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.
Monday, October 05, 2009
FIFA Under-20 World Cup: U.S. team's flaws brutally exposed by Korea
In its final group match, the U.S. U-20 national team played just as they had in a previous match at this World Cup in Egypt. Unfortunately for coach Thomas Rongen, the match the U-20s replicated was not their convincing win over Cameroon, but rather the comprehensive opening loss to Germany. A clinical and hard-working South Korean side was everything the Americans weren't, winning battles in every sector of the field and taking away a convincing 3-0 victory, to leave the Americans' chances of advancing at the FIFA U-20 World Cup dangling by a thread.Editor's Note: The U.S. team did not advance
Monday MLS Breakdown: Rapids Fullbacks Prepared For Service
With a raft of knee injuries sidelining every available Colorado winger, Rapids fullbacks Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura are facing additional pressure to provide service from the wide areas. Kyle McCarthy checks in with the Rapids to see how their fullbacks are coping with the additional strain before taking a look at all of the Week 29 action.
Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Reviews
Spain: La Liga Weekend Roundups
Italy: Serie A Weekend Roundups
England: Premier League Weekend Review
Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea returned to the top of the Premier League table after edging out title rivals Liverpool at Stamford Bridge while at the wrong end of the standings Portsmouth earned their first points of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.Elsewhere, Manchester United can consider themselves fortunate to have avoided defeat versus Sunderland, Cesc Fabregas ran the show for Arsenal against Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur played out a four-goal cracker while the early scrap at the bottom took further twists.
England: Premier League Special Reports
Kevin Palmer at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 2 - 0 Liverpool
Harry Harris at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 2 - 0 Liverpool
Harry Harris at Old Trafford
Manchester United 2 - 2 Sunderland
Amy Lawrence at Emirates Stadium
Arsenal 6 - 2 Blackburn Rovers
Vive le Foot! (En Retard)
Vive la Foot!
A belated Vive le Foot this week since I found myself flying to the land of Ligue 1 overnight...sadly enough I will not be able to attend the PSG -Nancy tie in Paris…but my SF correspondent will be at the Emirates scouting some Frenchies vs. Blackburn…
Makelele: washed out, vicious, and referee's pet?
Boulogne lost the match of the promoted last weekend and will face a Lille side that destroyed Slavia Prague 5 - 1 in the last 15 minutes of their Europa League tie.
Boulogne - Lille 1 - 2
One wants to hope that Grenoble will finally earn a point after yet another woeful defeat against Auxerre. Montpellier is at an amazing 4th place…
Grenoble - Montpellier 1 - 1
Lens had a heavy loss at Le Mans and I can’t see them score much against Lyon. Les Gones had a laborious victory last weekend but confirmed easily at Debrecen with a cruel 0 - 4. The bench is deep, goals come from everywhere with the absence of Lisandro Lopez, Sidney Govou is back.
Lens - Lyon 1 - 3
Monaco had a surprising loss at home meaning that the rollercoaster continues. Meanwhile Didier Deschamps experienced two crushing defeats against a modest Valenciennes side and at Bernabeu on Wednesday. OM, an early season favorite seems to have confidence problems. I expect a very physical game…
Marseille - Monaco 3 - 2
Nice is still sinking with a terrible defense while Valenciennes has accumulated 10 points in their last four games.
Nice- Valenciennes 1 - 2
It is about time that PSG shows power after 2 disappointing draws but it was an entertaining week nevertheless for Paris when coach Kombouare declared “Lorient coach Gourcuff needs to get bitch slapped for saying Makelele had a sort of impunity from referees”. Expect a ravenous PSG side against a Nancy team that scores a lot but remains shaky in the back
PSG - Nancy 3 - 1
Rennes had to endure it first defeat against the reigning champion but they will easily get revenge against an Auxerre side that seems to finally be able to play well.
Rennes - Auxerre 3 - 0
Les Verts surprisingly beat Monaco away thanks to Bergessio (BRA) but they face an unbeaten Bordeaux side that has kept clean sheets since August 15th thanks to Cedric Carrasco now 3rd goalkeepeer in the national team hierarchy. Yohann Gourcuff (FRA) and Yohan Gouffran (FRA) are injured and the Girondins have shown signs of exhaustion in their Champions League victory . Time maybe for silent Fernando Cavanaugh (ARG) to make a comeback?
St Etienne - Bordeaux 1 - 2
Sochaux will have to fight against relegation this year while Le Mans likes to lose away. This is the dud match of the weekend.
Sochaux - Le Mans 1 - 1
Toulouse will be mourning the loss of their fan Brice Martin, murdered in Belgrad by Partizan fans and will be fighting for a clear victory. I can see Lorient getting them on the break and preserving once again their overachieving ways.
Toulouse - Lorient 2 - 2
1 - Bordeaux 19 pts
2 - Lyon 17 pts
3 - Marseille 14 pts
4 - Montpellier 14 pts
5 - Rennes 12 pts
…
18 - Sochaux - 6 pts
19 - Nice 5 pts
20 - Grenoble 0 pts
Only four good scores last weekend…
The Frenchman!
Friday, October 02, 2009
Lawrence Donegan on Scotland
The national team is a joke, the top two are nowhere and it is only going to get worse.
Old Firm's decline signposts the end of Scotland's glorious heritage.
"20 paces to the shower room..."
Amy Lawrence on AC Milan
The Berlusconis want to sell, the team look old and Leonardo may not be around for long. Things do not look good in Milan.
Milan's humbling defeat to FC Zurich sends them lurching deeper into crisis.
"Screw Milan. Bring my 18-year-old lover to me! Excellent..."
Hull City team in high spirits after saving suicidal woman from bridge
It certainly would have been an unusual sight for the drivers making their way across the world's fifth largest suspension bridge, as manager Phil Brown took the entire first-team "looking for clarity" during a walk over the bridge.
Instead, as Brown revealed in a weekly news conference, the team found the woman who Brown managed to "sweet talk" to safety.
Humber Bridge, Kingston upon Hull, England
Friday MLS Forecast
The Forecast discusses how a traditional English front duo has sparked Colorado towards the playoffs before it unveils its Week 29 selections.
England: Premier League Previews, Predictions & League Table
Liverpool's trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea is the big clash of the weekend. Elsewhere, Manchester United host Sunderland, Wolves welcome Pompey, Arsenal host Blackburn, Wigan go to Hull, Birmingham are at Burnley, Spurs are at Bolton, Everton host Stoke and West Ham welcome Fulham. Monday Night Football is Manchester City at Aston Villa...Preview I
Preview II
Lawro's Predictions
Phil McNulty on Liverpool & Chelsea
| Club | Played | Points |
| Manchester United | 7 | 18 |
| Chelsea | 7 | 18 |
| Liverpool | 7 | 15 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 15 |
| Manchester City | 6 | 15 |
| Arsenal | 6 | 12 |
| Aston Villa | 6 | 12 |
| Sunderland | 7 | 12 |
| Everton | 6 | 9 |
| Wigan Athletic | 7 | 9 |
| Burnley | 7 | 9 |
| Stoke City | 7 | 8 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 6 | 7 |
| Birmingham | 7 | 7 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 6 | 7 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7 | 7 |
| Fulham | 6 | 6 |
| West Ham United | 6 | 4 |
| Hull City | 7 | 4 |
| Portsmouth | 7 | 0 |
Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview + League Table
Italian league leaders Sampdoria are brimming with confidence heading into this weekend's game against Parma. This follows their 1-0 victory over three-time defending champions Inter Milan last week, a victory that pushed Samp one point clear of Juventus after six matches of the season.
| CLUB | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| Sampdoria | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 15 |
| Juventus | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Internazionale | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 13 |
| Fiorentina | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13 |
| Udinese | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| Genoa | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Parma | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 10 |
| Chievo Verona | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| AS Roma | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Lazio | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 8 |
| AC Milan | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 8 |
| Bari | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Cagliari | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 7 |
| Napoli | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 7 |
| Palermo | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1 | 6 |
| Bologna | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1 | 6 |
| Siena | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -4 | 4 |
| Catania | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -4 | 3 |
| Atalanta | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -6 | 2 |
| Livorno | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -7 | 2 |
Spain: La Liga Weekend Previews + League Table
Real Madrid's 100% record could come under serious threat this weekend when they travel to face in-form Sevilla.Guillem Balague's Preview
| CLUB | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| Real Madrid | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 15 |
| Barcelona | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 15 |
| Sevilla FC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 12 |
| Mallorca | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| Deportivo La Coruña | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 9 |
| Valencia | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Real Zaragoza | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Osasuna | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 7 |
| Espanyol | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 7 |
| Almeria | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Getafe | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -1 | 6 |
| Tenerife | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 6 |
| Sporting Gijon | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 5 |
| Racing Santander | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -5 | 5 |
| Valladolid | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 4 |
| Málaga | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| Atlético Madrid | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -6 | 3 |
| Villarreal | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -4 | 2 |
| Xerez | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -11 | 1 |
Scottish Old Firm Preview: Rangers vs. Celtic
It is meant to be Scottish football's most eagerly anticipated match. A fixture that, love or loathe it, is impossible to ignore. A derby that even has English fans, brought up on the champagne football of the Premier League, glancing upwards through jealous eyes - fascinated by a rivalry that is always capable of reducing even the most cultured player into a raving lunatic.
Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Preview
Stuttgart host Bremen, Lukas Podolski returns to Munich and Prussians face off in Moenchengladbach in Round 8. Clark Whitney previews all the weekend action...Friday
Schalke – Eintracht Frankfurt
Saturday
Hannover - Freiburg
Bayern Munich - Koeln
Bayer Leverkusen - Nuernberg
Bochum - Wolfsburg
Mainz - Hoffenheim
Borussia M’gladbach - Borussia Dortmund
Sunday
Stuttgart - Werder Bremen
Hertha Berlin - Hamburg
FIFA Under-20 World Cup: United States vs. South Korea
The Americans' itinerary will depend largely on which group turns up against the South Korean team -- the one that was trounced by Germany in the opening match, or the squad that pummeled Cameroon on Tuesday night.
U.S. vs. South Korea
Mubarak Stadium; Suez, Egypt
October 2, 12:30 p.m. EDT
ESPN2, ESPN360.com