He’s back.
Clint Dempsey is reportedly fit and ready to become the first American since DaMarcus Beasley to play in a European cup semifinal when Fulham FC travel to face Hamburg in a Europa League semifinal first leg (3 p.m. ET, GolTV). The city of Hamburg will host the Europa League final, which will feature the winner of the other semi between Liverpool and Atlético Madrid (8 p.m. ET, GolTV).
Like Barcelona in the Champions League, Fulham and Liverpool could not travel by plane due to the disruptions in air travel across Europe. It took 17 hours for Fulham to arrive in Hamburg but the German coach has little sympathy.
It will be a long weekend of travel for the Seattle Sounders. It starts with tonight's MLS Game of the Week and an unpredictable matchup between FC Dallas and the visiting Sounders (8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes). Despite their record, FC Dallas has played increasingly well while Seattle is still struggling to score.
FC Dallas will be very aware of Sounders forward Michael Fucito, who scored the controversial game-winning goal over the weekend. In the meantime, Sigi Schmid is defending Fucito’s winner which was aided by an illegal throw-in.
This weekend could prove a turning point for the Sounders as they face another match on Sunday in Toronto.
In Toronto, Mo Johnston is once again preaching patience while admitting that the Ali Gerba situation likely could have been handled better.
While Real Salt Lake gets Javier Morales back, Robbie Findley is hampered by an injury.
With a long injury list of their own, the last thing D.C. United need is a player talking about leaving the club.
Two players rumored to be coming to MLS: Stern John and Jamar Beasley.
In Philadelphia, while Robert Pirès indicates staying at Villarreal is an option, Chris Seitz is still the story of the week. Despite several costly errors, he’s still the Union’s No. 1.
The Chicago Fire’s Collins John admits he has also made his share of errors in this ESPN.com feature story.
The Fire were among several MLS teams involved in international exhibition news on Wednesday with the highlight provided by the formal announcement of the New York Football Challenge.
On that front, it is surprising to hear that Fenway Park, and its little more than 37,000 seats, is being considered as a potential venue for the first ever Old Firm derby outside Glasgow.
A member of the Portland Timbers was recently in the UK and his trip to Europe has been impacted by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.
Another coach who finds himself overseas: Tim Hankinson. The former coach of the Colorado Rapids and Tampa Bay Mutiny is featured in this Q&A.
Back in the CONCACAF world, it does not look good for World Cup participant Honduras, as their full side dropped a home warm-up match. Two more World Cup participants, South Africa and North Korea, face off today.
U.S. National Team forward Jozy Altidore played the last 35 minutes of Hull City’s 2-0 home loss to Brad Friedel and Aston Villa, who maintain their chase for the fourth and final Champions League berth. However, for Altidore and Hull, relegation is inching closer.
USA manager Bob Bradley’s coaching career comes full circle. As he approaches the pinnacle, the 2010 World Cup, he will return to his roots by staging training camp at Princeton University, where he coached and played.
While Bradley will see Dempsey back in action tonight, U.S. National Team midfielder José Francisco Torres took a hard knock during Wednesday night’s CONCACAF Champions League final first leg. Cruz Azul defeated Pachuca 2-1 but Torres was on the wrong end of a studs-up challenge in the 79th minute.
Oh, and set your DVRs. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham will join Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters on ABC’s The View this Monday.
