By Dan Gaspar

The moment of truth is just around the corner. Portugal plays its first World Cup match, Tuesday, June 15th at 4:00 pm versus Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth at the beautiful Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. As many of you know, we defeated Cameroon 3-1 in a preparation match in Covilha, Portugal. Eighty thousand people bid us farewell from the Eduardo VII Park as we departed from Lisbon. When we arrived in Johannesburg we were greeted by thousands of Portuguese immigrants at the airport as well as along the highway. I’ve never seen so much green and red colors. Portuguese immigrants are the largest number of immigrants in South Africa. Our training sessions are also attended by thousands of Portuguese fans. According to the police, 200 cars followed us to our final destination.

There are eight teams who are receiving the most security attention. The United States is considered a high-risk team and has extensive security. The Portugal National Team is also on that list as a result of the popularity of the team.

We also defeated Mozambique 3 to 0. These results were beneficial on many levels. Cameroon and Mozambique are similar in many aspects to Ivory Coast. These positive results have build momentum and confidence that will prepare us versus Ivory Coast. Our players have worked very hard physically, emotionally, mentally and tactically to meet the challenges of our World Cup opponents. Our desire and hope is that our players can deliver the results that will make all Portuguese citizens and fans proud of our efforts. Soccer is without doubt full of surprises. The expectations are high and the demands are immense, but our hope is that we realize our potential.

The Portugal National Team and staff understand that is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We cannot make any guarantees, but we can promise that everything they have will be left on the field. A strong team becomes one in purpose and desire. Carlos Queiroz has done a very good job in organizing events to establish cohesiveness, both on and off the field. Everyone is encouraged to participate and communicate in team building activities, creating a dynamic environment and encouraging creativity. You can build trust with well planned activities. The goal is to strengthen the group through building team work. A soccer team is a collection of people who come together to share something in common. In our case, it’s to go as far as we possibly can in the World Cup, preparing our team to be in the best position to compete.

Our circle is closed tight. I cannot share our preparation in detail, in particular on the field preparations and team meetings. Those are sacred areas and require ultimate respect and confidentiality. However, here are some off the field activities that you might be interested in knowing about.

Portugal Air Force

Our players lived a different experience. When our players arrived at Santos Pinto Stadium they were surprised to discover that they would be trading their uniforms and soccer shoes for camouflage military clothes, painted faces with National Team colors and were given paint ball arms. The Portuguese Air Force turned the soccer stadium into a theater of combat and special operations. They were involved in a strategy of cooperation organized by the Portugal Air Force. The focus was on creating a spirit of cohesion, loyalty, discipline and completing a mission. We all had to work together in order to achieve success. Our team was divided into two groups. Each had to perform activities that required cooperation and communication. After each event they earned an envelope with a note inside. Gathering all the envelopes allowed the players to group the notes together to understand the mission. The leader of each group read a quote from Aristotle and Christopher Reeve.

Joao Garcia

Joao Garcia is an alpinist. He is one of ten who have climbed 14 of the biggest mountains in the world without oxygen. His idea was if one Portuguese has climbed the biggest mountains then one team can win the World Cup. His message was that you need to love what you do and do it with honesty and hard work; that the event should be the motivation and that anything is possible. He said that 12 people have gone to the moon, but only 10 have climbed the 14 biggest mountains.

Black Eyed Peas Concert

The Black Eyed Peas held a concert in Lisbon Portugal at the Portugal National Team Stadium. The Portugal National Team adopted the song ‘I Gotta Feeling’ as its theme. We were in Covilha at our training camp and could not attend the concert. They organized a live feed to the concert and transmitted images of our team and staff viewed on a large TV screen at the stadium as 40 thousand people chanted ‘Portugal, Portugal Portugal.’ The song ‘I Gotta a Feeling’ has motivated us, relaxed us and helps give us positive results. As Nani said we would have loved to attend the concert, but we cannot and asked the crowed to enjoy the concert for us.

Fernando Rocha

Comedian Fernando Roach performed for our team. Laughter is a great stress reliever. He had us all rolling on the floor. By the end of the evening we felt like we had done a thousand sit-ups. Our abdominals were sore because of the strain of laughter.

Lion Park Safari

You cannot come to South Africa and not experience a Safari. We had three jeeps filled with players, coaching staff and administrators. We saw plenty of animals and took plenty of photos. Although we felt safe inside the jeep, it’s amazing to see such great athletes and players fear and respect these massive, dangerous animals, especially the lions. That was another great team event that helped bring the team together. When you are together for over a month team bonding is crucial on and off the field.

Gala

After our victory against Mozambique we attended a Gala. One of our players and a coach sat at each of the tables. It was a first class occasion. Coach Queiroz, Ronaldo, Simao and Deco were on stage to answer questions. We were all in our official Portugal suits. My guess is that there were at least 400 people in attendance. It was a fun evening with excited Portuguese fans from South Africa. Bingo Often we play Bingo. There are lots of drama and plenty of banter. One night, I got up and yelled, “I Love the Game!” They assumed I won, but I never said ‘Bingo.’ Countless dinner napkins were tossed at me. It’s on video… cannot wait to see it!

H20 Spa

Incredible spa facility… Naturally these superstars have traveled the world and have experienced the best of the best. They were impressed with the first-class environment. After a demanding training camp in Covilha it was a great move to have the players relax and regenerate. Players had all types of relaxation methods -- from the pool, sauna, steam, hot and ice baths, massages, fresh and salt water, whirl pool etc. The spa was on top of a mountain with some great views. Everyone was chilling, big time!

Fernando Ferreira

Fernando Ferreira world class singer performed for us. He imitates 100 voices of famous singing artists in several languages. He was amazing and our players and staff truly enjoyed his talents.

South African Magician

Each magic trick was more challenging than the one before. Players were impressed. They thought they had figured the magic trick out, but they could not catch him. He was too quick and a professional. Some of the magic tricks at the end would just shake your head.

Dan Gaspar, a member of the Portugal National Team coaching staff, will be providing exclusive content for International Soccer Network.  Gaspar will provide an insider’s perspective into the World Cup in South Africa.

Currently, he also serves as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach for the University of Hartford, President of the Connecticut Soccer School, and Founder of the Star Goalkeeper Academy.

For analysis of all of today's action, check out National Soccer Radio World Cupdate #3 (Sunday, June 13) podcast found here.

HOWARD LEADS USMNT TO DRAW WITH ENGLAND

The 1-1 draw between U.S. and England represented the biggest result in U.S. soccer history. As one ESPN commentator remarked, "No one won, but everyone will remember what happened in Rustenberg."

The opening match for both the U.S. and England was a suspenseful one that could have gone either way. There were a lot of opportunities for both sides, but each squad did enough to keep the other from capitalizing on those opportunities. Simply put, it was an epic battle between old rivals made new.

There were several common themes found throughout the match. One goalkeeper (Tim Howard) was "lights out"; another (Robert Green) made one of the biggest blunders in a generation. Two stars (Wayne Rooney and Landon Donovan) had little impact on the game, while two often overshadowed players (Steven Gerrard and Clint Dempsey) scored a goal and earned the glory. Two substitutes (Shaun Wright-Phillips and Edson Buddle) played better than the starters (James Milner and Robbie Findley) and two unheralded players (Emile Heskey and Oguchi Onyewu) put in solid performances despite doubts about their form.

The U.S. and England now look like the favorites in the group, but each must be careful about Algeria and Slovenia. Every match must be treated carefully; there are no pushovers in the World Cup.

For analysis of all of today's action, check out National Soccer Radio World Cupdate #2 (Saturday, June 12) podcast found here.

IT'S FINALLY HERE

Day 1 of the 2010 World Cup was great as expected. The atmosphere, crowds, and stadiums were simply magnificent. South Africa outperformed their skeptics to earn a 1-1 draw with Mexico. South Africa, called the worst host team ever by some critics, came away with a point even though both sides had plenty of opportunities.

France and Uruguay played to a 0-0 draw in a defensive effort. The French seemed frustrated by Uruguay's tactical pressure. Diego Forlan drew the attention of French defenders, but was unable to come away with a goal. Overall the result was not a surprise.

For more analysis check out National Soccer Radio World Cupdate #1 podcast (Friday, June 11) found here.

VORTEX DOMINATE IN EXHIBITION PLAY

AKRON, OH – June 11, 2010 – It was a beautiful evening for soccer as the Ohio Vortex (PASL-Pro) strolled to a 6-0 victory over the Akron Metro Futbol Club (AMFC) U-18 squad in an exhibition matchup.

It was clearly “a game of men against boys” as the AMFC U-18s struggled to find any sort of rhythm against a veteran squad.  The Vortex would put up three goals in each half in an easy victory for the Canton, Ohio franchise. The lone bright spot for Akron Metro was Dylan Parsons, who was a difference-maker on the field.  Parsons, a senior at Archbishop Hoban HS, was perhaps the only player who could even compete with the older professional players. 

The reason for the match was simple: both clubs share the same coach, Denzil Antonio. Both the professional and youth players appreciate the work of Antonio.  “He really teaches you a lot. He really gets you ready for college,” Parsons commented. “He can tell you what to do and what you need to work on to be part of a college team one day.”     

ESPN GEARS UP FOR THE WORLD CUP

By Robert Ivory

ESPN hosted a media conference call with Bob Ley, Scott Guglielmino, and Alexi Lalas Wednesday afternoon. The three discussed the upcoming World Cup that is just hours away.

“This is one of the most complex, ambitious, the most dedicated production I have ever seen,” said Ley, who is working on his fourth World Cup with ESPN.

“Some paint will be drying, blacktop maybe cooling, but the facilities are marvelous,” Ley said of the worries of South Africa not being ready. “There is a palpable energy around the city of Johannesburg.”

The trio also focused on the studio that they will call home for the next five weeks. ESPN has built from scratch, a HD studio 28-feet above Soccer City in Johannesburg.

“I was here in February and that patch of ground was mud and grass and when I came back three and half months later, it is a functioning TV studio.”

With that studio, ESPN will be bringing their mantra of “wherever, whenever” into full force as they introduce new media and ways of producing the games.

“You can get [the World Cup] on broadband, on wireless, on television, and on radio. A big part of our analysis of how successful it was is how successful audience levels are on the newer media,” Guglielmino said.

Lalas was also on hand to answer questions about the player side of what playing in a World Cup is like.“It’s all the clichés,” Lalas said. “It’s the realization of the dreams and an opportunity of a lifetime.”

“It makes me very happy to know that within this next month that this sport, and this tournament, are going to change the lives of a handful of soccer players,” Lalas concluded.

SCORELESS DRAW FOR RED STARS AND BEAT

By Tessa Fegen

BRIDGEVIEW, IL - June 6, 2010 - The Chicago Red Stars have made some changes since their last match-- a 1-0 win against FC Gold Pride on May 29. On Thursday, they announced Omid Namazi as the organization’s second full-time head coach. He replaced Emma Hayes who coached the Red Stars during the 2009 WPS season and the first six matches of 2010.

Not only that, but they also brought aboard three Athletica free agents: midfielder Nikki Washington, Elk Grove Village native Elise Weber, and England National Team member Anita Asante. The club said goodbye to Ifeoma Dieke, Brittany Klein, and Michele Weissenhofer.

The changes seemed to be positive as the Chicago Red Stars (2-4-2) outplayed the Atlanta Beat (0-6-2), despite a scoreless turnout. The Red Stars outshot Atlanta and controlled majority of the possession. This was the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.

The first half ended scoreless with only a few good chances at a goal for either side. In the 2nd minute Karen Carney had a free-kick just outside the eighteen that marked the first shot of the game. Atlanta gained possession and had their own chance to score just seconds later as they got in front of the goal with a hard shot that was deflected out for a corner. They could not convert.

The Red Stars had another opportunity in the 17th minute when Carney sent in a corner which found the head of Casey Nogueira and then the feet of Cristiane who got a shot off. The shot went high. Then, in the 22nd minute Carney found Cristiane alone in the box on a through ball, but she was just steps offsides.

The Red Stars came out a lot stronger at the start of the second half getting several attempts at a goal in the first ten minutes.

In the 50th minute, Cristiane crossed a ball to Megan Rapinoe wide open in the eighteen but her shot was not hard enough and it went right to Atlanta's Hope Solo, considered to be the best goalkeeper in the women's game. In the 53rd minute Nogueria looked to play Rapinoe again in the box but the ball was sent too hard allowing the Beat keeper to intercept it. Perhaps the best opportunity came in the 72nd minute when a corner from Carney was played back to Dalmy who dummied over the ball then made a run as Engen received it and played her one touch. Dalmy was able to cross it inside the six yard box to a diving Chapman. The ball was moving too fast and despite sliding, she was could not able to get a foot on it. Moments later Formiga sent in a vigorous shot, unfortunately at savable height for Solo.

Although their chances were few in the second half, Atlanta had their own near goal in the 83rd minute when defender Tina Ellertson planted a hard header just over the goal off a corner kick. It was a frustrating match for both clubs as neither was expecting to leave with a scoreless draw after so many changes.

The Red Stars next match is June 12th on the road against the Washington Freedom.

KICKERS BRING HEAT IN WIN OVER BATTERY

By Katie Mawyer

RICHMOND, VA – June 5, 2010 – The Richmond Kickers hosted Charleston Battery in a Saturday night match at 7 PM. The 3-1 win over Battery marked Richmond’s fourth of the season. The Saturday evening match was the first between the two clubs since August 2005; they will meet again July 3 in an afternoon match at UR Stadium. Thunder and lightening threatened, yet neither delayed the match. In addition to troubling weather, the evening brought temperatures in the high-80s.

The festivities associated with the evening’s game began early. The Kickers hosted a “School’s Out Festival,” of which numerous local organizations and businesses sponsored. Some of those participating included Great Clips, Q94, Soccer Post, Camp Hanover, and Master Cho’s Tae Kwon Do, to name a few. The celebratory event began at 4 PM and attracted fans of great number who furthered their stay throughout the match. Fans participated in games, exercises, and other activities until the match’s start.

The Kicker Kangaroo, Kick-A-Roo, made his grand entrance in efforts to seek the “Most Enthusiastic Kickers Fans.” The lucky winners were awarded with the traditional “best seat in the house,” a field-side view of the game.

The first free kick of the evening was granted to Charleston after just two minutes of play. The following early minutes brought continuous back-and-forth action between the two teams. Richmond took a corner kick at the 10-minute mark. In the next few minutes, there were multiple header-attempts, none of which resulted in a score change.

Kicker forward Edson Elcock took several opportunities to reach the goal. His consistency and agility contributed to the Kickers’ early shots. At the 20-minute mark, Battery forward Amaury Nunes crossed to fellow forward Brandon Massie in what looked to be a goal; however, Kicker goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was credited with the save. Moments later, after strenuous play, Richmond was granted two free kicks, neither of which the ball saw the back of the net.

After 24 minutes of play, Kicker midfielder Dave Hertel demonstrated his aesthetics in a fashionable throw-in; unfortunately, the throw was wide-right and rolled out-of-bounds. Minutes later, Hertel exited the field to replace his cleats, which were faulty from a previous play.

At the 30-minute mark, Kicker fans were back on their feet. A cross from Elcock to midfielder Bobby Foglesong landed just over the goal, with the scoreboard still reading 0-0.

Pascale was credited with another save three minutes later, further earning his three-time USL-2 Goalkeeper of the Year title. Hertel crossed once more after 36-minutes of play; the cross, resulted in another missed shot over-the-goal.

Kicker defender Sascha Görres received a yellow-card after 40 minutes of play. Following the card, Charleston made another attempt at goal; however, was unsuccessful. Richmond’s Elcock made another attempt after 44 minutes; his deflection was wide-right. Stoppage time was not awarded for the half.

During halftime, fans continued to participate in the evening’s activities. A Bounce 2 The Moon express train carted young children around the parking lots and walkways. Moon bounces and slides were also inflated for fan pleasure.

The second half was underway moments after 8 PM. The combined efforts of Richmond forward Matthew Delicâte and midfielder Foglesong contributed to a nice shot on goal, which was saved by Battery goalkeeper Tim Melia. A minute later, Kicker defender William Yomby took a header attempt, which went over the goal.

The action heated up at the 55-minute mark when the evening saw its first goal. Another Richmond goal-attempt and a Charleston foul resulted in a free kick for the Kickers. The kick touched the cleats of multiple players until it reached the feet of Kicker forward Elcock and went in the net for the goal. Elcock obtained the ball after a deflection from Charleston goalkeeper Melia.

With a one-goal advantage over Charleston, the Kickers continued to bring the heat. Charleston fought back on their next goal attempt when midfielder Pierre-Rudolph Mayard took a shot that deflected off of the left goalpost. Charleston continued with several goal-attempts in the following minutes.

After some intense play, Charleston received a foul and the Kickers took another free kick. The kick, which was taken at 70 minutes, resulted in another goal for Richmond. The goal was credited to Foglesong with the assist to Luke Vercollone.

With the scoreboard reading 2-0 Richmond, Charleston had ground to cover. In efforts to answer back, Battery defender O’Brian Woodbine received a yellow-card. The card was followed by another header attempt toward the goal.

The Kickers weren’t satisfied with a 2-0 lead over their opponent. Görres took a shot from 35-yards out and the ball found the upper-right corner of the net. This third goal came after 77 minutes of play.

Mayard scored Charleston’s first goal off a header after 80 minutes of play. Moments later, defender Nigel Marples racked up another yellow-card for the Battery. The match concluded with three minutes of stoppage time.

The Richmond Kickers now hold a 17-16-4 series advantage over Charleston Battery. The Kickers (4-3-2) will not return to UR Stadium until they take on Battery (6-1-3) again on July 3 at 1 PM. Tickets for the match can be purchased in advance via RichmondKickers.com.

FIRE TRUMP UNION 2-1

CHICAGO, IL - June 5, 2010 – The Chicago Fire used goals from Baggio Husidic and Marco Pappa to snap a four-game winless streak and dispatch Philadelphia Union 2-1 at TOYOTA PARK. Husidic and Pappa both notched their third goal of the season and Patrick Nyarko added his sixth assist as the Fire earned three points over the expansion Union in the first meeting between the two clubs.

The Fire (3-3-4, 13 points) earned their second home victory of the year, the last coming 41 days prior, when Husidic scored in the death of the first half and the Fire topped the Houston Dynamo 2-0 on April 24. The Fire increased their record to 2-0-1 when leading at halftime.

Justin Mapp began the buildup to the first goal when he fed Nyarko on the left, who in stride darted toward the touchline, penetrating the Union defense. Running out of space, the crafty Ghanaian sent an angled pass to the feet of Husidic, who redirected Nyarko’s cross past Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz in the 14th minute.

Marco Pappa almost doubled the score in the 47th minute, lashing a curving left-footed blast that hit the crossbar and the post in the top right corner of the goal.

The Fire added to their lead 27 minutes later. Husidic started the opportunity with a run down the right flank, feeding a wide open Mapp just inside the 18-yard box. The Fire veteran fired a driven shot on goal forcing Seitz to dive to his right for the save. The ball deflected back into the area and eventually rolled to Pappa and the 22-year-old Guatemalan would not be denied, as he clinically placed the ball into the back of the net to score the eventual game winner in the 74th minute.

Danny Mwanga, the first overall selection in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, scored a consolation goal for Union in the 92nd minute when he poked a ball past Dykstra; gathering his third consecutive stoppage time goal of the season.

The Fire round out their six-game home stand at TOYOTA PARK against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, June 9 at 8:00 PM CT (My50). During MLS’ first-ever World Cup break the Fire will have no league games for the duration of World Cup group play. The team will play the NSC Minnesota Stars in an exhibition match at NSC Stadium on Sunday, June 20. For tickets please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or head to the club’s official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.  

CREW FALLS TO COLORADO, 1-0, SATURDAY AT DICK'S SPORTING GOODS PARK

COMMERCE CITY, CO - June 5, 2010 - The Columbus Crew fell to the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, in the club's final match before the league-wide break for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. In what was a battle between the second and third stingiest defenses in MLS, both sides struggled to create openings throughout the first half and much of the second. The first clear-cut chance of the night came in the 73rd minute, as the Crew poured forward in a counter-attack opportunity after Pablo Mastroeni passed loosely into the path of the Crew midfield. Eddie Gaven pushed forward and passed to Steven Lenhart, who then laid the pass off to an open Guillermo Barros Schelotto. However, the Argentine rushed his shot, pushing the scoring chance over the crossbar. With five minutes remaining on the game, the Rapids would finally break the deadlock from a set piece. Jamie Smith took the free kick from near the midfield mark and sent in a high cross into the box for a diving Drew Moor. The defender struck the ball hard and into the ground, sneaking it in between the post and Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer. The Crew will now enjoy a three-week break from MLS play, due to the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa on June 11. The Black & Gold will next take to the field on June 26, when it hosts D.C. United at Crew Stadium. The match, which is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, will be televised live regionally on ONN-TV.

U.S. TOPS AUSTRALIA 3-1 IN FINAL TUNE-UP
BEFORE OPENING GAME OF 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP

ROODEPOORT, SOUTH AFRICA - June 5, 2010 - In the final tune-up game before the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team used two goals from Edson Buddle and a late score from Herculez Gomez to earn a 3-1 victory against Australia in front of a small but boisterous crowd at Ruimsig Stadium.

Buddle’s goals were the first and second of his national team career and they came in just his third appearance. Gomez’ stoppage time tally was his second career goal in four appearances.

The match came five days after the USA arrived in South Africa and a week before the Americans their 2010 FIFA World Cup against England at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. The match kicks of at 2:30 p.m. ET live on ABC and Univision.

U.S. head coach Bob Bradley made several changes from the lineup that defeated Turkey 2-1 on May 29 in the USA’s final domestic warm-up match, inserting veteran Steve Cherundolo at right back and using both Buddle and Robbie Findley at forward while dropping Clint Dempsey back from striker to left midfield.

Buddle rewarded his coach’s confidence with an impressive individual effort that led to a goal in just the fourth minute. It came after he tracked back to pick the ball off the feet of an Aussie defender and then raced toward an off-balance Aussie defense. Buddle beat a defender with a nifty move to his right and stuck a dipping a shot inside the right post past diving Australia ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer to give the Americans an early advantage.

Australia’s Tim Cahill leveled the score in the 19th minute on a corner kick, finding space inside the penalty box to volley the cross through traffic and into the lower left corner.

Both teams wanted to avoid any injuries with their World Cup openers on the horizon but the match was far from conservative. The teams combined for 25 shots and both countries attacked with energy.

The Americans regained the lead in the 31st minute when Cherundolo got past his defender with a great burst down the right wing and played a teasing cross to the far post where Buddle got in front his mark and headed home from close range past the helpless Schwarzer.

At halftime, Bradley changed goalkeepers, replacing Tim Howard with Marcus Hahnemann who earned his first cap since 2007. Hahnemann was forced into several tough saves, but kept the Socceroos off the board in the second half. It was the first of five changes made by Bradley, who also gave Oguchi Onyewu 30 minutes in place of Clarence Goodson while Jonathan Bornstein replaced captain Carlos Bocanegra for the final 36 minutes. DaMarcus Beasley also came on in 72nd minute in place of Buddle while Gomez got on the field in the 82nd minute in place of Dempsey, who certainly did not cruise into the World Cup. The Texas native showed plenty of attacking energy despite Australia taking at least three nasty whacks at his legs during the match.

The USA had a goal disallowed in 51st minute after a wild sequence that started when Landon Donovan put Buddle through into the left side of the penalty area. Buddle’s cross found the sliding Findley at the back post, but his shot hit the crossbar. It bounced in the box before it was poorly cleared by Australia to Michael Bradley, who dribbled at goal and unleashed a blast that Schwarzer could only bat into the air. Dempsey came flying through to send a diving header into the net, but it was waved off for offside.

The final goal came after a crisp series of passing by the U.S. near the top of the penalty box in the third minute of stoppage time. Donovan got possession on the right side and rewarded a good run from Gomez, skipping a cross into the middle for the forward to first-time a shot into the left corner of the net from seven yards away.

The U.S. Men's National Team is in Group C at the 2010 FIFA World Cup with England, Slovenia and Algeria. After the England match, the USA will face Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria.

NORTHERN OHIO BECOMES CENTER OF SOCCER UNIVERSE

First the U.S. Women's National Team came to Cleveland Browns Stadium. Then 250+ teams descended on the city of Westlake for the 27th Annual Westlake Invitational Soccer Tournament (WIST). Local clubs would be the focus of the competition, playing against some of the region's best youth soccer talent.

Cleveland Croatia of Eastlake, OH was the most successful claiming two championships in their respective boys U-10 and U-13 divisions. Canfield (OH) Soccer Club experienced a great deal of success, serving as finalists in the boys U-10 as well as the girls U-12 and U-14 divisions.

Spectators were most impressed with the play and talent level of Flower City United (Rochester, NY). The club traveled a long distance to the tournament, but did not disappoint despite struggling to a 0-3 record at the WIST. The squad, led by Coach Jeffrey Reese, featured speed, pure athleticism, and raw talent. Several observers commented that the club could have 5 or 6 legitimate collegiate players on the pitch over the weekend.

The play of the kids on the field was obviously priority #1 for all involved, but it is noteworthy to mention the economic impact of this tournament. Thousands of dollars were funneled into the local economy as players, coaches, and their families filled local hotels, restaurants, and stores.

CREW DRAWS WITH SAN JOSE, 2-2, WEDNESDAY AT BUCK SHAW STADIUM

SANTA CLARA, CA - June 2, 2010 - The Columbus Crew rebounded from its lone loss of the season last Saturday (May 29) to secure a 2-2 draw with San Jose Wednesday night in a lively match at Buck Shaw Stadium. Columbus pushed from the opening kick, and it paid off almost immediately.

In the fourth minute, right back Jed Zayner's cross fell to the feet of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who held off two defenders and put a shot on goal. Joe Cannon pushed the rebound aside, but the ball trickled to Jason Garey in the goalmouth, who centered the ball to his right to an unmarked Eddie Gaven for the easy tap-in.

However, the 'Quakes would equalize less than a minute later. San Jose's Andre Luiz collected a loose ball on the right side and flicked a pass on to midfielder Arturo Alvarez, who struck a low, hard shot that just beat Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer at the near post.

The Crew regained the lead 70th minute when a Schelotto corner kick found the head of Chad Marshall, who rose above a crowd to nod home his first goal of the season. In the 79th minute, San Jose would again respond with an equalizer when Bobby Convey's corner kick found Scott Sealy, who then headed the ball across goal to Chris Wondolowski, where the forward headed home his sixth score of the season.

NAJAR THE STAR: UNITED'S YOUNGEST PLAYER CONTINUES HIS VETERAN PLAY

By Adam Stern

WASHINGTON, DC - June 2, 2010 - The look on Real Salt Lake’s Tony Beltran’s face was one of such flabbergast and fluster that one would think the defender had seen a ghost or goblin rather than a goal in a soccer game.

But alas, after D.C. United substitute and 17-year old prodigy Andy Najar inexplicably shimmied and shook through Beltran and another RSL defender on the edge of the box and then deftly slotted the ball under charging goalkeeper Kyle Reynish in the second extra period of overtime to hand United a 2-1 victory, it appears Beltran’s classic hands-on-the-heads moment was instead in awe of a flowing, glorious goal in a match packed with anything but.

The result catapults United into the U.S. Open Cup proper—a contest in which they’ve made the finals two years in a row and won in 2008— and makes United the eighth and last MLS team to qualify for round of 16.
“He did well and was magical, man,” United midfielder Santino Quaranta said of Najar. “He’s fun to watch, he’s dynamic; he can change a game.”

That he can, and did. The strike was Najar’s mere second touch of the match (he almost scored on his first touch, too) after he came in as the team’s last sub 105 minutes in and is now his third goal for the club overall after scoring in United’s first Open Cup play-in game versus FC Dallas and in the team’s 3-2 victory over Chivas USA in league player last Saturday.

Perhaps more impressively, it came in a static match that lacked any sort of spunk, spirit or spark and indeed seemed more reminiscent of one of the league’s reserve games with both teams fielding under-strength lineups in light of the team’s match up in the league on Saturday.

It also marked the team’s third win in a row, if including the team’s 3-2 exhibition victory over AC Milan last Wednesday— the team’s longest streak of the season by far after starting out the season in dismal form.
“Every time we put our shirt on and play in front of our fans we have an obligation to ourselves and the club to do well and as of late we’re starting to understand that,” said United midfielder Santino Quaranta. “It takes a lot of work to get victories in the league no matter who you play.”

Overtime was forced in the first place after a Luciano Emilio penalty kick in the 75th minute was nullified five minutes later by a Will Johnson penalty kick. D.C.’s penalty was awarded by what appeared to be a handball by RSL’s striker Collen Warner; RSL’s penalty was definitely awarded by a handball call, this time on D.C. United’s Barry Rice.

Rice, an Ohioan who played at the University of Kentucky and was signed by United this season, marked his first start for the club in fine fashion despite the apparent handball, highlighted in the waning moments of extra time when he cleared the ball off the line to ensure United’s victory.

“Barry’s a gutsy guy, he was cramping from probably the 60th minute and just got through it, he’s a very, very mentally tough individual,” said United Head Coach Curt Onalfo. “He persevered and cleared a ball of the line at the end of the game and had a real solid performance.”

Onalfo was made to watch the match from the stands after being sent off in last round’s victory over FC Dallas. That, however, didn’t spoil what has been a tough thing to come by for United this season: Victory.

"It wasn’t fun not being on the sidelines,” Onalfo told internationalsoccernetwork.com. “But it is what it is and we got ourselves a good result."

BEAT ADD THREE FROM ST. LOUIS

The Atlanta Beat Women’s Professional Soccer  team has agreed to terms with U.S. National Team starting goalkeeper Hope Solo, defender Tina Ellertson, and current WPS leading scorer Eniola Aluko.  The Beat acquire these three players from the recently dissolved Saint Louis Athletica after placing No.1 draft pick, Tobin Heath on season-ending injury reserve and releasing both Lauren Sesselmann and Marisha Schumacher Hodge. 

“We’re very excited to bring in three players of their class,” said Beat head coach O’Sullivan.  “We know they will make an immediate impact on our team.” 

Building from the back, goalkeeper Hope Solo joins the Beat with an impressive resume both on the professional and international levels.  In 2009, she was named WPS Goalkeeper of the Year and was a member of the WPS All-Star team.  She led all votes in fan balloting for the All-Star game and started 17 of 17 games that she was available to play in the league’s inaugural season.  Not only did she record back-to-back shutouts on three different occasions in 2009, but she also recorded the first ever assist by a goalkeeper in WPS history. 

As the starting keeper for the U.S. Women’s National Team,  Solo is an Olympic Gold Medalist who was named 2009 U.S. Female Athlete of the Year.  She was named MVP of the prestigious Algarve Cup after a spectacular performance in the championship game, and according to O’Sullivan, “She is the best goalkeeper in the world.” 

Defender Tina Ellertson joins the Beat as one of only seven players league-wide who started every game of the 2009 season.  She has so far logged more minutes than any Athletica player in 2010 and will rejoin Kia McNeill at the centerback position.  “We feel Tina and Kia will make a great partnership at the back,” said the Coach O’Sullivan.  In 2009, the duo (along with Solo) allowed the second fewest goals WPS (15) earning the second lowest goals against average(0.75) and the second most shutouts (10). 

Also joining the Beat  is Aluko, a forward from England’s National team who currently leads WPS in scoring with four goals in six games after tallying six goals and four assists in 2009.  “Eni brings a lot of pace and a goal scoring threat to our attack,” said O’Sullivan. “She is constantly improving her game, and we look forward to seeing her continue at the top of the WPS scoring charts.”

A.C. MILAN TOPS CHICAGO FIRE 1-0 IN FRIENDLY MATCH

By Tessa Fegen

CHICAGO, IL - May 30, 2010 - A.C. Milan is the fourth European club to visit Chicago in May as they played the Fire in a friendly match at Toyota Park.

Fire Head Coach Carlos de los Cobos was excited about the opportunity to get to play against a team from “the best league in the world,” as he called Italy’s soccer league.

The stadium was stirring with energy and excitement as 20,356 fans from across the country came out to see some of the best players in the world. This was the first ever sell-out for an international game in Toyota Park history. Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato, and Clarence Seedorf came to represent A.C. Milan and are three of the most skilled players in the game.

Ronaldinho received roaring cheers as his name was announced in the starting lineup, then got the standing ovation as he left the game in the 74th minute.

Everyone in Chicago wanted a moment with Ronaldinho, especially the fan who ran out onto the field during the 32nd minute of play to kiss his cleats. Of course, he was promptly chased down by security and escorted off the field in handcuffs, but he got his moment.

The Fire did not play as if they were intimidated, coming out very strong in the first half. They got the first two shots of the game. The first came from Justin Mapp in the second minute who forced a Fire corner kick. McBride collected the serve and got another quality shot off.

The Fire played consistent, utilizing the strengths they possess. Nyarko used his speed and even flicked a ball over Ronaldinho’s head, McBride got shots off, Poppa took several long shots, and Mapp dribbled through defenders. The Fire took 8 shots in the first half to A.C. Milan’s 6. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to capitalize on any of their opportunities. Neither was A.C. Milan, as the half ended scoreless.

A.C. Milan captain Clarence Seedorf got the only goal of the game in the first minutes of the second half as he dribbled behind two Fire defenders. Andrew Dykstra misread his touch and came out too far, allowing Seedorf to pass it into the back of the net.

The Fire got their most dangerous chance of the game in the 54th minute when Husidic played it out to Martinez on the right side who took a hard shot, which was then deflected by the keeper out of bounds.

Then, in the 65th minute, Mike Banner dribbled past A.C. Milan defenders and hit a shot just wide of the goal. Banner got one more attempt in the 81st minute as he shot wide of the goal again. Stoppage time got fans up on their feet as back-to-back corners nearly resulted in a Fire goal.

Carlos de los Cobos was happy with his team's performance. “It was a good match for us. We played a very big team with very big players and I am happy with our players' effort,” said de los Cobos.

“Once again, we had those clear chances to score and we missed. We will continue to look to improve and if we do the work, we will,” said de los Cobos.

The Fire head coach made a lot of substitutions throughout the match, allowing several players the opportunity to play against some of the world’s best. ‘The best way for the players to grow up and improve is to play in games like this against these kinds of guys,” said de los Cobos.

CREW GET "BLACKOUT" IN LOSS TO GALAXY

By Robert Ivory

COLUMBUS, OH - May 29, 2010 - On "Blackout the Galaxy" night in Columbus, the Crew dropped a 2-0 decision to the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday night at Crew Stadium in front of 18,000 strong. Michael Stephens scored his first career MLS goal and Bruce Arena got his 100th career MLS coaching win, only the fourth to do so, as the Galaxy is now the last unbeaten team in MLS.

The Crew came out looking to score quickly as the Galaxy were fresh from their friendly with Argentina’s Boca Juniors on Sunday and Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle being absent due to their call-ups to the U.S. World Cup roster.

But it would be L. A. that would score first in the 10th minute, when midfielder Michael Stephens scored his first MLS goal. Stephens received a pass from Chris Birchall and Stephens was left all alone by the Crew defense and put his shot past crew keeper Will Hesmer, quieting the Nordeke.

“I floated to the back post,” Stephens said. “Birchall played a good ball across the box and I was wide open for an easy goal.”

The Crew had the better half offensively; ending with ten shots, but could not put away the goal. Steven Lenhart was a thorn in the side of the Galaxy as he continually tested Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (who had four saves all night). Lenhart got closer and closer to equalizing, but never could find the answer.

Andy Iro almost had the first Crew goal in the 75th minute, as he put a header on the right posts. It looked like the Crew were sniffing their big goal.

Columbus Head Coach Robert Warzycha had his team push for that equalizer and would even use all his subs before the 75th minute. Most notably of those subs was Jason Garey, who thought he had a goal when he put the ball past Ricketts and the stadium erupted. However, Garey was called for offside and the goal disallowed. Just a minute later, the Crew looked to have L. A. down to ten men after Birchall cut down Emilio Renteria from behind, but he was only cautioned.

Warzycha threw everything he had at the Galaxy in the last fifteen minutes, putting all of his men forward looking to get the goal the Crew usually get at the end of games.

“I think they threw a lot of energy in at the end of the game,” Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “Be my guest to figure what formation they were playing at the end. It looked like everyone they had they threw in there.”

The difference was Ricketts, who leads the league with 8 shutouts and 9 wins, has not conceded a goal since a 4-1 win over Philadelphia on May 2. 

The Crew would dominate the stats, as they out-shot LA (21-3), shots on goal (4-3), corner kicks (15-0), and LA out fouled (12-4), and were cautioned four times to the Crew’s one.

“You can win the game on the stat sheet, but you have to finish your chances,” Warzycha said after the game. 
Galaxy forward Tristen Bowen put the game away in the 87th minute, when he got a nice pass from Chris Klein and had enough time to put it past Hesmer for the nail in the coffin. The start for Bowen was only his second of the year, but his services were needed with the absence of Donovan and Buddle.

“We’re often criticized for how old our team is, nice to see some of the young guys helping us out,” Arena said, “And they have done a good job.”

The Galaxy still lead the Western Conference with 29 points, most in MLS, and the Crew stay at 20 points, five ahead of New York Red Bulls.

KICKERS LOSE IN BATTLE

By Katie Mawyer

RICHMOND, VA – May 29, 2010 – The Richmond Kickers were back in action Saturday at 7 pm as they took on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The 3-1 Riverhound defeat over the Kickers marked the Kickers' second home loss this season. The Saturday night game marked the second meeting between the two clubs. In the first meeting, nearly a month ago, the two clubs played on Pittsburgh’s home turf in what ended in a 1-1 draw. The Kickers and Riverhounds play again on July 24.

Despite Memorial Day weekend, Kicker fans were of great number and included those of local Boy Scout troops, as the date was claimed “Scout Night.” The Kicker Kangaroo brought fans to their feet before the match was underway. The evening’s 80-degree weather contributed to fans’ high spirits. Four fans were chosen as the “Most Enthusiastic” and were awarded the best seat in the house, a field-side view of the game.

Early minutes brought back-and-forth action between the two teams. The Riverhounds took their first corner kick at three minutes; the kick was later followed by a center cross by forward Chad Severs in what gave Kicker goalkeeper Mark Murphy a save. The Kickers saw their first free kick at eight minutes; the ball quickly found its way into the hands of Riverhound goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap. Shortly after, nearing the 10-minute mark, Kicker forward Edson Elcock took a powerful shot just over the goal.

One minute later, Kicker midfielder Jonathan Villanueva attempted a point for the Kickers, which went wide right of the goal. Matthew Delicâte, the league leader in goals, missed a header attempt after 13 minutes. The Riverhounds followed with an attempt at the goal, in which midfielder Travis MacKenzie shot wide-left. The failed attempts maintained a scoreless game thus far.

At the 24-minute mark, Riverhound forward Lee Kouadio-Tobey was offsides just as he released the ball. One minute later, Kicker midfielder Luke Vercollone crossed to Delicâte; Delicâte attempted another header, shooting over the goal.

Kicker defender William Yomby went down after 27 minutes of play and exited the field. He reentered the match three minutes later.

The Kickers missed another attempt after 30 minutes of play. At the 32-minute mark, Delicâte nearly made the evening’s first goal as Riverhound goalkeeper Gilstrap struggled with handling the ball until gathering a firm grip for the save.

The Riverhounds made a change in the scoreboard at 36 minutes of play. A controversial foul call on Kicker midfielder Bobby Foglesong awarded the Riverhounds a penalty kick; Severs took the kick, scoring the evening’s first goal. Severs made another attempt at goal, two minutes later; however, his shot missed wide-left.

Kickers had another near-goal at the 45-minute mark. The half concluded after two minutes of stoppage time.

During the second half, after 54 minutes of play, Kicker midfielder Dave Hertel took a corner kick, which did not result in a goal. Both teams continued the battle to clinch a win. At the 68-minute mark, a yellow card on the Kickers put a pause to the momentum. They regained that energy two minutes later as forward Neil Barlow nearly made a goal, but Riverhound goalkeeper Gilstrap was quick for the save.

The action sparked at 76- minute mark when Riverhound forward Kouadio-Tobey sprinted to catch the rebound from a previous goal attempt; he shot on an open-net, giving the Riverhounds a 2-0 advantage over the Kickers. Kicker players Charlie Reiter and Edson Elcock were also caught in this rebound action.

The Kickers answered with their first goal of the evening just under two minutes later when Delicate scored, also off a rebound from defender Sascha Görres. One minute later, Kicker fans witnessed another near-attempt when several players competed for the ball inside the box.

The excitement continued on. After 85 minutes of play, Riverhound midfielder Thomas Gray altered the scoreboard for the fourth time of the evening. In what initially looked to be a save, Kicker goalkeeper Murphy dropped the ball and it rolled into the net.

Once again, the Kickers attempted to answer. Barlow nearly made a goal off of a cross from forward Jordan Evans; however, with only two minutes remaining in regulations, the scoreboard still read 3-1. Stoppage time did not award either team any additional goals.

The Richmond Kickers now hold a 17-8-7 record; they are still over Pittsburgh, despite the Saturday night loss. The Kickers (3-1-4) will return to UR Stadium next Saturday, June 5 at 7 PM to host the Charleston Battery. Tickets are available in advance via RichmondKickers.com.

TOP-FLIGHT SOCCER IN WESTLAKE

Westlake soccer tournament now among Midwest’s biggest and most popular tourneys

WESTLAKE, OH - May 27, 2010 - The Westlake Soccer Association (WSA) will be holding the 27th Annual Westlake Invitational Soccer Tournament (WIST) over Memorial Day weekend (May 28-May 30).  The WSA welcomes teams and their fans from Michigan, New York, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and all parts of Ohio. The competition is bound to be first-class as a record-high 256 teams will be participating during the three-day event. 

The tournament started small in 1984 with just fourteen teams participating.  Through the efforts of many, the tournament has grown tremendously over the years.  In the early years, teams traveling from out of town would stay with the families of Westlake players.  Today, visiting teams fill nearby hotels.  The tournament still has the personal feel of those early years, yet provides some exciting competition for all who participate.

The WIST truly has become a community event. With over 300 volunteers from the WSA and the support of the City of Westlake, the Westlake Recreation Department, the Westlake Service Department, the Westlake City Schools and St. John Westshore Paramedic and Emergency Care. With 3,000 participants and 10,000 spectators this event has a significant economic impact to the city of Westlake and the surrounding communities.

The WSA is very fortunate to have the strong support from area businesses in organizing one of the largest soccer events in Northern Ohio. Major supporters of this year’s event are Buca di Beppo and Panini’s Bar and Grill in Westlake. We also appreciate the long-term support from Weed Pro, PODS, Markers Inc., and the Westlife News.

The proceeds from the WIST are used to support soccer activities in the community of Westlake which include the WSA Travel Program, WSA Recreation Program, WSA Tops Soccer for Handicapped Players, the Westlake High School program, and charitable organizations within Westlake. The WSA is a non-profit 501.c3 charitable organization operating the WSA Recreation Program (800 members), the WSA Travel Program (330 members), and the Westlake Invitational Soccer Tournament.

For more information regarding the WIST, please visit http://www.westlakeinvitational.com/.

CHICAGO FIRE AND FC DALLAS END IN 1-1 DRAW

By Tessa Fegen

BRIDGEVIEW, IL - May 27, 2010 - It was 75 degrees and sunny for the 7:00 kick-off between the Chicago Fire (2-3-4) and FC Dallas (2-2-6). Neither team could argue the conditions were perfect for a soccer match, however the outcome may have been less than ideal for both sides. After ninety minutes, the game ended in a 1 to 1 tie.

The first goal came early for FC Dallas as Conde stumbled over the ball just outside the box in the sixth minute, allowing David Ferreira to strip him of it. Then, faking out C.J. Brown, Ferreira scored upper 90 with his left foot over the keeper, Andrew Dykstra.

The Fire worked hard trying to get the equalizer as they had two good opportunities before the eventual goal in the first half.

The first chance came from a header from Husidic in the 20th minute as he headed it down to the keeper who tipped it out for a corner. Then off the corner, Conde almost made up for his previous mistake as he headed the ball just over the goal.

The 35th minute lined up to what seemed to be a sure opportunity for a Fire goal as Mapp won the ball and crossed it to Banner on the ground. Despite the open net, Banner slid and served the ball too high over the goal.

The Fire were finally able to put the ball in the back of the net in the 40th minute as Mapp crossed it to captain Brian McBride, who crept behind the defender and headed it past the FC Dallas keeper.

The second half was a bit of a let-down from the highly energized first half which was filled with scoring opportunities. Chicago ended the match with 10 shots, while FC Dallas took 9. Only 3 of Chicago’s shots were taken in the second half.

Perhaps the best chance for the Fire to score in the second half was in the 74th minute. Nyarko layed the ball off to Collins John who hit a good shot into the right side of the net.

The teams split on yellow-cards as well, each having one member receive a warning.

“It was a difficult game for us, as we knew coming into the match. All games are complicated and we haven’t reached the consistency that we strive for yet,” said Carlos de los Cobos.

The Fire accumulated their fourth tie of the season, unable to produce the win. “You always seek for players to make it happen, but sometimes it just doesn’t,” said de los Cobos.

The Fire’s next match will take place this Sunday, May 30th as they host the legendary A.C. Milan.

U.S. HEAD COACH BOB BRADLEY NAMES 23 PLAYERS TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES AT THE 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA   

CHICAGO, IL - May 26, 2010 - U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named the 23-man roster that will travel to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The team departs for South Africa on May 30, and will play their opening match of the tournament against England on June 12 in Rustenburg live on ABC at 2 p.m. ET. 

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (All-Time World Cup Roster Appearances)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (2010), Marcus Hahnemann (2006, 2010), Tim Howard (2006, 2010)

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (2006, 2010), Jonathan Bornstein (2010), Steve Cherundolo (2002, 2006, 2010), Jay DeMerit (2010), Clarence Goodson (2010), Oguchi Onyewu (2006, 2010), Jonathan Spector (2010)

MIDFIELDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (2002, 2006, 2010), Michael Bradley (2010), Ricardo Clark (2010), Clint Dempsey (2006, 2010), Landon Donovan (2002, 2006, 2010), Maurice Edu (2010), Benny Feilhaber (2010), Stuart Holden (2010), José Torres (2010)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (2010), Edson Buddle (2010), Robbie Findley (2010), Herculez Gomez (2010)

Detailed Roster

“We have been working for almost four years to reach this point, and we are grateful to all the players who have been part of the process. There is a tremendous amount of respect for the efforts and professionalism that everyone has put into building this team,” said Bradley.  “It’s important in any team building process to get to the final 23, and clearly there were some tough decisions to make. We are confident that this is a group of players that will work together and be committed to doing whatever it takes to be successful. We feel the roster has a good balance of players who have been a part of previous World Cups, those who have gained great experience in qualifying and Confederations Cup and some newer faces that have proved they belong. We are extremely excited to play the final Send-Off match in Philadelphia and then begin the great challenge of playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.”

The U.S. squad carries a variety of World Cup experience into South Africa, as fifteen players have been named to their first World Cup roster. Meantime, six players have played in a World Cup game, with midfielder Landon Donovan leading the team with eight appearances – all as a starter – while DaMarcus Beasley has six World Cup caps to his credit.  That duo and Steve Cherundolo are earning a place in their third World Cup.

A total of 92 players received at least one cap under Bradley during the four-year cycle as the team compiled a 35-19-6 record.  Additionally, 43 players were used during the 2010 qualifying campaign, 19 of whom made the final roster. Those players accounted for 29 of 42 goals scored in qualifying, including Jozy Altidore’s team-leading six goals.

Donovan is the leading capwinner on the roster with 121 international appearances. The USA’s all-time leader in goals (42) and assists (42) is one of two players with a World Cup goal in the books, along with Clint Dempsey. The Bronze Ball winner from the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup is coming off a banner year, having become the first American player to reach the final of a European cup competition.

The defense is backstopped by goalkeeper Tim Howard, the Golden Glove winner from the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup who allowed less than a goal per game in 13 appearances in 2010 World Cup qualifying.  Team captain Carlos Bocanegra – whose 12 career goals give him second place on the all-time scoring chart for U.S. defenders – is the third most capped player on the roster with 77 appearances.  Oguchi Onyewu has made his return to action following a seven-month recovery from a ruptured patellar tendon suffered last October in the team’s final qualifier, a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica. Jonathan Bornstein, whose stoppage-time goal in that game gave the U.S. first place in CONCACAF qualifying, along with Jay DeMerit, Clarence Goodson and Jonathan Spector, have the chance to appear in their first World Cup.

In the midfield, Donovan’s dominance shone in the final round of qualifying, where he contributed to 12 of the 19 goals scored. His five goals overall tied for second place along with Dempsey and Michael Bradley, who also shared the most appearances in qualifying with Donovan (15). Bradley is joined in the center of the park by fellow 2008 Olympians Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber and Stuart Holden. Edu and Beasley earned a Scottish Premier League title with Rangers in 2010, while Feilhaber earned his place in U.S. Soccer lore by scoring the goal in the 2007 Gold Cup final against Mexico that gave the U.S. a chance to shine in the Confederations Cup in South Africa. Holden made his first appearance for the national team less than a year ago, scoring a goal in his debut against Grenada in the opening match of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Ricardo Clark scored the lone goal in the 1-0 win away to Trinidad & Tobago in qualifying, while José Torres is one of two players on the roster to ply his trade in Mexico.

The strike force is led by Altidore, who has eight career goals in 24 appearances and is the youngest U.S. player in modern history to score a hat trick. A trio of forwards – Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley and Herculez Gomez – did not appear in World Cup qualifying for the United States. Buddle, who had not appeared for the national team since 2003, became the 92nd player to collect a cap under Bradley when he assisted on the first goal against the Czech Republic on May 25 in East Hartford. Gomez, who entered camp after becoming the first American player to lead a foreign league in scoring when he scored 10 goals for Puebla in Mexico, recorded his first goal for the full team against the Czechs.

Overall, players representing clubs from 10 different countries will be heading to South Africa.  A record 19 players on the roster play professionally for clubs outside the United States.  The average number of caps earned is 34, compared to 44 in 2006. Likewise, the team is slightly younger than four years earlier, the average age slightly under 27 years old while in 2006 that number was closer to 28.5 years of age.

The U.S. will play their final home match before departing for South Africa when they face Turkey on May 29 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (tickets), where more than 45,000 tickets have already been sold. ESPN2 and Galavision will broadcast the match live beginning at 2 p.m. ET.  ESPN will have a 30-minute pregame show beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET.  The United States will play one final friendly before the tournament begins, this time on South African soil when they face Australia on June 5 at Ruimsig Stadium in Roodepoort. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

The U.S. Men's National Team has been drawn into Group C with England, Slovenia and Algeria for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. will open its sixth consecutive World Cup finals tournament against England on June 12 in Rustenburg, and will follow that game with matches against Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria.