STARTERS
Dick Advocaat resigned today as head coach of Belgium. I forgot he even had that job.
-He has long been on my list of potential coaches for the USA.
BIG CLUB MATCHES TODAY
Coming up this weekend - the Manchester derby at Man City.

Richard Dunne took no part in Ireland's training session this morning in Malahide but Marco Tardelli is "100 per cent" certain the defender will be fit for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Russia at home and Slovakia away.
Dunne made his comeback from injury for Aston Villa at the weekend and while assistant manager Tardelli admitted he was still slightly niggled by the injury, he insisted today's absence was purely precautionary.

Down goes Africa, Asia takes its place.

Half the battle with rankings is dropping those old results at the right time. For African countries, this was the wrong time, should they put a good deal of stock in their FIFA rankings (one would imagine they do). While Japan and friends were busy duking it out for Asian supremacy, Africa was busy tumbling down the list.

Of course there is but one true answer: Brazil-Argentina.

The not-quite-friendly friendly taking place in Doha has added significance in that it will usher in the return of Ronaldinho to the Selecao fold, if just for one game, as he now struggles for a return to the Milan fold. (Three straight on the bench.

Russia will be facing Belgium tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 17) in a friendly match in south western city of Voronezh. This will be the first time Russia will face Belgium since 3-2 defeat at the 2002 World Cup. Advocaat will likely use this match to wrap up the international season [read more]