Few events get a fan base excited like a logo unveiling. The first of two new MLS logos are revealed Tuesday.
The Vancouver Whitecaps will release their new brand today ahead of the club’s first season in MLS (live broadcast at 11:30 a.m. ET at www.vancouvermls2011.com/announcement). The Portland Timbers show off their new look on Saturday.
The regional rivals of the Timbers and Whitecaps are the Seattle Sounders. Their talismanic figure, Freddy Ljungberg, says he’s not sure whether he’ll be returning to Seattle when his contract is up in December.
This year’s expansion club, the Philadelphia Union, has already run out of room for its first match ever at PPL Park.
There’s an MLS club in action tonight. FC Dallas have one more match to play before entering their two-week World Cup break. They play the West Texas United Sockers, who are itching for a chance to prove themselves in front of the FCD coaching staff.
With the NY Red Bulls hitting the two-week World Cup hiatus, one reporter grades the squad.
More than one MLS player on break will be catching up on their soccer literature with one or two selections from this LA Times list of soccer books.
Just as DC United have reemerged, gaining momentum in recent matches, it was learned that another starter has gone down to injury: Rodney Wallace.
While DC lose a player, New England will be gaining one as Steve Ralston makes a return. It remains to be seen how effective he can be at the age of 35 and recently coming off ACL surgery.
Also in Boston, Fenway Park will host a soccer match after all on July 21, just not the Old Firm derby.
All’s quiet at USMNT camp in South Africa ahead of Saturday’s World Cup opener against England. Monday was an off day.
Many believe that the US achilles heel in this World Cup will be the backline.
After all, who needs to worry about scoring with the Galaxy's Edson Buddle bagging the goals? England newspaper The Sun turns shines some sunlight on Pele’s namesake.
The player once dubbed the new Pele, Freddy Adu, is rumored to have a suitor in England and his agent admits it is a dream of his to play there.
It sure does not sound like the English are overly preoccupied by facing the Americans on June 12 in Rustenburg.
There’s one writer who does an admirable job of defending the USA and its fans in the English press.
If the English needed any more proof that Americans are serious about their soccer, there is this New York Times article outlining the magnitude of the TV audience.
Meanwhile, in a survey conducted by Nielsen and reaching over 27,000 people, 46 percent of North Americans say they believe the USA can bring home the World Cup.
This optimism is seen in the number of US fans traveling to South Africa. The Washington Post digs deeper.
Speaking of television, here is a video report from ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap from South Africa on the USA team’s off day.
With all the talk about the USA and England, the other two Group C teams are almost afterthoughts. The New York Times takes a closer look at Algeria.
The first opponents of the USA were in action on Monday. By all accounts England were unconvincing in a 3-0 win over a local South African club team. Here’s what the English players had to say. The English have also revealed that Gareth Barry will definitively miss Saturday’s match against the Americans as he has not recovered in time from an ankle injury.
As US fans savor what will be one of the biggest soccer matches in American history, here’s a reminder of what it used to be like in the lean days.
Eric Eichmann helped the US emerge from that soccer futility by qualifying to Italia ’90. He is one of several World Cup veterans who reside in South Florida.
Robinho, Kaka and Ramires scored all the goals for Brazil in a 5-1 pasting of Tanzania in the last tune-up game for the South Americans on Monday.
For the uninitiated, here is a primer on Brazilian nicknames.
On Tuesday, Portugal faces Mozambique (10:30 a.m. ET, ESPN Deportes), while Spain meets Poland (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2) in the final tune-ups for the Portuguese and Spanish.
It was announced Monday that Kaka’s Real Madrid teammate Gonzalo Higuain signed a contract extension with the Spanish club. In other transfer news, Tottenham Hotspur have expressed interest in Joe Cole, Genoa say they are ready to sign Luca Toni, Serb winger Milos Krasic says he’ll be signing with Juventus and Yaya Toure could be used in a deal by Barcelona to land Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal.
Lastly, any TV spot combining Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk and Obi-Wan Kenobi is certainly worth watching.
