Soccer birthdays:
David Villa, a World Cup winner and European Championship winner, and current Barcelona man, turns 31.
Chelsea man Michael Essien turns 30. (Seem to anyone else like that man is a little older, like he’s been around forever.)
And it looks like a big day for men of the big clubs. Former French international and Real Madrid man Christian Karembeu turns 42.
Big Important Stories of the Day:
Major League Soccer’s off-season is officially underway, starting with some big moves yesterday from Real Salt Lake.
RASNoD (Random American Soccer Name of the Day: Arturo Alvarez
*Ahead on the blog today:
The first in a series of conversations based on Friday’s conversation withU.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Plus, a look at those Real Salt Lake swaps, and we’ll have a special MLS Cup edition of the Monday “Meh” list, a chronicle of the slightly overrated.
Twitter daps:
What you should watch on TV today:
The English Premier League’s 15th round concludes as Wigan meets Newcastle at 2:55 p.m. on ESPN Deportes. (Yeah, I know … I don’t have that channel either.)
We’ll leave you with this: Is it too early to begin wondering about where next year’s MLS Cup might be? Kansas City? RFK Stadium in D.C.? … The Home Depot Center again?
* Always subject to change; you know how it is
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Get to your DVRs as soon as possible, because that Italy-Japan match was a classic
Jun 19, 2013, 8:44 PM EDT
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Confederations Cup completely worth it when it provides matches like these.
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Stock Rising: United States men whose values are rising out of Salt Lake
Jun 19, 2013, 7:35 PM EDT
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There’re no shortage of players to praise after the U.S. completes a nine-out-of-nine run.
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Most U.S. players were still in the locker room an hour after final whistle Tuesday … watching a basketball game. Hmmm.
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Even while struggling, LA’s still the standard, but can they turn things around enough to keep Portland from the top of the West.
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Goal, assist from Neymar give Brazil win, prolong Mexico’s woes
Jun 19, 2013, 5:25 PM EDT
Neymar’s show compounded problems for CONCACAF’s champions.
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The 42-year-old American revealed he is taking coaching courses to prepare for whenever his career is over.
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Some of those old issues of communication and understanding between Jones and Michael Bradley were on display once again in Utah:
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Montréal can open a gap atop the East with a win tonight. If Houston springs the upset, they’ll be within one point of the conference leaders.
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Pepe Reina wants to see out his contract at Liverpool…for now
Jun 19, 2013, 2:44 PM EDT
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He didn’t exactly say much, but Pepe Reina’s club is Liverpool – at least, right now.
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USA can theoretically clinch a World Cup berth in their next match
Jun 19, 2013, 1:24 PM EDT
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It’s a bit of a longshot, but the United States has a mathematical chance of securing qualification for Brazil in the next round of play.
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Graham Zusi keeps making it harder for Landon Donovan to get back into U.S. national team
Jun 19, 2013, 12:48 PM EDT
The Sporting Kansas City man had a lot to say about last night’s breakout (finally!) in the second half vs. Honduras:
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De Gea message to Thiago on signed match ball sparks rumor flurry
Jun 19, 2013, 12:04 PM EDT
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Cameras caught a message from Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, could it foreshadow a move?
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Fabio Capello is the latest manager to say “no” to the defending Ligue 1 champions.
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Liverpool take a huge net loss on the 24-year-old while West Ham set their transfer fee record.
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Tragedy struck Chivas USA’s youth squad Monday night.
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At the call of fans and media alike, the FA Cup final at Wembley will return to its post-league date.
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The United States had the perfect lineup to slowly whittle away at the Honduras defense before it finally broke.
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The 24-year-old American has found a new team after spending 5 seasons at Villa Park.
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The Premier League has released its fixture list for the 2013/2014 season in its entirety. Find out the opening fixtures plus your favorite team’s derby here!
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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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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
