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.
Just a day after all 32 nations announced their provisional 30-man rosters, Landon Donovan, the USA’s best and highest profile player, wasted no time in cranking up the heat on the England team and its biggest star, Wayne Rooney.
“Of course, there is more pressure on the English players,” said Donovan, in an exclusive interview with Yahoo! Sports. “If we don’t do well in the World Cup, people care for a little bit. But if England doesn’t do well in the World Cup, it is absolutely devastating to their country, their families, to their people.”
Look at the Premier League table and you see Chelsea and Manchester United together at the top, Arsenal ten points back, but with a healthy five-point lead over the five clubs ranked fourth through eighth. Then there's an eleven-point gap between the five sides between 9 and 13 who enjoy a five-point gap between them and the rest of the table.
So, with that in mind, I split the Premier League up into four tiers (to be fair, Arsenal probably ought to get their own tier, but I did not want to make a Best XI composed only of Arsenal players, so I lumped them with Chelsea and Untied) and made a best XI for each. It's more fun this way and forces you to think a bit more about players who don't get talked about as much.
Both the singer and actor Hugh Grant were among the celebrity fans who had flown to Hamburg to cheer on The Cottagers.
An overwhelmed Hamburg airport...
Thirty players were named to the U.S. national team's provisional World Cup roster Tuesday. But the biggest news concerned one performer who didn't make the list: Charlie Davies.Defenders (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
Midfielders (12): DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Torres (Pachuca)
Forwards (6): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)
The Italy coach Marcello Lippi remained true to his word today by rewarding the players who helped the Azzurri to the World Cup finals with a place in his provisional squad for this year's tournament in South Africa.Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo);
Defenders: Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Grosso (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa);
Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Antonio Candreva (Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Simone Pepe (Udinese);
Forwards: Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Marco Borriello (Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria).
Serbia coach Radomir Antic included six England-based players in his provisional 30-man World Cup squad.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's international career appears to be over after the veteran striker missed out on Bert van Marwijk's 30-man preliminary World Cup squad.
Mexico have named only five recognised midfielders in their 26-man provisional group for the World Cup.
Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso are set to miss the World Cup after not being included in coach Diego Maradona's 30-man preliminary squad.Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (Newell's Old Boys), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Sebastian Blanco (Lanus), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Jesus Datolo (Olympiacos), Jose Sosa (Estudiantes), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo)
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli).
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira have been omitted from France's 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup in South Africa.Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Rod Fanni (Rennes), William Gallas (Arsenal), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Adil Rami (Lille), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Yann M'Vila (Rennes), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)
Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Hatem Ben Arfa (Marseille), Jimmy Briand (Rennes), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).
Ronaldinho and Adriano will both miss the World Cup in South Africa after being omitted from the 23-man Brazil squad named by Dunga on Tuesday.Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma), Luisao (Roma), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Michel Bastos (Lyon)
Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Josue (Wolfsburg), Elano (Galatasaray), Ramires (Benfica), Kleberson (Flamengo), Kaka (Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (Roma)
Forwards: Robinho (Santos/Manchester City), Nilmar (Villarreal), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Grafite (Wolfsburg).
Favourite moment The second goal in Arsenal's 3-0 defeat of Aston Villa in December, Cesc Fábregas stretching a hamstring as he sprinted to turn in Theo Walcott's pass.
Least favourite moment Reading the list of those to whom Portsmouth FC owe money.
Unsung hero Clint Dempsey, who may yet give England a nasty surprise in South Africa.
Villain The grotesque duo who took over at West Ham and promptly began to undermine Gianfranco Zola.
Owner of the season Mohamed Al Fayed, of whom many criticisms can be made but who has consistently done the decent thing by a decent club.
What we have learned That, like casino bankers, the Premier League will do nothing to regulate itself.
Quote "Only wine. No water. And easy questions, please" - Carlo Ancelotti celebrates.
In 20 years they'll still be talking about Darren Bent's beachball goal for Sunderland against Liverpool.
Vs. Birmingham, 2-1, (24 minutes)
Holden returned to action on Sunday, coming on as a second half substitute and nearly scored in the 70th minute but his effort went narrowly wide of the post. The midfielder’s return is encouraging and should boost his World Cup hopes.
I have to confess that I enjoyed the penultimate edition of La Liga so much that my little heart was fair beating with emotion at the end of it all - and the beauty of it is that there's still more to come next weekend. It was such a brilliant Saturday that I almost forgot that the team I really support, Grimsby Town, had just lost their league status after 99 years, up in the colder north of the continent in which I dwell. Sunshine and shadow, cara y cruz - the Spanish love all that sort of stuff, and so I must learn to assimilate this mortal blow and get on with life, like all the best stoics. 
Seattle Sounders FC set several records on Saturday.
Two late goals from Francesco Totti enabled Roma to take the race for the Serie A title to the final weekend.
With leaders Inter Milan edging out Chievo 4-3, Roma had to beat Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico to prolong the battle for the Scudetto.
Barcelona survived a dramatic Sevilla fightback to win 3-2 and keep their La Liga title defence in their own hands.
Real Madrid were 5-1 victors at home to Athletic Bilbao. There is one round of matches to go next weekend.
I can see a coalition government coming up, with Dave as PM and Nick as deputy - and neither of them telling us owt... the Clam years. Clegg n Brown'd be the Clown years I suppose.
Any road, Chelsea. I was kind of expecting a nervy 1-0 with United thumping Stoke. But no such jangle for west London nerves.
Here's what I predicted at the start of the season, with final places in brackets:
1. Chelsea (1)
2. Manchester United (2)
3. Liverpool (7)
4. Tottenham Hotspur (4)
5. Arsenal (3)
6. Aston Villa (6)
7. Everton (8)
8. Manchester City (5)
9. West Ham United (17)
10. Fulham (12)
11. Sunderland (13)
12. Blackburn Rovers (10)
13. Bolton Wanderers (14)
14. Stoke City (11)
15. Wolves (15)
16. Wigan (16)
17. Burnley (18)
18. Portsmouth (20)
19. Birmingham City (9)
"Just easy questions please because my level of wine is high," he demanded after ditching his traditional suit for Chelsea colours and a blue and white scarf.
Chelsea crushed 10-man Wigan 8-0 at Stamford Bridge to secure the Premier League title, ending Manchester United's three-year grip on the trophy. The Blues romped to a completely one-sided success against the Latics, who fell behind after just six minutes and were a man down and a further goal behind at the break, before utterly capitulating following the interval. Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils kept up their end of the bargain as they saw off Stoke at Old Trafford, but ended the day as they had started, one point adrift of the new champions. Arsenal thrashed Fulham at Emirates Stadium to ensure they held off Tottenham's late charge for third and book their place in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, with Spurs beaten by relegated Burnley at Turf Moor.| May 10, 2010 | P | Pts |
| Chelsea | 38 | 86 |
| Manchester United | 38 | 85 |
| Arsenal | 38 | 75 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 70 |
| Manchester City | 38 | 67 |
| Aston Villa | 38 | 64 |
| Liverpool | 38 | 63 |
| Everton | 38 | 61 |
| Birmingham | 38 | 50 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 50 |
| Stoke City | 38 | 47 |
| Fulham | 38 | 46 |
| Sunderland | 38 | 44 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 38 | 39 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 38 | 38 |
| Wigan Athletic | 38 | 36 |
| West Ham United | 38 | 35 |
| Burnley | 38 | 30 |
| Hull City | 38 | 30 |
| Portsmouth | 38 | 19 |
Ghana were the only African side to make it into the second of the 2006 World Cup in Germany where they lost to Brazil. Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan, England) Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions) , Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle, Switzerland), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germnay) Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany), John Pantsil (Fulham, England), Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland)
Midfielders: Dede Ayew (Arlese Avignon, France) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy) Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy) Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway) Haminu Dramani (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy) Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd, Qatar), Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain) Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios, Greece) , Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth, England)
Strikers: Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland)
