Forget the MLS All-Star game vs Man Utd. If you really want to judge MLS teams against international opposition, the best place to do so is the CONCACAF Champions League. If you have no idea what the acronymtastic competition is, imagine the UEFA Champions League, but instead of Barcelona and Man Utd it features the best clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Yeah, so our boys and the visiting Spawns of Satan cancelled each other out, playing to a lackluster (to put very mildly) 0-0 draw. While we certainly had much fun, as we always do, I feel it was an opportunity lost. First, we dropped two points to a team in the midst of a suck-ass season.

The fat, yawning kid is far less likely to give away that ball than Nick Garcia

Every TFC promo since the beginning of the season has been touting the beginning of a "new era" under Preki. This fresh start is apparently the change we've been waiting for. Much like the new era that started under John Carver - but with less likeable players.

La Selección Nacional de Honduras ya tiene listo los nombre que tendrá en el Mundial de Sudáfrica 2010, Reinaldo Rueda, para la cual lamentó enormemente la fractura de tobillo de su delantero mas activo Carlo Costly, quien dicho sea de paso, sí fué incluido en la lista de la selección, esperando algún milagro, de lo contrario podría aplicar la ley de la FIFA sobre el cambio de un jugador seriamente lesionado para sustituirle.

The political situation in Honduras right now is, shall we say, messy. But the football team has probably never been better. Honduran players are gaining respect in leagues like Serie A and the English Premier League, and in they have a Colombian coach who seems to know his business.

Yet probably because Honduras hasn't qualified for a World Cup since 1982, they seem to be the underdogs in World Cup 2010 Group H, where they'll face Spain, Switzerland and Chile.

Major League Soccer saw two more teams advance to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League after Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders both registered vital draws to win their respective play-in series.

Toronto FC posted a 2-2 draw against Honduran club CD Motagua. Former TFC midfielder Amado Guevara scored twice for Motagua, but Chad Barrett's equalizer gave Toronto the 3-2 series win on aggregate.

So this is how the Best Year Ever begins. With the B-team in the rain.
The NFL games aren't until Sunday, so there's not a full slate of sports competition. But this game still should have been in February. The only sports competition in February is the freaking swimsuit issue.
It's not only (possibly) our Best Year Ever, either.

O técnico da seleção de Honduras, Reinaldo Rueda, anunciou nesta segunda-feira a convocação dos 23 jogadores que defenderão a equipe nacional na Copa do Mundo da África do Sul. A seleção hondurenha está no grupo H, ao lado de Espanha, Suíça e Chile.
O treinador também anunciou os sete jogadores suplentes, que podem ser inscritos na competição caso um dos 23 convocados não possa atuar na Copa do Mundo.

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda has selected the final 23 players who will represent the country in the World Cup. They have a few players that are known in Europe. These players are marked in bold.
Goalkeepers:
Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia).

Call it the day before THE day. Today marks the deadline for teams to submit their 30-player preliminary World Cup rosters. These are the squads from which 23 players will be chosen on June 1 to represent their countries at next month's World Cup.

The U.S. national team's preliminary roster will be unveiled at 2pm, but we've already had several high-profile nations reveal their squads.

In contrast with most of the finalists who will appear in South Africa, Reinaldo Rueda announced his final group of 23 two weeks ago. Here is the list: Goalkeepers: Ricardo Canales (Motagua) Noel Valladares (Olimpia) Donis Escober (Olimpia) Defenders: Víctor Bernárdez (Anderlecht, Belgium) Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic, England) Boniek García (Olimpia) Sergio Mendoza (Motagua) Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua) Johnny Palacios (Olimpia) Mauricio Sabillón (Hangzhou, China) Osman Chávez (Platense) Midfielders: Edgar Álvarez (Bari, Italy) Julio César de León (Torino, Italy) Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards, USA) Amado Guevara (Motagua) Walter Martínez (Marathón) Ramón Núñez (Olimpia) Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur, England) Hendry Thomas.

Honduras World Cup 2010 Preview #30 (Group H) is a post from: Just Football

Back by un-popular demand...HONDURAS!!! The entire World Cup preview of the nation that holds about 8 million strong.

Appearances at the World Cup: Uno...One. back in 1982 where they won the Gold Cup which also was used for World Cup qualifying.

C.D. Motagua President and logo model Aguilas Azules

TORONTO FC (CAN) VS. C.D. MOTAGUA (HON)
　
BMO Field - Tuesday, 8:00PM ET
TV: GOL TV
　
While it may never be a midweek evening at the San Siro, Nou Camp or Old Trafford, the CONCACAF Champions League is our home continent equivalent and it makes its second stop in two years at BMO Field.

C.D. Motagua President and logo model Aguilas Azules

TORONTO FC (CAN) VS. C.D. MOTAGUA (HON)
　
BMO Field - Tuesday, 8:00PM ET
TV: GOL TV
　
While it may never be a midweek evening at the San Siro, Nou Camp or Old Trafford, the CONCACAF Champions League is our home continent equivalent and it makes its second stop in two years at BMO Field.

By: KURTIS LARSON

Three MLS teams are in action mid-week as preliminary home and home CONCACAF qualifiers get underway across the continent. Since the preliminary round began in 2008, MLS clubs are 1-4 all time in CONCACAF play-in games.

Major League Soccer has made it known that the league must compete at a high level in this tournament if the league is to be taken seriously.

by Dan Barkley
CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round, First Leg.
Time: Tuesday, July 27, 8pm EST.
Location: BMO Field, Toronto
Media: FSC/ Streamed at torontofc.ca
The first of two MLS teams beginning their CCL campaigns Tuesday, Toronto, takes on C.

Estadio Nacional. "Urine Bombs" not pictured
Tomorrow night marks Toronto FC's first foray into Central America proper when The Reds travel to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. While Latin America is full of lovely people - it's not exactly famous for being stable and/or crime-free. As if the flight into Tegucigalpa's airport, considered one of the most dangerous approaches in the world (please watch frightening video below - unless you are flying there today!

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders are in Central America today to play the second legs of their respective CONCACAF Champions League series, and both are in for tough battles as they attempt to hold on to 1-0 leads from their first legs.

Is it me or does he looke extra surly?
C.D. MOTAGUA 2 - TORONTO FC 2(TORONTO WINS 3-2 ON AGGREGATE)
Toronto FC are a funny club. On days when you expect them to plough through the opposition, they fail to show up. Majority of their league wins are scrappy 1-0 affairs.

The rains continued to fall on Southern California, pushing training onto the artificial turf field at The Home Depot Center. The steady showers didn't prevent a spirited 90-minute session, nor did it deter the scribes who braved the conditions for the post-training media availability. The majority of today's training involved straight up 11 v.

Kansas City Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza has reportedly had his request to be loaned to a team in the Honduran league turned down by Wizards head coach and technical director Peter Vermes. Espinoza had been pushing for a loan that would have allowed him to play in his home country in the months leading up to the 2010 World Cup in hopes of improving his chances of making Honduras' squad to South Africa.

------------------"Hang on there Punxsutawney Preki!"
At the beginning of every February, people eagerly watch on as a ginger coloured rodent appears after a long winter of hibernating and doing very little. His rare post-slumber appearance is said to signal whether better days are ahead or if long, dark, miserable suffering will continue.

When Toronto FC ended the 2009 season by being destroyed 5-0 at the hands of a mediocre New York Red Bulls, the feelings of shock and anger looked destined to be the catalyst for real and significant change. Immediately, the interim manager was dispatched and surprisingly quickly was replaced with MLS stalwart Preki.

By AVI CREDITOR

With BMO Field selected as the 2010 MLS Cup host, Toronto F.C. has a bit more motivation at reaching the promised land.

The only problem is, the team doesn't quite have the horses to get there.

Preki enters his first season as Toronto coach with a lot of work to do.

La selección de Honduras es la tercera seleccion que representara a la Concacaf en el mundial de la FIFA.

El técnico Reinaldo Rueda, presento una supuesta lista de convocados de Honduras, cuando el miércoles asombró a todos al convocar a la selección al goleador Jerry Bengtson y al defensor Johnny Leverón para el partido amistoso del 21 de abril ante Venezuela.

By AVI CREDITOR

The red card he received in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League semifinal against Lyon is the least worrisome of Franck Ribery's current problems.

The Bayern Munich and French midfielder is at the center of an underage-prostitution scandal that also involves international teammate Karim Benzema, and the two are in jeopardy of being left out of Raymond Domenech's squad for this summer's World Cup, according to the Associated Press.

Honduras Final Squad

Coach: Reinaldo Rueda

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Club GK Noel Valladares 3 May 1977 (aged 33) 71 Olimpia GK Donis Escober 3 February 1980 (aged 30) 11 Olimpia GK Ricardo Canales 30 May 1982 (aged 28) 2 Motagua DF Maynor Figueroa 2 May 1983 (aged 27) 66 Wigan Athletic DF Sergio Mendoza 23 May 1981 (aged 29) 46 Motagua DF Oscar Boniek García 4 September 1984 (aged 25) 42 Olimpia DF Víctor Bernárdez 24 May 1982 (aged 28) 40 Anderlecht DF Emilio Izaguirre 10 May 1986 (aged 24) 39 Motagua DF Osman Chávez 29 July 1984 (aged 25) 26 Platense DF Mauricio Sabillón 11 November 1978 (aged 31) 25 Hangzhou Greentown DF Johnny Palacios 20 December 1986 (aged 23) 4 Olimpia MF Amado Guevara (c) 2 May 1976 (aged 34) 133 Motagua MF Danilo Turcios 8 May 1978 (aged 32) 82 Olimpia MF Julio César de León 13 September 1979 (aged 30) 74 Torino MF Wilson Palacios 29 July 1984 (aged 25) 69 Tottenham Hotspur MF Edgar Álvarez 9 January 1980 (aged 30) 46 Bari MF Hendry Thomas 23 February 1985 (aged 25) 39 Wigan Athletic MF Ramón Núñez 14 November 1984 (aged 25) 16 Olimpia FW Carlos Pavón 19 October 1973 (aged 36) 98 Real España FW David Suazo 5 November 1979 (aged 30) 50 Genoa FW Walter Martínez 29 March 1982 (aged 28) 34 Marathón FW Georgie Welcome 9 March 1985 (aged 25) 11 Motagua FW Roger Espinoza 25 October 1986 (aged 23) 10 Kansas City Wizards

Most Capped Player: Amado Guevara 133
Top Goalscorer: Carlos Pavon 57

Back to 2010 World Cup Squads.

Well, it had to happen sometime. The Red Bulls were handed their first ever loss at The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). Our house is an impregnable fortress no more. The less said about this game the better, but I'm going to make a point or two anyway.
Did our team actually take only one f'ng shot on goal (and a weak one at that)?

Pride of Tegucigalpa... and no muppets

You can file this one under "careful what you wish for". Today, somewhere in the dark recesses of whatever secret New York City lair CONCACAF headquarters is hidden, names (most of them very Latino) were picked out of a giant sombrero (probably). Si!

The Team: Los Catrachos, we meet again. Ah, yes, Honduras, the natural CONCACAF enemy of the Yank and the US Nats, and one of the 32 teams to qualify for the Big Dance in South Africa in 2010. I should have known it was you all along. After all, you are sneaky good.

1 Ricardo CANALES 30/05/1982 P Motagua (HON)2 Osman CHAVEZ 29/07/1984 DF Platense (HON)3 Maynor FIGUEROA 02/05/1983 DF Wigan (ENG)4 Jhony PALACIOS 20/12/1986 DF Olimpia Tegucig (HON)5 Victor BERNARDEZ 24/05/1982 DF Anderlecht (BEL)6 Hendry THOMAS 23/02/1985 MC Wigan (ENG)7 Ramon NUNEZ 14/11/1985 MC Olimpia Tegucig (HON)8 Wilson PALACIOS 29/07/1984 MC Tottenham (ENG)9 Carlos PAVON 09/10/1973 DL Real Espana (HON)10 Julio Cesar DE LEON 13/09/1979 MC Torino (ITA)11 David SUAZO 05/11/1979 DL Genoa (ITA) (foto)12 George WELCOME 09/03/1985 DL Motagua (HON)13 Roger ESPINOZA 25/10/1986 DL Kansas C Wizards (USA)14 Oscar GARCIA 04/09/1984 DF Olimpia Tegucig (HON)15 Walter MARTINEZ 24/03/1982 DL Marathon (HON) 16616 Mauricio SABILLON 11/11/1978 DF Hangzhou G.

Country: Honduras Elite Players: Wilson Palacios Key Players: Noel Valladares, Maynor Figueroa, Amado Guevara Julio Leon, David Suazo Rankings: 38 (FIFA), 32 (SPI) History: Qualified 1982 Odds to Win: 1,000 -1 God has a sense of humor. If you dont believe me, tomorrow go to wal-mart and just look at people.

In a couple of days the eyes of the world will be on South Africa (pronounced Sith Ifrici if you're new) and the month-long foot and ball orgy that is the World Cup. You may have gleaned from this site that us Yorkies, and indeed our readers, are fairly avid (see mentally unstable) footballing aficionados.

Qualification: 3rd place in CONCACAF 4th Round FIFA Ranking: 34 Head Coach: Reinaldo Rueda (2007-) Most Capped Player: Amado Guevara 133 (1994-) Top Goalscorer: Carlos Pavon 57 (1993-)
Star Players: Wilson Palacios (Tottenham, Eng) & David Suazo (Genoa, Ita).

The Players: Honduras is Chile's first opponents in Group H.

THE BIG PICTURE
Group H is that final World Cup 2010 group to get started. Spain are favourites because, well, they're Spain. Second place is up for grabs though, and both Chile and Honduras (plus Switzerland) will back themselves to take it. I have high hopes for this game.

It's Swiss crack
It's TFZ - The Totally Fake-Rumour Zone: The # 1 source for Toronto FC gossip with zero sources! From the streets, from the bars, from your cousin Lou - the stories come in... and the truth stays behind!
　
This week on TFZ...
　
- Rumours based on research were floating this week that TFC's Swiss keeper Stefan Frei is on his way to Stoke City for $3 Million - who needs research?

What the hell is it with rain and TFC matches. Sure I haven't been at a home game since Canada Day, but its as if you can't have rain with TFC. People at the Farmers Almanac take note, bumper crops are sure to break Tuesday night.
After the room temperature display in hot-as-f**k Chester, PA, I wonder if the mighty reds will retain their incredible form at New Fort York (aka BMO).

By: KURTIS LARSON

Three MLS teams are in action mid-week as preliminary home and home CONCACAF qualifiers get underway across the continent. Since the preliminary round began in 2008, MLS clubs are 1-4 all time in CONCACAF play-in games.

Major League Soccer has made it known that the league must compete at a high level in this tournament if the league is to be taken seriously.

After completing the 1st-leg games of the Preliminary Round in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL), the most talked about game was the 4-1 Galactic routing in Los Angeles handed by the Puerto Rico Islanders.

Honduras' Amado Guevara returned to Toronto only to see his new Motagua team fall 1-0 to Chad Barrett and the TFC.

Estadio Nacional: They seem a bit jumpy
C.D. MOTAGUA VS. TORONTO FCCONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRELIMINARY (2nd LEG)
Estadio Nacional (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) - Tuesday 8:00PM ETTV: GOL TV
Slap dab in the middle of the annual "TFC Summer Swoon"TM, the club travels to the toughest stadium and civic environment in the history of the young club.