Soccer birthdays: Anybody feel like having a Frank Lampard debate today? Clearly, the man has skill and soccer smarts. But is he really all that and a bag of crisps? Is he one of the premier midfielders of his generation around the world? Or do such proclamations represent the typical over-reach we get with so many men from England?
Just asking, because the Chelsea staple and Three Lions veteran turns 34 today.
Argentina and PSG midfielder Javier Pastore turns 23 today.
Ahead on the blog today*: We’ll be talking about European Championship quarterfinals now that the matchups are set. And, alas, we’ll probably have ongoing discussions on goal-line cameras or computer chips in balls or special goal-sniffing dogs or anything that could move the game out of the dark ages in determining what does and doesn’t cross the line between the pipes.
And we’ll have plenty of Major League Soccer today, with a half-dozen mid-week matches set to begin Round 16. Oh, and our Weekly Panic Quotient is in the warm-up area as we speak.
What we should all watch on TV:
Corinthians-Santos in Copa Libertadores, Fox Deportes at 8:30 p.m. ET
Plus whatever MLS match your local market might carry; none of the six matches set for tonight are national televised.
RASNoD (Random American Soccer Name of the Day): Rick Davis
Twitter daps: Times Times writer Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes): Would’ve been “interesting” to say the least if goal-line technology had allowed a goal that should’ve been given offside.
Actress and singer (from The Glee Project) Lindsay Pearce (@lindsayhpearce): Don’t forget to vote for my brother @HeathGPearce for the @MLS #MLSAllStar team! This is a huge thing! #PearcePride
*Always subject to change; you know how it is
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Seattle overtakes Dallas in a starburst of offensive soccer
May 19, 2013, 12:48 AM EDT
The Sounders exploit Dallas’ young back line in a meeting of two Western Conference teams in top form. Final score: 4-2 for the Sounders:
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Getty Images
Juan Agudelo makes his New England debut as Jay Heaps posts one of the best wins of his young coaching career:
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A real injury concern for Portland as Darlington Nagbe falls
May 18, 2013, 8:05 PM EDT
The young Timbers’ attacker is having an outstanding season for the Jeld-Wen Field bunch:
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Federico Higuain steals the show for Columbus in a road win over Toronto
May 18, 2013, 7:38 PM EDT
Higuain created the game’s only goal and was masterful in possession at BMO Field:
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PSG president confirms Saturday was likely David Beckham’s farewell match
May 18, 2013, 6:44 PM EDT
Reuters
An appearance next week in Paris Saint-Germain’s final match 2012-13 season doesn’t seem to be in the plans for the retiring superstar:
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As Alex Ferguson says goodbye, Manchester United’s cupboard remains stocked
May 18, 2013, 3:15 PM EDT
Reuters
Depth at United will allow David Moyes to hut big game this offseason.
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Wherein MLS expansion becomes the new David Beckham transfer rumor
May 18, 2013, 2:40 PM EDT
David Beckham’s not dropping off your radar anytime soon.
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Roberto Mancini takes out full page thank you ad in Manchester Evening News
May 18, 2013, 1:17 PM EDT
Manchester City’s former boss reaches out to his supportive fan base – his first public comments since his Monday dismissal.
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Bayern Munich finish German season 25 points ahead of Borussia Dortmund
May 18, 2013, 12:28 PM EDT
Getty Images
Mercifully, the season’s come to an end for the 17 clubs who tried to keep pace with Bayern Munich.
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Ferguson, on Mancini’s Manchester City dismissal: ‘It is quite amazing’
May 18, 2013, 11:40 AM EDT
Manchester United’s outgoing boss was amazed but not surprised at his rival’s dismissal.
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England’s top four: Games that matter in the English Premier League’s last round
May 18, 2013, 10:22 AM EDT
Relegation’s decided. So’s the title and two of the league’s Europa League spots. All that’s left? The battle for top four.
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AP
Russian oligarchs, third-party ownership, tax havens, and €60 million moves. This one has everything.
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Jamie Carragher set to close out his 16-year career at Anfield
May 18, 2013, 8:11 AM EDT
AP
One of the Premier League’s one-club men says goodbye at Anfield.
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Getty Images
Brest and FC Lorient will be the opposition for retiring midfielder’s final two pro matches:





