The complete Euro 2012 TV guide for UK and US viewers - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

There is nothing quite like an international football tournament: the best players, teams and games packed into a three-week beautiful game marathon.

For most of us, the not-so-exotic climes of Ukraine and Poland will be avoided but the Euro 2012 extravaganza can be monitored closely from the safe haven of our living rooms.

We are on the road tonight, so here is a vault piece from the start of last season. This was part of our series that looked at the art of televising soccer.

The Major League Soccer 2011 season got started on Tuesday night with a nationally broadcast match carried by ESPN. Fans of all sports are frequently critical of the television presentation of sports events and soccer fans are no different.

While serving his four-match ban for stepping on Scott Parker, there really isn't too much Mario Balotelli can do during Man City matches besides watch from an executive suite...and perform magic tricks for his friends.

As City eased to a 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, Balotelli made a Coke can disappear under his magical cloth.

Learning from other sports is often a good exercise. I recently discussed how football could use a golf type handicap system to make the UEFA's Financial Fair Play easier to apply for some of Europe's most debt driven clubs. Football could also learn from tennis. I had already referred to this sport when debating on the current World Cup 1st round group stage which is contrary to the spirit of any cup type competition.

Just some quick thoughts on the FIFA bidding process. For more detail on the ongoing effort to secure rights fees for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, take a look at some of the other posts below.

Last night Grant Wahl tweeted that the FIFA World Cup bidding process was not quite finalized. Despite expectations that the winner of rights to the 2018, 2022 World Cup (along with other events including Womens World Cups and youth tournaments), would be announced Thursday or Friday, Wahl has reported that FIFA has requested new bids.

It's Friday! Grab a drink! While you're downing a beer or two you can also sip on a few of the week's best stories we've stumbled upon.


* The Shin Guardian - A Treatise: The State of U.S. Soccer

"It is no secret that the US youth system has struggled to produce genuine global superstars in the sport and a team that can truly compete for the World Cup.

We are on the road tonight, so here is a vault piece from earlier in the season. This was part of our series that looked at the art of televising soccer.

The Major League Soccer 2011 season got started on Tuesday night with a nationally broadcast match carried by ESPN. Fans of all sports are frequently critical of the television presentation of sports events and soccer fans are no different.

Even as you enter the theatre, Singing 'I'm No A Billy, He's A Tim' begins to knock one prejudice on the head. The idea that "Edinburgh in August isnae for normal folk" takes a hell of beating in this tale of Old Firm supporters.
It's been estimated that 75 percent of audiences seeing Des Dillon's play have never been to the theatre before.

When I took this blog semi-pro last October, I planned to be transparent about the site's finances. I view it as a way to facilitate a dialog with readers and encourage their support. I figure if my readers think I have my financial house in order, they'll be more likely to purchase subscriptions.

The quarterfinals of the WWC are starting this weekend and the US will play Brazil on Sunday at 11:30. The match will air on ESPN, Galavasion and ESPN3.com. Ian Darke will do the play by play for US audiences. The tournament has not made a significant impression on the US sports psyche. Although the games have been televised and promoted, this US team has not captured the imagination of the American public.

In Germany, an average of 14.1 million viewers tuned in for the host nation's opening match against Canada on June 26, a 2-1 victory for the hosts. This represents nearly 20 per cent of the German population and almost 60 per cent of all those who were watching television during the game.
However, the match itself achieved an average audience of 15.

ESPN Star Sports has sealed a new three-year rights deal to air Spain's La Liga in 18 Asian markets and promised more convenient kick-off times for audiences across the continent.

In one corner you have Manchester United, the team nicknamed 'the Red Devils'. If you visit their website, they refer to themselves as ‘Reds'. The club has become much more than a simple team. Manchester United is constantly marketing the ‘brand'. Their annual trips to the United States are based around expanding the fan base and reaching out to new audiences.

The Teams of Old Square off against the Teams of Yesterday
by Thomas Atzenhoffer on The Bleacher Report
April 17, 2011
Alex Livesey/Getty Image The Past 50 years of England's top flight, whether it was the English Premier League since 1993 or the years prior as the English League, have captivated audiences worldwide.

Sky sacked presenter Andy Gray following new evidence of his sexist behaviour came to light. Gray and presenter Richard Keys were warned over their comments about female referee Sian Massey before last Saturday's Wolves v Liverpool match.