Red Bulls Reader bum-rushed Red Bulls Salzburg Sporting Director Heinz Hochhauser a few weeks ago and talked about Red Bull Salzburg's season, is European Golden Boot candidate in Marc Janko, and Red Bull Salzburg's new coach and soccer academy's in Ghana and Brazil. Say Heinz, what do you think the odds are of us ever seeing one of those kids from Africa or Brazil playing in NY when we can't even get one of the kids from our local academy?

CNBC has an interesting post by their "Sports Business Reporter" regarding the proposed "Lingerie Football League" which, while it's certainly worth noting for those among you who have an interest in seeing comely young ladies smashing into each other while wearing their unmentionables - and let he who is without sin among us cast the first stone - there really wouldn't be much of an excuse to mention it on BigSoccer except for this:
THE WRITER SAYS THAT AMONG THE POTENTIAL OWNERS are two MLS team investor/operators.

Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson head to Russia to lock down their trip to the group stage while the Brads and Aston Villa still have some work to do when the Austrians come to town.

Too bad he plays for the other Red Bull soccer team.

Europeam heavyweights and 1998 World Cup champions France have a battle on their hands if they want to qualify for the tournament in South Africa next summer. They drew with Group Seven leaders Serbia on Wednesday night leaving them four points off the Serbians with just two games left. It now seems almost certain they will have to face a play-off tie to qualify for the tournament but Barcelona striker thierry Henry is confident his national side have what it takes to get them to South Africa in 2010.

Yes, I have missed alot this week. So lets recap, shall we?

- The CONCACAF Champions League draw is set, and the Bulls face their first challenge in the form of the W Connection of Trinidad and Tobago. The first match will be away for the Bulls, on July 30, and the home half will be played on the 5th of August.

The Black Stars will shine in South Africa
Brazil is known as the neutral's favorite, but I have always been partial to the African teams. They seem to play without the crushing pressure that causes other teams to implode. The pride the players feel when playing for their country is a little more palpable.