Good news, LA Galaxy fans. David Beckham has stated that he is hoping to return to action by October, just in time for the playoffs.

On March 14th of this year while on loan to AC Milan in a match against Chievo Verona, Beckham tore his left Achilles' tendon and has been sidelined ever since.

Your mid 30s are apparently a key time for your Achilles to snap my doctor friend tells me. And three to four months is the usual time before you can start running again. Realistically it's about half a year for footballers to get back into action it seems. Funny how soccer fans suddenly become 'experts' on metatarsals, cruciate ligaments et al.

Hardly any better than Saturday was it? I believe you and me are all looking for a response from the team. Sadly that never came. No highs this time, no first half lead to celebrate, just abysmal abject performance all the way. So much for the immediate response that the players themselves said that this Champions League will give.

Bacary Sagna touched upon a topic that could be described as Wenger's Achilles' Heel. Here is what the French full back said,

Sometimes I think we play too much, We just want to do that and do not think about what is good for us sometimes we just need to cut out the football, stop playing for a bit and just consider what will help us achieve what we want.

David Beckham's supposed season-ending Achilles tear has now been upgraded to a projected return in October for the LA Galaxy. The MLS regular season closes for the Galaxy on October 24th and the MLS Cup is played on November 21st, so Beckham would likely see little action before the start of the postseason and a potential run at a championship.

There has been very little news about the Arsenal defender Thoms Vermaelen since Arsene Wenger revealed that the Gunners medical team had very little idea of what actually was the solution to the Belgian internationals achilles problem. Wenger said three weeks ago: "We have to be patient. We know a lot medically nowadays but there are [.

David Beckham, of infinite stardom, has unfortunately ruptured his Achilles. He limped off in a league game today against Chievo, though it wasn't because of a challenge, he appeared to injure himself midstride. The current verdict is 5 to six months out, which puts him firmly out of World Cup standings, though this is of course an early prediction.

It was undoubtedly a blow to England's World Cup hopes when David Beckham ruptured his achilles playing for Milan a few weeks ago.
The former England captain would have been a vital squad member whose influence would have extended beyond the playing field – as shown by Fabio Capello's intention to include Beckham in the squad's preparations.

Those who are going to miss or are in grave danger of missing, next month's World Cup due to injury. The list of walking wounded includes......

Michael Ballack (Germany)......... Ankle

David Beckham (England)......... Achilles

Jose Bosingwa (Portugal)......... Knee

Michael Essien (Ghana).

The World Cup is edging towards the conclusion of its group stage, so MLS gets ready for a return to action soon.

Before that, the MLS Players Union released the salaries for the 406 players under contract with MLS clubs for the 2010 season.

The Galaxy's David Beckham, ruptured Achilles and all, is still No.

Fabio Capello has called time on David Beckham's England career. The 35-year-old is England's most capped out field player with 115 appearances, and falls 10 short of former England goalkeeper, Peter Shilton's record of 125.
Without doubt at times Beckham was England's best player and installed a huge sense of pride to a nation that hasn't not won a major trophy since 1966.

Terrible news for Israel and Chelsea fans as Yossi Benayoun has been ruled out for a few months with an Achilles problem. Further injury news coming out of Stamford Bridge puts blog favorite Alex out for 3 weeks with a ... Continue reading →

We've heard of shin-guards! Now we have Armadillo's and I don't mean the little leather skinned Mammal. No Armadillo have come out with a revolutionary new calf protector called Armadillo. These revolutionary new body protectors are the latest equipment to come into the market which can dramatically reduce the risk of impact, stud raking and stud penetration to one of the most exposed part of the body when playing Soccer the calf muscles and the Achilles area.

By Chris Wright

The agent of Borrusia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic, who is known to be a long-term target of both Chelsea and Arsenal, has rubbished rumours that the Serbian will be moving to the Premier League come the turn of the year.

Arsenal have carried through their defensive problems from last season, and it has been made worse by the longterm achilles problem sustained by Thomas Vermaelen, but it seems that Arsene Wenger is still ctively searching for another top class defender to bring in in January. According to the vice-president of Dinamo Zagreb, Zdvravko Mamic, Arsenal recently [.

Arsene Wenger saw his Arsenal team concede another two goals yesterday against Aston Villa which will only have increased his resolve to to strengthen the Gunners back line. Although publicly he will always say that he is more than happy with his three remaining centre-backs, he knows that one more is needed if Arsenal are going [.

photo credit: poolie

The Team: Ah, yes, the Greeks. Kids in America "go Greek" at college, but that usually just involves a lot of costume parties and kegs o' beer. We may wear togas and visit vomitoriums during such affairs, but they do not come close to portraying what Greece is actually like.

I'm not going to insult your intelligence by explaining what a big game this Cameroon vs Egypt Africa(n) Cup of Nations quarterfinal is. Replay of the 2008 final (which holders Egypt won 1-0), Samuel Eto'o, etcetera, etcetera. Instead let's focus on the form of two teams who will be planning on winning not just this game, but the whole thing.

Arsenal were twice denied by the woodwork but their long unbeaten streak continues after they drew 0-0 with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Cesc Fabregas struck the post in first-half stoppage time and then Tomas Rosicky crashed a shot against the underside of the bar after the break.
Villa played their full part in a pulsating end-to-end affair but failed to add the Gunners to the scalps of the other 'big four' teams they have beaten this season - Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

David Beckham will be sidelined from 4 to 6 months after tearing his left Achilles's tendon in AC Milan's win over Chievo this past Sunday. This means that Beckham, 34, won't be playing for England this summer in the World Cup at South Africa. He was trying to become the first English player to play in 4 World Cups.

Well, Nevland has come through at important moments in the past...

LONDON (AP) — United States foward Clint Dempsey will miss the second leg of Fulham's Europa League quarterfinal at Wolfsburg on Thursday because of a thigh injury.Fulham beat Wolfsburg 2-1 in the first leg last week.

It was undoubtedly a blow to England's World Cup hopes when David Beckham ruptured his achilles playing for Milan a few weeks ago.

The former England captain would have been a vital squad member whose influence would have extended beyond the playing field as shown by Fabio Capello's intention to include Beckham in the squad's preparations.

England veteran David Beckham now sadly looks certain to miss out on the World Cup in South Africa this summer following news that he will need surgery on an injury to his Achilles the player sustained while playing at loan club Milan. The player's shin guards were not enough to protect the right winger from the heartbreaking injury blow, and he now looks set to miss out on becoming the first England player to make appearances at four separate World Cup competitions.

As many of you are probably aware by now, David Beckham injured his achilles in a match for AC Milan during the weekend. The injury has removed Beckham from the England World Cup squad and will force him to miss the rest of the Serie A season. If Beckham is able to return at any point this season it would be in the fall for the end of the MLS season with the LA Galaxy.

At least today, the era of the beloved David Beckham, the King of Soccer, is dead. Last week, in the European Champions League, he came home to Manchester United to what now looks tragically like adieu. Four days later, the arrow struck, and like Achilles, Beckham's weakness was exposed.

The Hollywood script writers penning "The Life & Times of David Beckham" would never dare end their tale on a torn Achilles. Maybe a five-minute cameo at the 2010 World Cup. Or even his brief and inconsequential return to Old Trafford earlier this month. But certainly not the image of England's most-capped midfielder hobbling on one foot in Milan's waning evening light.

As the World Cup comes closer, there's a palpable excitement which can be felt across all the seas, all the world. It's called the vuvuzela, and its palpability is that feeling in the ass of your chair as the buzz rocks the globe off its axis.

But really, good times are a-comin' for many, and there's little which can detract from the swell of excitement which is due as the world's greatest tournament inches closer.

It's only just sinking in.

The other European games this year have been okay for me. At no point have I really expected much, and if we'd gone out along the way, well, look at who we were playing! Shakhtar? The holders, wizards the lot of them: no disgrace losing to them; Juve! Wow; Wolfsburg?

Normally, I wouldn't post video of David Beckham making the rounds on America's talk-show circuit, but his interview with David Letterman stood out to me because of the in-depth explanation of Beckham's achilles surgery (warning: pictures) and also because Letterman boom roasts the English midfielder with the last line of the clip.

Following the 3-1 defeat to Everton on Saturday, Michael Carrick isn't getting too downhearted. The midfielder admits the result was shocking, but believes it was just a blip and United can still retain the title.

The defeat shouldn't really have come as a huge surprise. Everton have found their form at just the right (or wrong depending on who you support) stage of the season.

Germany's Michael Ballack's boots will take some filling.

Chelsea's magnificent league and cup double came at a heavy price for Germany captain Michael Ballack no World Cup. Like the legendary Achilles, who did not heed the warnings of the Gods before marching into a war that would be the end of him, Michael Ballack, too, will have to sit out on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

The US loses to Czech Republic 4-2. I want to say, so what, it's just a friendly where the most important players for the US didn't even suit up. But 4-goals allowed on a National team, whether reserves or not, is not acceptable. The scoreline rightly brings up lots of questions about our defense.

The US loses to Czech Republic 4-2. I want to say, so what, it's just a friendly where the most important players for the US didn't even suit up. But 4-goals allowed on a National team, whether reserves or not, is not acceptable. The scoreline rightly brings up lots of questions about our defense.

As the 32 World Cup squads are finalised, the weight of neurotic speculation from fans and media pundits has shifted from which players will go to which teams will win. I'm not above such speculation, and will cast more specific oracles of my own closer to the games, but right now, as in "The Gods are Feeling Cheeky," I'm interested more in the question than the answer.

Portland Timbers
VS
Austin Aztecs
Wednesday June 9th
5:30 pm @ House Park
Watch Online @ PortlandTimbers.com
The Portland Timbers head down south as they prepare to play the Austin Aztecs (7-2-1), who are currently in first place in the overall USSF standings with 23 points.

Group E pair go in search of better luck in Pretoria.

Think Rooney will get 1st England red card? Bet with Paddy Power and get £20 free!

Get Your Anti Vuvuzela T-Shirt Now!

Cameroon looked impotent in attack against Japan and coach Paul Le Guen may opt to use Samuel Eto'o in a more central role rather than wide right.

The 2010 World Cup finals have drawn to a close. Unlike Richard, I can't say I've particularly enjoyed it. Maybe I'm getting old, maybe I just didn't see enough live games but this tournament failed to generate the excitement I've felt with previous years. There were moments though; Ghana did Africa proud, Germany entertained, Spain were incredible and Forlan worked his magic for Uruguay.

Reid to see specialist Sunderland's Andy Reid is to a visit a specialist after suffering a setback in his return from injury. The Irishman has picked up an Achilles complaint and will seek medical advice before stepping up his pre-season plans.Also, Lee Cattermole is also nursing a knock. The combative midfielder was forced out of Saturday's 1-0 victory over Darlington with a groin strain and

Squad Profiles are available for each of the twenty clubs currently playing football in the Spanish top flight. They are an overview of each club and specifically denote players to highly consider selecting for your side. Others have been ear-marked to watch out for as they may be new to La Liga or returning from injury.

It's understood that Stoke City are in advanced talks with French side Monaco over the signing of Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohnsen. It's thought that Monaco is willing to let him move on because he has fallen well down the pecking order.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is desperate to sign more forward reinforcements as he looks to shake up his front line.