What we’re thinking, what we’re watching, what’s coming on the blog today and the RASNoD (Random American Soccer Name of the Day). Setting up your day in soccer …
Big Important Story of the Day: Remember how everyone said Monday’s Manchester derby was for the Premiership pot of gold? Well, it was … mostly. There’s still some important business ahead as City preps for its second huge clash in seven days, this weekend at Newcastle. Lose this one and Monday’s achievement may be rendered sadly worthless.
What you should watch on TV: Playoffs to get into England’s top tier may not have the grace or grandeur of EPL contests, but talk about a place where pressure meets heartfelt desire! Cardiff faces West Ham in an English Championship semifinal first leg. Kickoff is 2:45 p.m. ET on FOX Soccer Plus or FOX Soccer 2Go.
Ahead on the blog today*: The MLS Panic Quotient (held for a day due to a legal issues; this thing gets more contentious than you might expect), and a commentary on why Roy Hodgson faces an impossible slog ahead in his new job as England boss.
RASNoD (Random American Soccer Name of the Day): Esse Baharmast
Twitter daps: New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph ( @ShalrieJoseph21) on his team’s win Wednesday over Colorado: “Not the prettiest game to watch but we got the win. Thxs for the support revs fan tnite. We appreciate each n everyone of u.”
PST background noise while blogging today: Most recent two episodes of the The Killing … but somebody had better solve this thing soon, or I’m out.
We’ll leave you with this: Dear anyone who produces or directs an MLS game on TV: If you continue to show replays while the ball is moving, you and I will have words. Very strong words.
*Always subject to change; you know how it is
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Jozy Altidore to the U.S. rescue! And there is a lot of that going around lately
Jun 19, 2013, 2:00 AM EDT
Feel free to ask yourself at this point: where would the United States be in World Cup qualifying without its young, in-form striker:
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How the United States men did individually in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Honduras at Rio Tinto Stadium:
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What we learned from the U.S. World Cup qualifier win over Honduras
Jun 19, 2013, 12:26 AM EDT
Some take-aways from the he United States’ 1-0 win at Rio Tinto outside Salt Lake City:
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Jozy Altidore was the hero for the United States, cooly slotting a left-footed shot to hand the Stars & Stripes a 1-0 victory over Honduras.
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Reuters
Graham Zusi? Fabian Johnson? Jozy Altidore? Who ya got?
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Is the Pablo Mastroeni trade another smooth move from that wily Bruce Arena?
Jun 18, 2013, 8:33 PM EDT
The LA Galaxy coach has taken aging players and made them useful parts of the roster before:
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Everyone loves “The Pope”
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Tim Cahill is the first Major League Soccer man to qualify for the World Cup.
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Our weekly re-ordering of Major League Soccer teams, following 16 rounds of play:
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Some of the best U.S. success in the past has come when the United States was backed into a corner. Tonight looks much different:
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There are a few choices to be made ahead of Tuesday’s match in Utah:
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About that brilliant atmosphere last week in Seattle: Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah will rock, too
Jun 18, 2013, 12:30 PM EDT
Unsaid in this narrative is this: most U.S. sites are bright and alive these days.
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Stuart Pearce has been relieved of his duties as manager of England’s U-21 squad.
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Australia join Brazil and Japan as nations that already have booked their place in next summer’s World Cup.
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Talking about what’s ahead, plus more on tonight’s match at Rio Tinto Stadium outside Salt Lake City:
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Scottish football takes another hit as Hearts prepare for administration
Jun 18, 2013, 7:56 AM EDT
Hearts have put the entire squad up for sale to raise the reported £500,000 needed to get the club to the start of the season.
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Big opportunity ahead as United States faces Honduras in World Cup qualifying action
Jun 18, 2013, 6:00 AM EDT
The teams meet tonight outside Salt Lake City as the drive for Brazil 2014 moves forward:
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Huge cost of World Cups: Did we need a protest like Brazil’s to point out the obvious?
Jun 18, 2013, 12:10 AM EDT
Reuters
Brazil has infrastructure concerns. They’ve also spent $3.3 billion on soccer stadia. No surprise, people aren’t happy.
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Christian Eriksen’s potential for Borussia Dortmund a particularly cloudy picture
Jun 17, 2013, 10:43 PM EDT
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The mythology of Ajax, Dutch soccer and one stars’ struggles outside the Dutch league make this potential transfer difficult to evaluate.
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Ancelotti may be impatient, but Real Madrid wait should prove inconsequential
Jun 17, 2013, 8:23 PM EDT
It’s only a matter of time before Ancelotti’s holding pattern’s resolved.
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Video: Police clash with protesters in Brazil
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Video: Highlights: Sounders win in final minutes
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Video: Highlights: Revolution dismantle Galaxy
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Video: What does New York FC have to do to succeed?
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Video: The Hype: Bending the screen like Beckham
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Video: Galaxy's Rogers talks about coming out to the public
