That was fast.
Just a few weeks removed from his MLS debut, 17-year-old Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo is expected to be the shock call-up today when Bob Bradley names his US national team squad today for next Wednesday’s international friendly against South Africa in Cape Town.
Former Under-20 player Mikkel Diskerud, who plays for a 12th-place Norwegian side, is also expected to be summoned by Bradley.
Two other likely call-ups are those of Eric Lichaj, who made his EPL debut for Aston Villa on Wednesday, and Jonathan Spector, who is said to be on the outs at West Ham United.
Two stars not expected to be part of Bradley’s roster for South Africa are LA Galaxy captain Landon Donovan and Fulham’s Clint Dempsey.
It was the good, bad and ugly with Dempsey in the London derby against Chelsea on Wednesday. He was in the middle of a giveaway, a spectacular shot on goal and a two-footed stomp from Chelsea’s Michael Essien. (VIDEO)
Donovan says he’ll wait until the offseason before deciding whether to join Dempsey in the EPL.
The Galaxy captain, who has gone two playoff games without a goal or assist for the first time in his career, tells the Los Angeles Times that he desperately wants to rest. That will have to wait at least until after this Sunday's Western Conference Championship against FC Dallas.
Donovan’s former Everton teammate, Steven Pienaar, was called up to captain South Africa when they take on the US next Wednesday in a friendly. Former San Jose Earthquakes forward Davide Somma is also in the squad.
There is great concern this morning over the status of US midfielder Maurice Edu, who injured his left knee while playing for Glasgow Rangers after a tackle from a rival player. It is the same left knee that was injured and sidelined Edu long-term in 2009.
In other US national team news, the US Under-20 side will have two surprise guest coaches for the team’s camp near Atlanta.
In addition to the US roster unveiling, another major announcement being made on Thursday is the winner of the MLS Coach of the Year award and the draw for the 43rd Copa América, which will feature Mexico and Japan.
Also on Thursday, the NASL is expected to formally submit a bid to become the country’s only second-division soccer league.
After the San Francisco Giants, there is another story of winning misfits from the Bay Area. San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch says his team is like the “Bad News Bears.” They get ready to face the Colorado Rapids in the Eastern Conference Championship on Saturday.
Those Bad News Bears have a big bad problem with their best defender, Jason Hernandez, still slowed by a calf injury which prevented him from training. The back-up is on the ready.
The future of MLS Newcomer of the Year Alvaro Saborio is at the mercy of buyout negotiations involving his former Swiss club Sion and the Real Salt Lake player himself admits it.
Philadelphia Union players had their future cleared up on Wednesday by manager Peter Nowak, who conducted exit interviews with each player before sending them home for the offseason.
One player who may not to be part of MLS offseason hot stove talk is ex-Aston Villa player Lee Hendrie after the Portland Timbers shot down any talk of having interest in him. But the Quakes may still be in the picture.
With just weeks until the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are named, Great Britain’s Prime Minister says he’s spending more time on England's World Cup bid than the economy.
Here’s what a few missed referee calls can lead to in Italy: one club owner is selling his team after feeling hard done by in a loss against AC Milan.
Finally, you’ve heard of running back coaches and quarterback coaches but how about specialized striker coaches and winger coaches in soccer? The Vancouver Whitecaps are conducting this coaching experiment.
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