti is capable of disturbing an entire team. He has a volcanic ego, and that can lead to mistakes few would expect from a player of his undoubted ability. "If Guti could have just focused on performing on the pitch, he could have been the new Zidane," former team-mate Michel Salgado has said of him in the past.
Serie A leaders Inter Milan seemed in control at half-time but were made to battle all the way for a thrilling 3-2 victory at Udinese.An Alexandre Pato brace set AC Milan on their way to a routine 3-1 win over Atalanta which kept them four points behind Inter in the title race.
The Brazilian, whose afternoon ended on a negative note as he came off injured 10 minutes from time, scored twice in the final 15 minutes of the first half and, even though Jaime Valdes pulled one back, Marco Borriello followed up to score after Ronaldinho's penalty was saved five minutes later.
