Is the U.S. women's team doomed to silver, bronze or worse after Abby Wambach's injury? I ponder that question on the Going for Gold blog, which everyone should bookmark or add to your favorite RSS reader. Also check out our Beijing soccer page if you haven't already. Click to continue reading...

Here's my effort to track players (all nationalities) on their way to MLS, MLS players heading elsewhere and U.S. players moving from foreign team to foreign team during this transfer window. The window to MLS closes Aug. 15. The window in Europe closes Aug. 31.

If I've forgotten someone, please speak up, with two caveats:

1.

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Will update this post throughout the competition. Check for a link on the soccer front in case you have trouble working your way back here.

Home teams listed first. All times Eastern. All games on TeleFutura and superliga2008.com

GROUP A - two games played
6 Guadalajara
3 Houston - +3 goal difference
3 Atlante - -3 goal difference
0 D.

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In case you read Eric Wynalda's comments on Claudio Reyna in today's notebook and wondering what the former U.S. forward and ESPN commentator is doing these days, the answer is he's in business with Joe-Max Moore. See the clip.

Wynalda says he doesn't miss TV at all, and he's watching more games than ever while spending time with his kids and occasionally playing with the PDL's Bakersfield Brigade.

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Chase Hilgenbrinck's decision to leave MLS for the seminary and eventual priesthood was surprising but not sudden. The former Revolution defender tells the story ...

Why?
Because I feel called. I've actually had my calling. I've been discerning this decision for several years now.

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Apologies for not mentioning this earlier, but you surely knew already -- we have two SuperLiga games tonight. D.C. United hosts Atlante (NOT Atlanta!!) and Houston takes on Chivas (Guadalajara, not USA). Doubleheader on TeleFutura and superliga2008.com starts at 8 p.m. ET. Might also check some regional broadcasters and see what you find.

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The seven players added to the All-Star roster are: Jim Brennan (Toronto), Juan Pablo Angel (New York), Christian Gomez (Colorado), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado), Pat Onstad (Houston), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles) and Dwayne De Rosario (Houston). The first five were picked by coach Steve Nicol; the last two are commissioner's picks.

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Not a knee injury or anything so serious this time around, but when will DaMarcus Beasley stay healthy? He hurt his hamstring in a friendly with Rangers and should miss an upcoming Champions League qualifier. Click to continue reading...

The day before the transfer window opens, we have a great "only in MLS" story: New England's Chase Hilgenbrinck is giving up soccer to join the priesthood.

In terms of surprise retirements, that ranks alongside Tampa Bay's R.T. Moore, who left the Mutiny to go to dental school.

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Quick impressions from the SuperLiga opener at RFK Stadium, a 2-1 win for Chivas over D.C. United:

* Which team was in preseason? If you lined up all 22 players on the field for a sprint across the field, the Chivas players would probably come in first through 11th. They ran fast and played fast. Click to continue reading...

As I'm typing, the first Development Academy finals are kicking off in Carson, Calif. This is the much-ballyhooed effort to get the top youth clubs to play in a more structured environment with competitive games. Several MLS clubs have entered their youth squads, and ESPN's networks will broadcast the last games.

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... he gets a work permit.

Chivas USA is preparing to lose Brad Guzan -- at the LATimes, Grahame Jones all but names his replacement. SI's Luis Bueno and ESPN's Ives Galarcep have more detail on the transfer itself, both naming Aston Villa as his destination.

If you think you've heard this before, you have.

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The fashion experts in the soccer world aren't impressed with the hairshirt Cristiano Ronaldo has donned as he agitates to move away from Manchester United.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter knitted that hairshirt with his "modern-day slavery" comparison, which Ives Galarcep calls "essentially putting his foot in his mouth for about the 20,000th time during his reign as FIFA president.

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A few notes on today's All-Star eleven:

- This is not necessarily the starting lineup. Steve Nicol can change it around. He could even switch from a 3-5-2 to a 5-4-1 if he wants. (He wouldn't do that, right?)

- Columbus' Guillermo Barros Schelotto made the list on the media ballot but drew only 9.

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Two MLS teams advanced, two USL-1 teams advanced, two games went to penalty kicks. Home teams listed first:

- New England (MLS) 1, Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) 1; New England advances on penalty kicks 5-3. The Revs fielded few starters but slipped through.

- D.

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