Persisting with a tired old guard and a refusal to make major changes have left England's future
looking less-than bright.
It behooves any country with serious aspirations on the world soccer scene to entrust the
development of its young players to the pros. To the country's professional clubs, that is. Like in
most endeavors, privatization tends to lead to more efficiency, and Major League Soccer's nascent
academies are slowly but very concertedly wresting youth soccer away from the traditional avenues.
There's often a dearth of exciting football news during the off-season, but Wayne Rooney is on a
one-man mission to keep fans sated with up-to-the-minute updates on his recent hair transplant.
Footballer Wayne Rooney has confirmed he has had a hair transplant at a top London clinic in a bid
to restore his receding locks to their former glory.
England drew 2-2 at home to Switzerland to jeopardize its hopes of making next year's European
Championship in Poland and Ukraine and Portugal climbed to the top of Group H by beating Norway 1-0
on Saturday.
Wrap
England 2 - 2 Switzerland: Kevin McCarra at Wembley
Henry Winter: England's isolation almost complete after abject showing against Switzerland
Macedonia 0 - 2 Ireland: Keane's double wins in Skopje
Italy 3 - 0 Estonia: Front line on fire for Azurri
Portugal lead Group H with 1-0 win over cautious Norway
Five things we learned from the international fixtures this weekend
USA 0 - 4 Spain
Maybe the big discussion from Saturday's clinic inside Gillette Stadium shouldn't be about
starting lineups and the wisdom of U.S. coach Bob Bradley deploying a "B team" in a match that
bumps up against an important tournament -- although there is certainly a hardy debate there.
Five story lines to follow + plus team profiles.
Mexico cruised past El Salvador with a comfortable 5-0 win to begin their Gold Cup title defence in
Texas. Also in Group A's opening fixtures, Costa Rica enjoyed a similarly emphatic start with
victory over their Caribbean neighbours Cuba, winning 5-0 at the Cowboys Stadium.
Good Day SSNers!!
Sid Lowe in Spain with The Sids, previews for the weekend's Euro 2012 qualifiers, the U.S. host
Spain in Foxboro tomorrow, more on FIFA, Jonathan Wilson in Eastern Europe, Friedel goes to Spurs,
Mark Hughes leaves Fulham but does not go to Villa, Dale Johnson is Off The Ball, Barcelona sign
10-year-old American and much more!
Eyebrows were raised at Manchester United's decision to hand Michael Owen a new one-year contract
earlier this week, but the former England forward can credit Sir Alex Ferguson's admiration of AC
Milan for his extended stay at Old Trafford.
From an amazing managerial achievement to perhaps the greatest assist ever, it's time for the
annual end-of-season Spanish football awards.
It's the Sids 2011! The complete review of the past La Liga season.
Where:
Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, MA.
When:
June 4, 2011, 4:30 p.m. EDT
U.S. TV:
ESPN & Univision
Reigning World Cup champions Spain will bring a star-studded squad that includes six players from
Champions League winners Barcelona into a Saturday friendly against the United States.
Germany will need to stay cool under pressure when they make an end-of-season push for a perfect
six wins out of six in Euro 2012 qualifying against Austria on Friday. Runners-up to Spain in 2008,
the Germans are one of several heavyweight teams in action following the season finale in major
domestic leagues.
Having been suspended from international competition in April, Bosnia-Herzegovina are back and
stronger than before.
Bosnia-Herzegovina's united return to international football.
