Brazil and Portugal in U-20 Final Today

At 3:00 Pacific Time, Mexico will face France in the U-20 World Championship third place match (on Galavision) followed by Brazil and Portugal for the U-20 Championship trophy.

Brazil defeated co-favorite Spain in the quarterfinals in a shootout after a 2-2 draw to face Mexico. Mexico defeated host Colombia 3-1 in the quarterfinals and gave Brazil a tough scrap in the semifinals until Brazil's Henrique (Sao Paulo) scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to give Brazil the victory. Henrique is now the leading candidate for the Golden Boot, tied with Spain's Alvaro Vazquez (RCD Espanyol) with 5 goals but with one more match to play tonight.

EPL: Chelsea v West Brom Highlights

An 83' minute goal by Malouda save face for Chelsea and Villas-Boas who held shot advantage of 4:1 and 2/3 of the possession. Anelka scores in the 2nd half while WBA's Long in the 4th minute. Chelsea walks away with the 3 points, 2-1 winners.



Video: ongolosdotcom

EPL: Everton v QPR Highlights

Speaking of rough seasons, how is Moyes and Everton feeling right about now? Dominate possession and the only shot on goal you give up is the goal that earns them 3 and you 0 points... Rough. Tommy Smith with the 31' goal for QPR. Welcome to the EPL Tommy.



Video: tgolovideos

EPL: Arsenal v Liverpool Highlights

After a Ramsey own goal, Arsenal just seemingly gave up. Until then, it had actually been close (as close as a 70' red card to Frimpong can get you). Suarez enters late and finishes the Gunners off as Arsenal fans boo and leave before the final whistle. It's going to be a long season for Arsene and his band of merry 12 year olds.



Video: ongolosdotcom

A New Season

Soccer is back on hurrah!

Um, strike that (again, pun intended).

Seems Spanish 1st/2nd division players are locking themselves out until some nearly 200 players are paid back pay, among other things.

And that's not the only league with issues.

Italy has seen most of their owners not attend a required meeting this weekend to address the issue between teams/owners wherein the players no longer desired by a team can no longer practice with their team and are required to accept a transfer. That seems pretty fair (sarcasm).

With all the issues going on, makes you wonder what there is to watch this weekend other than EPL? Well, there is the MLS, and I hear Argentina is expanding their first division after this year to create a 1st division with some 30+ teams in it (that should make for some exciting football, well no not really when almost everyone gets promoted).

Well, time to go check in on Greek football. Wait, they were postponed for 2 weeks because of corruption investigations? Wth?

It's going to be a long season.

American Rangers

Just when you got used to calling FFC, Fulhamerica...

Going to have to add a SPL team to that list. Already with Edu on the squad, Glasgow Rangers just added Bedoya (he already was on a pre-contract set to begin in January) today and now comes word from Sky Sports that St. Etienne defender, and USMNT player Carlos Bocanegra just signed a 3yr deal to move to Ibrox, effective immediately...

Wow.

Well, on a plus note, we know he can hang with the physical play in the SPL, but the question is, for how long?

Photo: siyanor

Fallen

Eddie... ever since you went to Fulham, your career has been in tailspin. You fail to make a significant impact in the EPL outside of preseason matches, so you move to Greece. You fail to make an impact in Greece, so you come home. Apparently, you make an impact with some random woman at a Holiday Inn and your wife makes an impact on your car...

And now...

You're back. In MLS. Allocated by MLS to the (un)lucky team to pick you up out of the scrap pile. By the way, you better come back big if you want to see yourself wearing the Red/White/Blue again before retirement.

8/18- And apparently, you aren't even good enough for MLS... or you don't like the salary... or whatever. Either way, I agree with the guys over at Matchfit that just because you played overseas doesn't mean you should be able to come back here with your tail between your legs and get max salary... oh wait, that was Adu...



Photo: cardiff news

Now DPing for less

Just sounds like a bad title, but regardless, this is a huge move for MLS. It shows that we are willing to become a feeder league for teams, it'll drive up player quality, and hopefully we'll see an improvement at the club level.

What is it I'm talking about?

MLS has announced they are dropping the DP costs to clubs into age brackets.

Beginning in 2012, teams can acquire Designated Players based overseas who are 20 years of age or younger for a budget charge of only $150,000, while Designated Players between the ages of 21 and 23 will count just $200,000 against a team’s salary budget. Current DPs represent a $335,000 hit to a club’s player budget of $2,675,000, regardless of their age.

Huge. Teams like FC Dallas are rewarded for having signed Colombian U20 player Fabian Castillo, but it also allows some of the MLS teams to start mining South America for some talent.

It can have a negative connotation as well. Does this mean we are going to see more MLS expansion? Does this also mean that we know the limits of our own national development with NCAA soccer? Interesting times.