Pappa agrees Heerenveen switch

Chicago Fire midfielder Marco Pappa has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Dutch side SC Heerenveen in January. Pappa, 24, joined Chicago from Municipal in 2008 and had attracted interest from a number of clubs in Europe, including Wigan Athletic, but has decided to continue his career in the Eredivisie.

Dermot Corrigan in Spain

It is Tito's time...

Tito Vilanova looks cool, calm and collected as he prepares for his first competitive game as Barcelona head coach at the Camp Nou against Real Sociedad in their La Liga opener next Sunday, but it would be strange if he were not at least a little nervous. Josep Guardiola's four seasons in charge of Barcelona brought 14 trophies from the 19 competitions entered, including three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, as well as widespread acclaim as perhaps the best side in the history of the game. Even though Vilanova was there throughout as Guardiola's assistant, it is difficult to think of a harder act to follow in football.

The Mill +

Monday's Rumours



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Monday MLS Breakdown: Future bodes well for Houston and New York after home-and-home tussle

The fallout after the two teams split a home-and-home series stems from the potential influence of Tim Cahill and Ricardo Clark rather than the points shared over the two matches.

Breakdown

Men's Olympic Soccer: Gold Medal Match Reports & Analyses

Mexico 2 - 0 Brazil

Richard Williams at Wembley

John Brewin at Wembley

Grant Wahl: Three Thoughts

Jamie Jackson: Brazil's latest Olympic football silver lacks a sliver of consolation

England: Community Shield Reports, Ratings, Analyses

Manchester City 3 - 2 Chelsea

Henry Winter at Villa Park

Richard Jolly at Villa Park

Ben Smith at Villa Park

Player Ratings

Five Talking Points

Men's Olympic Soccer: Gold Medal Match Preview

Who: Brazil vs. Mexico
When: 10am EDT
Where: Wembley Stadium, London, UK
U.S. TV: NBCSN
Preview

England: Championship 2012-13 Season Preview: The bloggers' view

The people who really know their clubs give us the lowdown on what to expect in the Championship next season.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Barnsley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promotion to the 2013–14 Premier League
2	Birmingham City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Blackburn Rovers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification to the Championship Playoffs
4	Blackpool	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Bolton Wanderers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Bristol City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Burnley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Cardiff City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	Charlton Athletic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	Crystal Palace	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Derby County	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	Huddersfield Town	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Hull City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
15	Ipswich Town	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
16	Leeds United	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	Leicester City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
18	Middlesbrough	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
19	Millwall	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
20	Nottingham Forest	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
21	Peterborough United	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	Sheffield Wednesday	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation to the 2013–14 Football League One
23	Watford	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
24	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

EPL Season Previews: Newcastle & Norwich City

Newcastle

Norwich City

Juventus manager Antonio Conte gets 10-month match-fixing ban

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has been banned for 10 months after an investigation into match-fixing. Last year Conte, 43, led the club to the Serie A title in his first season in charge without losing a single game. He was accused of failing to report alleged match-fixing involving former club Siena in the 2010-11 season.

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Friday's Rumours

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MLS Week 23: Fan Previews

• US Open Cup winners Sporting Kansas City host DC United

• Seattle Sounders try to regroup at San Jose Earthquakes

• New York Red Bulls face Houston Dynamo - again

• Chivas USA host LA Galaxy in season's second SuperClasico

• Columbus Crew to honor Kirk Urso at Toronto FC game

Previews

Friday MLS Forecast

The Forecast contemplates the impact of Sporting Kansas City's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory over Seattle in midweek and flips through the rest of the weekend fixtures.

Mexico announces roster for U.S. Friendly

Javier Hernandez and Andres Guardado highlight Mexico's roster for a friendly against the United States on Wednesday night.


Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio, France), Alefredo Talavera (Toluca);

Defenders: Francisco Javier Rodriguez (Stuttgart, Germany), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Severo Meza (Monterrey), Hugo Ayala (UANL Tigres), Jorge Torres Nilo (UANL Tigres), Enrique Perez (Morelia), Adrian Aldrete (Club America);

Midfielders: Jesus Zavala (Monterrey), Manuel Viniegra (UANL Tigres), Edgar Gerardo Lugo (Santos Laguna), Pablo Barrera (Cruz Azul), Andres Guardado (Valencia, Spain), Angel Reyna (Monterrey);

Forwards: Elias Hernandez (UANL Tigres), Aldo de Nigris (Monterrey), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United, England).

Women's Olympic Soccer: Gold Medal Match Reports & Analyses

Abby Wambach didn't put on her "Greatness Has Been Found" T-shirt right away. She instead strayed from her teammates and knelt alone at midfield -- and cried into a U.S. flag. Yes, greatness has been found. And payback has been achieved. The Americans are again on top of the women's soccer world. The United States won its third straight Olympic gold medal Thursday, beating Japan 2-1 in a rematch of last year's World Cup final and avenging the most painful loss in its history.

Jamie Jackson at Wembley
Paul Fletcher at Wembley

Grant Wahl: Team effort in the truest sense

Grant Wahl: Four Thoughts

Jeff Carlisle: Closure for U.S.

Ann Killion: Solo saves the day

Copa Libertadores 2012: Team of the Tournament

Corinthians capped off a fantastic footballing year with their first ever Copa Libertadores title, adding to their fifth Brasileirão triumph six months ago.  They defeated Boca Juniors 2-0 in the Estadio Pacaembu with a brace from Emerson Sheik, winning the tie 3-1 on aggregate having drawn the first leg 1-1 in Buenos Aires the week before.  A fantastic achievement considering that back in 2008 they were plying their trade in the Serie B!

Europa League: Reds revisit past to look forward

Liverpool 3-0 FC Gomel
Richard Jolly at Anfield

Rewind to 1984: Brazil's first Olympic hurdle

Brazil have made it into their third Olympic football final and have a burning desire to win the only major competition to have eluded them. In 1984, the Brazilian national team reached their first Olympic final only to lose out to France and be left with consolation of a silver medal. After the successes of the Selecao in the World Cup and the years of dominance under Pele, Zico and the golden generation of the 1960s and 1970s, Olympic gold is still something that is highly coveted in South America.

Women's Olympic Soccer: Gold Medal Match Previews

Who: USA vs. Japan

When: 2:45pm EDT

Where: Wembley Stadium, London, UK

U.S. TV: NBCSN

Preview I

Preview II

Golden Rematch

John Duerden: Japan chases history

Jeremy Wilson: United States women eyeing revenge

Grant Wahl: Gamesmanship of Olympics set aside for respect in women's final

Ann Killion: Experienced Rampone anchors U.S. 

Women's soccer final set to smash crowd record

EPL Season Previews: Manchester City & Manchester United

Manchester City

Manchester United