This friendly will mark the return of Cory Gibbs, injured in a pre World Cup tuneup in 2006 to the US squad. Gibbs was, prior to his injury the US' best left footed defender. GOALKEEPERS (2): Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Tim Howard (Everton FC) DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay […]

It wasn't the greatest of games, but the end result deals a massive blow to Arsenal's title hopes and boosts Chelsea's chances of giving Manchester United a run for the money. The first half was poor with both sides unable to make their all-important final touches count. Drogba knocked the ball too far in front […]

Looks like the headline writers at The Independent newspaper have fallen asleep as they scored an own goal this Grand Slam Sunday. See screenshot below. Don't be too surprised if the headline is fixed by the time you read the article.

I don't want to hear Liverpool fans criticize referee Steve Bennett for dismissing Javier Mascherano late in the first half today. I just don't want to hear it, simple as that. It's about time that a referee stood up for himself and didn't take any BS. I've complained all year long about the referees and […]

The Derby d'Italia did not disppoint as visitors Juventus walked away 2 – 1 winners late Saturday. Eyes focused on Inter and Juventus once Roma, Fiorentina, and Milan all won earlier. Of course the backdrop to this drama is Roma are again thrown a scudetto lifeline, having the Inter lead cut to 4 points by […]

To no one's surprise, David Beckham was retained by England manager Fabio Capello in the final 23-man squad for the Three Lions' friendly in Paris next week. Beckham is one cap short of 100 in his England career and if he doesn't get it against France, and it appears that he will based on this […]

I've been harping on the race for the UEFA Cup spots all season, especially lately since it looks like only two (one through league finish, one possibly through the Intertoto Cup) and possibly three (depending on UEFA Fair Play table results) teams will qualify for Europe's second-tier club competition. Results in the Carling Cup and […]

Kasey Keller isn't the most talented or athletic goalkeeper the United States has ever produced. Nor has he been the best at any particular moment in time. But consistency and commitment are important and few if any American bred keepers can claim Keller's consistency over time and his battle scars. Unlike Brad Friedel and Tim […]

Yes I know that the big boys are matched together this weekend in what has been deemed Grand Slam Sunday but for some teams outside of the top four Saturday’s matches will prove just as important and may provide even more dramatic. While it seems there has been endless analysis of the matchups this Sunday […]

On Thursday, UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Committee imposed fines on several clubs for incidents from recent matchdays in both the Champions League and UEFA Cup. + Lyon were fined 3,200 Euros for what has been noted as "incidents of an unsporting nature" in the first leg of their knockout tie against Manchester United. This relates […]

For obvious reasons (i.e. Grand Slam Sunday), it's going to be a massive week for football fans around the world. While so much attention will be placed on two games in particular that could be pivotal in deciding who will be in or out of the Premier League race, I want to take this opportunity […]

The Manchester City club of 2008 is a far cry from what it was in 1980. At that time, the club was managed by Malcolm Allison, a larger-than-life figure that embodied so much of what was characteristic of the old style of managers (smoking a cigar, wearing a sheepskin coat, etc). Thanks to our friends […]

Recently EPL Talk shared a picture of the new 08/09 Chelsea home shirt that appeared in a British tabloid newspaper. If you haven't had a chance to see the new Chelsea away and third shirts for the 2008/2009 season, here they are (courtesy of Football Shirt Culture): Away shirt: A sigh of relief will be […]

Tonight will determine a great deal about the health of the US National Team program. I feel the program is ill currently and could be terminally so with a loss tonight. However, the addition of Jonathan Spector for this match gives Peter Nowak a Premiership caliber player to put up against the Canadians, something he […]

Rob Green: More battle tested than any likely U.S. keeper for the May 28th friendly at Wembley/Daily Mirror Sunil Gulati responding to critics in this country has scheduled a group of extremely tough friendlies beginning this month against Poland, and culminating potentially against Argentina a week before the U.S. plays its first world cup qualifier […]