FIFA Confederations Cup Final: Brazil vs. United States

No real previews for the match have popped up but we don't really need any, do we? U.S. viewers can tune in to ESPN at 2pm EDT (kick-off is 2:30pm) this Sunday to catch the clash. Let's hope the Yanks can match the form they displayed against Spain this time around. Oh, and not getting a red card would help as well...

Friday MLS Forecast: Week Fifteen

The Forecast wonders what, if anything, the U.S. win over Spain means for MLS before reviewing the abbreviated Week Fifteen fixture list.

Amy Lawrence: U.S. Celebrates Miracle on Grass

A stunning win over Spain at the Confederations Cup has left the USA's football-supporting minority dreaming of a bright future.

Soccer steps into the limelight as America celebrates its miracle on grass.

The Joy of Six: Extinct Football Competitions

From Soccer Six at the G-Mex to the cup that gave the world the penalty shootout, here are half-a-dozen quirky events we miss.

Top 10 upsets in international football to rival USA’s Confederations Cup win over Spain

The US shocked the football world with their terrific 2-0 Confederations Cup victory over Spain, that Barcelona midfielder Xavi branded "a lesson in humility", though the Americans have handed such a lesson to England in the past, too.

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Friday's Rumours



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U.S. Releases Gold Cup Roster

U.S. Soccer released the Gold Cup roster today and only four members of the Confederations Cup squad will be with the team, with Charlie Davies being the only one of those four to have played in any of the U.S.’s first four Confed. Cup matches.








GOALKEEPERS (3): Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Troy Perkins (IK Start), Luis Robles (FC Kaiserslautern)

DEFENDERS (7): Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jay Heaps (New England Revolution), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids), Sam Cronin (Toronto FC), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (5): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United)

Martin Rogers: Donovan deserves a look from La Liga

There were a few smirks and sarcastic nudges among the Spanish press corps on Tuesday when Landon Donovan admitted his desire to play in La Liga.

No one is laughing anymore.

I'm still laughing...

FIFA Confederations Cup: South Africa 0 - 1 Brazil

Substitute Daniel Alves broke South African hearts with an 87th-minute free-kick for Brazil that dumped the hosts out of the Confederations Cup with a narrow semi-final victory in Johannesburg.

Report

Player Ratings


Derek Rae: Brazil huff and puff but will face USA

Top 10 Wrong Pele Predictions

Pele may have been one of the greatest players in the history of the game, having been part of three victorious World Cup teams in 1958, 1962 and 1970, but, since retiring, he has become less respected as a pundit off-the-pitch.

Egyptians deny "media lies" about prostitutes

Egypt have blamed their Confederations Cup exit on media "lies" about their players consorting with prostitutes after beating world champions Italy.

FIFA Confederations Cup Semi-Final Preview: South Africa vs. Brazil

Kick-off: Thursday 25 June 2009, 2:30pm EDT
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
U.S. TV: ESPN2, ESPN360
Preview

Theo Walcott: Even my parents booed me off

Walcott admits that Pearce was right to withdraw him after his 45-minute run-out in the opening game, but wants to channel his disappointment over that performance into helping England to reach Monday's final against either Italy or Germany. “You never like to be substituted,” he said. “But even my parents booed me off at half-time against Finland"

Theo with his Dad, Mum & Special Lady Friend...

Let's see Theo's Special Lady Friend one more time...

Just because...

Carlsberg's last orders for Liverpool deal

Carlsberg is running out of time to negotiate a new shirt sponsorship deal with Liverpool as the Merseyside club hold out for a bumper contract amid interest from a host of leading international companies.

The Forgotten Story of … Sampdoria's Only Scudetto

In 1990-91, a side containing Vialli, Mancini and Lombardo were the subject of one of football's great modern fairytales.

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Thursday's Rumours



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FIFA 2010 World Cup: A Look at the African Qualifiers

As the African race to the continent's first World Cup reaches the halfway stage, the happiest fans of all so far are Ghanaian or Ivorian. For the two teams that debuted at the last World Cup in Germany, namely Ghana's Black Stars and Ivory Coast's Elephants, are marching serenely towards South Africa.

Real Madrid sign Raul Albiol and step up Karim Benzema chase

Although no fee has been officially announced, it is thought that Madrid will pay in the region of €15m (£12.8m) for the centre-back.

Norman Hubbard: Crucial Summer Awaits for Aston Villa

Stability has a fragility. For the second successive season, Aston Villa finished sixth. Yet after spending much of the campaign apparently on the brink of a seismic advance into the top four, even that had the feel of an anti-climax. And even if a station in the top six suggested consolidation, Villa are now in grave danger of going backwards.

FIFA Confederations Cup: United States 2 - 0 Spain

Call it a miracle on grass -- maybe not the World Cup, but still an American soccer echo of the U.S. hockey team's upset of the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. By winning, the maligned United States advanced to its first men's FIFA final since starting play in 1916.

Report
Player Ratings

Alvarez:
Spain display a sensational caraja

Rogers:
Time has come to fear U.S. soccer

Davis:
U.S. sends shock waves across Europe

Trecker: Biggest U.S. win ever

Latham:
Altidore gets the last laugh on Spain

Slick England are now the team to beat in the Under-21 Championship

The cut and thrust of England's play against Germany cemented their position as the ones to watch in the competition.

Quotes & Chants of the Week

"When I was keeping goal, I felt like I was defending the gateway to my motherland."
North Korea keeper Ri Myong Guk after the draw with Saudi Arabia that clinched their first World Cup qualification since the memorable campaign of 1966.

"Forget Huckleberry Finn, Moby Dick, Last of the Mohicans, Mickey Mouse and Sleeping Beauty…"
BBC commentator puts the United States' qualification for the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup into historical context.

"If the USA qualify, I'll eat my hat."
BBC commentator Steve Wilson. I look forward to seeing photos of this now!

"One of the world's best defenders trying to play offside there...oh no, its Dossena."
Lee Dixon in the Confederations Cup coverage of Brazil v Italy.

"These Italian players will be a year older in a year's time."
Martin Keown co-commentating on Italy's Confederations Cup game against Egypt.

"This is do-it-yourself stuff from Maicon, with a little help from his friends."
Commentator during Brazil v USA game in South Africa.

THE REST

The Death of Italian Football?

Italians once referred to Serie A as 'il campionato piu bello del mondo', the most beautiful championship in the world, but this summer there threatens to be an exodus of top talent that could mark the end of an era for Italian football.



The Good Old Days...

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Wednesday's Rumours



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ESPN to share La Liga's U.S. TV rights

ESPN2 will televise about 20 matches per season, and ESPN Deportes two or three per weekend of league play for a total of at least 95. At least 114 matches per season will be available online on ESPN360. ESPN's networks will also share rights to Spain's Copa del Rey.

FIFA Confederations Cup Semi-Final Previews: United States vs. Spain

What: Semifinal round, Confederations Cup
When: 2:30 ET, Wednesday, June 24
Where: The Free State Stadium; Mangaung/Bloemfontein, South Africa
TV: ESPN, ESPN360.com, Univision
Preview

Latham: U.S. believes it can win
Lalas: U.S. backline pulling its weight anonymously
Rogers: How USA can beat Spain

U.S. learning to cope without Bocanegra
FIFA giving away tickets to the match

What now for the Azzurri?

While the Confederations Cup semi-finalists prepare for their last four matches, world champions Italy have returned home with their tails between their legs. A 3-0 humbling by Brazil not only put paid to their chances of reaching this tournament's knockout stages, but also emphatically laid out the size of the task facing the Azzurri over the next twelve months, if their next visit to South Africa is to be more successful than their most recent one.



As long as this keeps happening during their training sessions, who really cares how they fare on the pitch???

Denilson to leave Vietnam after just half a game

After playing a half a game with Vietnam's Hai Phong Cement FC, former Brazil international Denilson has shocked fans by quitting the team because of injuries, the Vietnam Football Federation said.




The entire population of Vietnam tries in vain to get him to stay...

The Mill

Tuesday's Rumours

Yellow bellied Magpies

Just when Newcastle United fans thought things couldn't get worse, the club unveiled the team's new away kit:






Of course, in terms of putting off your opponent, nothing beats Hull's strip from the early 90's, which came in various guises...






Now, if they really wanted to wow Brüno and other fashionistas, they should have checked out Derby County's 1984 home strip [sponsored by local brewer Bass]...

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Monday's Rumours

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Two killed in clashes between fans of same Argentine team

Argentina’s chronic soccer violence flared up again on Sunday when fans of title favourites Huracan clashed and left two dead and two badly injured, hospital sources said on Monday.

FIFA Confederations Cup: Brazil 3 - 0 Italy

Brazil sliced Italy apart with three goals in a devastating eight-minute spell to send the world champions crashing out of the Confederations Cup on Sunday. Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano bagged a brace and Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena scored an own goal as Dunga's flamboyant troops stunned their arch rivals with the triple blow just before the break. It was the first time Italy has conceded three goals before half-time since 1957.


Player Ratings

Worst Italy team for 50 years?

FIFA Confederations Cup: United States 3 - 0 Egypt

The United States secured an unlikely place in the Confederations Cup semifinals by beating Egypt 3-0 Sunday. The Americans had looked to be heading out of the tournament after losses to Italy and Brazil, but Charlie Davies, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey scored in a vastly improved performance to edge the African champions for a place in the next round on goal difference. With Brazil beating Italy 3-0 in the other Group B game, the United States will now play Spain in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

Player Ratings

Lalas: Heart of the matter for USA

Ives: U.S. shows passion and heart to rout Egypt

Trecker: Solid U.S. gets job done, with a little help