Birthdays of Note: Former England player and longtime Ireland manager Jack Charlton turns 72. In his playing days Jack Charlton (brother of Bobby) was a center half. Not a “center back.” They didn’t know what a center back was in England back then. It was a center half. In fact, it was a centre half. Now Marvell Wynne of the Colorado Rapids, for instance, he’s a center back. And he turns 26 today.
Big Important Story of the Day: With the European Championships now just one month away (beginning June 8), expect to see more stories like this one, where an official of the world players’ union worried over violence in and around the grounds. Or this one, where we see the world of politics and sport intersect.
What you should watch on TV: Liverpool meets Chelsea for the second time in four days (3 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel). Chelsea still has an outside chance of climbing into a Champions League qualification spot; Liverpool, having just lost to the Blues in Saturday’s FA Cup final, gets the chance to finish off those hopes.
Ahead on the blog today*: Early reports from the initial facility tours offered down at BBVA Compass Stadium plus some early talk on the upcoming U.S. national team camp.
RASNoD (Random American Soccer Name of the Day): Tony DiCicco
Twitter dap: MLSSoccer.com writer Jonah Freedman (@jonahfreedman), on Monday’s Premiership relegation development: “Anyone else surprised that Blackburn actually had stayed up this long? To me, far more stunning than their relegation.”
We’ll leave you with this: I always wonder why more players don’t figure this out: If you want to slow play legally when challenging for a ball near the sideline, don’t kick it into the stands. Instead, whack in off signboard, back into the field of play.
*Always subject to change; you know how it is
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Reports: Porto to bank on Moutinho and Rodriguez in shock double move
May 23, 2013, 7:16 PM EDT
Reuters
AS Monaco, rich with the injection of money from a Russian tycoon, are set to make a huge splash, possibly as much as €70 million.
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The United States U-18 squad drew with the hosts in the middle of three group-stage matches during the 19th Annual Lisbon International Juniors Tournament.
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20-year-old Jonathan Osorio picked up his debut call-up to the Canadian national team along with three other Toronto FC teammates ahead of their friendly against Costa Rica on Tuesday.
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Leighton Baines says Everton will be fine without Moyes, but will they?
May 23, 2013, 5:11 PM EDT
Getty Images
“Football clubs live on and we’ll live on, we’ll move on.” They’ll move on, they have to. But will they effectively?
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Reuters
With the upcoming Champions League final this weekend featuring an all-German cast, Germany secured another massive Champions League achievement today.
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Anyone else bothered by the way Bayern Munich have conducted themselves ahead of this Saturday’s Champions League final?
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Getty Images
Sunderland’s central defender will say goodbye to the English Premier League in exchange for a switch stateside.
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Manchester City president shoots down high-profile transfer links
May 23, 2013, 2:00 PM EDT
Reuters
Chelsea fans will be delighted, while those supporting Manchester City are sure to question who’s on their team’s mind.
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Should Europa League winners be awarded a spot in the Champions League?
May 23, 2013, 1:37 PM EDT
Should the champions of the Europa League be awarded a spot in the following season’s Champions League?
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Espanyol fans upset with Barca shirt on the statute of Christopher Columbus
May 23, 2013, 12:07 PM EDT
The city’s decision to permit Columbus to wear angers Espanyol fans, who believe Barca receives too much support from local institutions.
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Gonzalo Higuain close to Juventus move while others continue the chase
May 23, 2013, 11:22 AM EDT
Despite notching an impressive 104 goals in 185 matches since moving to the Bernabeu in 2007, Higuain has struggled this season.
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With Arsenal rumored to be courting Swansea center-back Ashley Williams, Thomas Vermaelen has some decisions to make.
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Poor Strama, Allegri: Inter, AC Milan leave coaches in limbo
May 22, 2013, 11:51 PM EDT
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Serie A’s two Milanese clubs have yet to move for new head coaches.
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Full circle: Misantrope’s revival could land Benítez in Paris, Madrid, or Naples
May 22, 2013, 11:06 PM EDT
Over the last three months, Rafa Benítez has reignited a floundering career.
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It’s piling on for Reign FC, who may permanently lose Megan Rapinoe to Lyon
May 22, 2013, 10:14 PM EDT
The hits just keep on coming for the NWSL’s hard-luck team.
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U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round draw: What it means for your MLS team
May 22, 2013, 9:20 PM EDT
The U.S. Open Cup draws sometimes need a decoder ring to decipher. Here’s a quick-and-dirty look at the MLS teams’ futures.
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With PSG willing to match Wayne Rooney’s wages, Manchester United has somebody to bail them out
May 22, 2013, 8:17 PM EDT
Getty Images
If PSG’s willing to take Rooney’s wages of their hands, Manchester United can justify moving on.
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Crimes and misdemeanors: Congratulations, Bobby Boswell – you’re this week’s winner
May 22, 2013, 7:32 PM EDT
Houston’s defensive leader sees his banned doubled by the Disciplinary Committee.
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Sauerbrunn, Quon, and why its still too early to see NWSL’s influence on Sermanni’s choices
May 22, 2013, 6:47 PM EDT
Tom Sermanni has brought new talent into the national team, but it’s too early to know the extent to which the U.S.’s roster will see new faces.
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José Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo pick up meaningless two-match bans
May 22, 2013, 6:02 PM EDT
Cristiano Ronaldo will serve a two-match ban. José Mourinho will skirt it.
