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.
All the opponents who've told me to go and jump of a cliff have finally got their wish.I've squared up to Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira in my time but I've never done anything quite as scary as Derby's team bonding session yesterday. Our boss Nigel Clough took us to Swanage, where we were led down a path to a cliff ledge 40 feet above the sea. Then we had to plunge into the water below.
But they are banking on him rediscovering his form of old in a league he once graced.
The new season is nearly upon us and Off The Ball will be scratching around the underbelly of professional football for some bizarre and often inexplicable revelations every step of the way.
This week we have Xavi's latest efforts for the Barcelona PR machine, an Index that has nothing at all to do with Fabio Capello, the invasion of the vuvuzela into the Premier League and some new kits to gawp at.
Champions League matches next season will feature two extra assistant referees after the experiment was approved by Wednesday's meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB). The additional assistant referees system was used in the Europa League last season and has now been brought into Europe's elite club competition, as well as a handful of other competitions around the world.
Name Sergio Oliveira
The 27-year-old admits it was wrench parting company with the Premier League outfit, especially after they helped to nurse him back to full health following a horrific injury.
Eduardo suffered a badly broken leg during a meeting with Birmingham in February 2008, halting him in his tracks and preventing him from making the most of his time in England.
Ahead of next week's All-Star Game against Manchester United, Los Angeles Galaxy and MLS All-Star coach Bruce Arena talked about many thing, but there was one topic that Arena dared not broach: The delicate subject of those unfortunate players who just missed the cut for making the 23-man All-Star squad.
A spokesman for Chelsea confirmed: "Petr will be out for around a month after scans showed a tear in his right calf.
"He is expected to miss the rest of the pre-season campaign."
Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, to give him his full name, delayed the start of his international career until the age of 25 so he could complete his studies as a doctor. When asked to name his heroes, rather than opting for Brazilian footballers such as Pele and Garrincha, he picked John Lennon and Cuban revolutionary leader Che Guevara - like Socrates, a trained doctor.
In his retirement, he has added a doctorate in philosophy and fathered six children, and he continues to practice medicine in the town of Ribeirao Preto in addition to being a commentator on both football and cultural issues. He is currently writing a novel.
Xavi exclusively told the Daily Express: “We know where Cesc wants to be this coming season, but perhaps there is not enough time for Barcelona and Arsenal to agree a deal.
“Arsenal need to understand they are only delaying the inevitable. If we don’t manage to get his signature this season then Arsenal only really have him on loan for a year – because there is nothing they can do to stop him joining next summer.”
"Freddie is a great player and he brings energy onto the field. Every time he plays on the field he plays with energy. For us as a team, you have to judge how we play with him or without him"
A return to modeling...??!!
Football clubs have been proudly unveiling their new strips for the forthcoming season - but among them are a few horror shows.
Here The Independent picks out a few of this season's worst offenders and look back at some of the ugliest kits in living memory.
