Soccer Insider: March 14, 2010 - March 20, 2010
D.C. United wins Carolina Cup
Who exactly is this ambitious prospect Jaime Moreno? His name rings a bell. He ended up scoring five goals in three matches at the Carolina Challenge Cup, including two Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium, as D.C. United finished a perfect week and promising preseason with a 2-0 victory over the...
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Steve Goff
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March 20, 2010; 11:15 PM ET |
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MLS, players' union reach deal, avert strike
Five days before the season opener, MLS and the players' union have struck a deal on a new, five-year collective bargaining agreement. The players had threatened to strike if a new pact couldn't be reached this weekend. With approximately 25 players participating, the sides met all day and night...
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Steve Goff
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March 20, 2010; 1:15 PM ET |
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Positive signs in MLS labor dispute
Five days before the season is scheduled to begin, MLS and the players' union appear to have reached an accord in their protracted negotiations concerning a new collective bargaining agreement and averted a strike. The league has scheduled a media teleconference for 1 p.m. today. Participants include Commissioner Don Garber,...
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Steve Goff
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March 20, 2010; 11:28 AM ET |
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MLS
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MLS, American abroad, World Cup bids
*I wish I could share some MLS labor news with you, but there haven't even been any whispers today. Neither camp has issued an official update either. Maybe talks have moved into a CIA bunker in the West Virginia hills. *Defender Lawson Vaughn, a candidate at right back, is no...
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Steve Goff
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March 19, 2010; 3:45 PM ET |
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Americans Abroad
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FIFA
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Germany
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MLS
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USA World Cup bid
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Champions League, Europa League pairings
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Quarterfinals March 30-31 and April 6-7 Barcelona-Arsenal Lyon-Bordeaux Bayern Munich-Manchester United Inter Milan-CSKA Moscow Semifinals April 20-21 and 27-28 Barcelona-Arsenal vs. Inter Milan-CSKA Moscow Lyon-Bordeaux vs. Bayern Munich-Manchester United Final: May 22 in Madrid EUROPA LEAGUE Quarterfinals April 1 and 8 Fulham-Wolfsburg Hamburg-Standard Liege Valencia-Atletico Madrid Benfica-Liverpool...
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Steve Goff
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March 19, 2010; 8:37 AM ET |
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Euro Champions League
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Early Friday kickaround
*MLS labor talks here in Washington went deep into stoppage time Thursday night/Friday morning. Last I heard, the sides had entered a 14th hour. Can't they just settle it with penalty kicks? Cannon in goal, Garber steps to the spot ... Yellow cards were given to both sides for leaking...
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Steve Goff
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March 19, 2010; 1:40 AM ET |
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Americans Abroad
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CONCACAF
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CONCACAF Champions League
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College Soccer
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England
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Dempsey's goal lifts Fulham over Juventus
American midfielder Clint Dempsey, who returned from a long-term knee injury last week, scored on a gorgeous chip from 19 yards to cap Fulham's sensational comeback victory over Juventus in the Europa League. With U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley in attendance at Craven Cottage in London, Dempsey entered in...
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Steve Goff
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March 18, 2010; 4:10 PM ET |
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Americans Abroad
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Weekend TV listings
What are you going to watch? SATURDAY Australia final, Melbourne-Sydney 3 a.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel England, Aston Villa-Wolverhampton 8:30 a.m. ESPN2 Germany, Eintracht-Bayern Munich 10:30 a.m. ESPN Deportes England, Everton-Bolton 11 a.m. FSC England, Stoke City-Spurs 11 a.m. Fox Soccer Plus...
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Steve Goff
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March 18, 2010; 3:36 PM ET |
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MLS labor update
In an attempt to avert a strike before next week's season openers, MLS management officials and players' union representatives have gathered in Washington today to continue collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Best-case scenario: They reach a deal by the end of the day. Worse-case scenario: They break off talks and prepare...
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Steve Goff
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March 18, 2010; 12:38 PM ET |
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Poll: Champions League winner is .....
poll by twiigs.com...
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Steve Goff
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March 18, 2010; 10:40 AM ET |
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Euro Champions League
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Thursday kickaround
*What they are saying about the incomparable Lionel Messi, who had two goals Wednesday against Stuttgart after scoring three Sunday vs. Valencia..... Barcelona Manager Pep Guardiola: "The best players are always in the thick of the action. [Michael] Jordan did it with the Bulls, [Kobe] Bryant does it with the...
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Steve Goff
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March 18, 2010; 9:15 AM ET |
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2010 World Cup
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Americans Abroad
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Argentina
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CONCACAF Champions League
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Euro Champions League
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MLS
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Mexico
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Friendly: D.C. United vs. Toronto
In its second match at the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, S.C., D.C. United faces Toronto FC at approximately 7:25 p.m. ET tonight. Coach Curt Onalfo has turned to several reserves and trialists hoping to make a lasting impression before roster moves are due. Meantime, defender Bryan Namoff will return...
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Steve Goff
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March 17, 2010; 7:14 PM ET |
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D.C. United
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DCU, Rimando, Valencia, England, Bradley, USA
*As expected, D.C. United has signed defender Lyle Adams to a developmental contract. The former Wake Forest player was drafted last year but explored European options before joining second-division Austin. "He is a young player with good potential, who will add quality depth to our backline," GM Dave Kasper said...
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Steve Goff
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March 17, 2010; 5:34 PM ET |
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Americans Abroad
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D.C. United
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England
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MLS
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Mexico
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Spain
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U.S. men's national team
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Women
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Earthquakes investor speaks out
Before we get to Lew Wolff, who operates the San Jose Earthquakes, I can tell you that the two union representatives (players) from each of the 16 clubs will begin gathering in Washington on Thursday and plan to stay as late as Sunday, depending on how labor negotiations unfold. Meantime,...
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Steve Goff
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March 17, 2010; 3:00 PM ET |
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MLS
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Video: Peruvian derby in Copa Libertadores
From Copa Libertadores group play Tuesday, Juan Aurich defeated Alianza Lima, 4-2. Check out Alianza's overzealous goal celebration in the second minute, a couple quality strikes by Aurich and the outstanding solo clincher by Pedro Ascoy in the 86th minute:...
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Steve Goff
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March 17, 2010; 2:48 PM ET |
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Libertadores
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MLS player reps to meet
Union representatives for each of MLS's 16 clubs are tentatively planning to meet in Washington in the coming days to discuss the status of the collective bargaining agreement talks and the possibility of a strike, the Insider was told by multiple sources. With eight days until the season is scheduled...
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Steve Goff
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March 17, 2010; 11:46 AM ET |
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MLS
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Wednesday kickaround
*D.C. United is in negotiations to play Spanish club Valencia at RFK Stadium in August, sources close to the negotiations confirmed. United officials declined comment, but we do know they have been working on arranging friendlies with foreign clubs this summer. Valencia, which was ousted from the UEFA Champions League...
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Steve Goff
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March 17, 2010; 10:54 AM ET |
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Americans Abroad
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CONCACAF Champions League
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D.C. United
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MLS
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Spain
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USA 2nd division
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The story behind Perkins' return to MLS
Troy Perkins had been in Norway for almost two years, and by all accounts his career was evolving nicely. Right away, he had become the starting goalkeeper for the Oslo-based club Valerenga, served as captain and became a favorite of the Klanen, the faithful supporters' group that creates a red-and-blue...
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Steve Goff
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March 17, 2010; 6:36 AM ET |
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D.C. United
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D.C. United waives Szetela
Danny Szetela joined D.C. United last summer amid much fanfare, a former U.S. under-20 national team midfielder who had spent time with clubs in Spain and Italy and seemed poised to finally fulfill lofty professional expectations. But less than a year after arriving in Washington, Szetela is on the way...
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Steve Goff
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March 17, 2010; 12:25 AM ET |
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D.C. United
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D.C. United news & notes
Defender Bryan Namoff, who has suffered from the effects of a concussion and head/neck injury since late last season, joined D.C. United for training camp in Charleston, S.C., and did some ball work today, Coach Curt Onalfo said. "It's good to have him with the guys," Onalfo said of Namoff,...
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Steve Goff
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March 16, 2010; 4:09 PM ET |
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D.C. United
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Video: Red Bull Arena
The Red Bulls practiced inside their shiny new stadium today. Gorgeous. Makes you forget about Giants Stadium pretty quickly, huh? Let's hope they sell enough tickets consistently so the corporate logo plastered on the sideline sections is not visible during matches. (Video courtesy of The Offside Rules blog) New York's...
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Steve Goff
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March 16, 2010; 12:06 PM ET |
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MLS
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Tuesday kickaround
*Last week, MLS President Mark Abbott scolded the players for violating the mediator's request of not discussing the collective bargaining agreement negotiations. So will the league have a chat with Anschutz executive Tim Leiweke, who talked openly about the labor talks and criticized the work force in the Los Angeles...
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Steve Goff
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March 16, 2010; 9:42 AM ET |
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2010 World Cup
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Americans Abroad
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D.C. United
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MLS
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TV
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D.C. United roster update
With 12 days until D.C. United is scheduled to open the 2010 league schedule at Kansas City (cross your fingers that a strike is averted), the club needs to make several decisions before finalizing a roster that will include 20 senior players and four developmentals. Clyde Simms (minor knee surgery)...
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Steve Goff
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March 15, 2010; 7:19 PM ET |
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D.C. United
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Beckham out until probably September
The latest on David Beckham's Achilles' tendon injury, which will sideline him until probably September: BY MARIUS TURULA Associated Press Writer TURKU, Finland (AP) -- David Beckham's left Achilles' tendon was totally torn, and the doctor who performed the surgery said the England midfielder is expected to be out of...
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Steve Goff
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March 15, 2010; 4:18 PM ET |
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Beckham
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England
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MLS
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Beckham, USA, Mexico, Hiddink, North Korea
*Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena has issued a statement concerning David Beckham, who underwent surgery on his Achilles' tendon injury today in Finland and will miss England's World Cup campaign: Injuries are an unfortunate part of our game and they are even more disappointing when they happen to a player who...
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Steve Goff
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March 15, 2010; 2:39 PM ET |
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2010 World Cup
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Beckham
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MLS
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Mexico
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World
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Video: Higuain's hat trick
After Cristiano Ronaldo's free kick strike, French-born Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain scored three times as Real Madrid rebounded from its mid-week Champions League elimination with a 4-1 victory at lowly Valladolid to remain even with Barcelona (actually, Galacticos are ahead by two on goal difference) with 12 matches remaining in...
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Steve Goff
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March 15, 2010; 11:14 AM ET |
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Spain
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Monday kickaround
*David Beckham will, indeed, be sidelined for months, according to his surgeon. *A broader look at Beckham's career-threatening injury. *USA forward Jozy Altidore will have a new manager after Hull City dismissed Phil Brown. By the way, I love the British expression for an employee who has been banished with...
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Steve Goff
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March 15, 2010; 10:34 AM ET |
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Americans Abroad
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Beckham
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CONCACAF
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England
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Beckham's career in jeopardy?
Superstar David Beckham apparently ruptured his left Achilles' tendon Sunday in an AC Milan match, dashing his hopes of playing in the World Cup for England this summer and jeopardizing his career in MLS. Milan officials said Beckham, 34, will miss five to six months after surgery, which is scheduled...
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Steve Goff
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March 14, 2010; 8:02 PM ET |
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Beckham
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Italy
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Video: Messi 3, Valencia 0
Watch. Marvel. Enjoy. (Goals at 2:34, 4:25 and 5:30.)...
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Steve Goff
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March 14, 2010; 5:45 PM ET |
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Spain
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Americans abroad
With the World Cup approaching, our Sunday roundup will be limited to players in contention for a U.S. roster slot, well-known veterans and other notable performances. Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus) and Charlie Davies (Sochaux) are recuperating from injuries. GOALKEEPERS Tim Howard 90 minutes in...
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Steve Goff
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March 14, 2010; 3:21 PM ET |
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Americans Abroad
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