photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

A handful of Americans could be in action on Thursday afternoon as the knockout phase of the Europa League begins, including two who will be in direct competition with one another.

Jozy Altidore and Sacha Kljestan are set to battle in the first leg of their Round of 32 Europa League fixtures.

The US roster to face Italy next week.

Cameron...moving up in the world...outta my way!

GOALKEEPERS (3) :Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (7) :Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)

MIDFIELDERS (6) : Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim)

FORWARDS (5) :Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

Chandler, Donovan, Torres withdraw from USA Roster; Shea & Kljestan added - The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

The USA roster has changed a bit as three players have withdrawn and two are added. Timmy Chandler, Landon Donovan, and Jose Francisco Torres have been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injuries.

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Feb 7, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In today's edition, Peter Vermes' shocking plan to get the most out of Bobby Convey, David Beckham confronts a referee over a red card, how Peter Nowak is building the Union, and the struggles of Jozy Altidore's AZ Alkmaar. What is Peter Vermes' (early) plan to get the best out of Bobby Convey?

Glasgow Rangers' foray into administration appears set for Tuesday.

The club faces a deadline imposed by the Court of Session to appoint an administrator today. Should Rangers fail to meet that deadline, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs would be allowed to step in and detemine who takes over the club's dealings, something that would undermine the club's control while it goes through and tries to climb out of financial turmoil.

UEFA Europa League TV Listings 16 February 2012 - The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

Below are television listings for all the Europa League matches on February 16, 2011. Times listed are GMT or local UK time.

UEFA Europa League League TV Listings

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Lokomotiv Moscow v Athletic Bilbao, 17:00 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), NTV (Russia), Sport TV3 (Portugal), SuperSport (Africa)

Ajax v Man Utd, 18:00 DirecTV (USA), Channel FIVE (UK), C+ (Finland), Sport TV2 (Portugal), Sport 1 (Israel), SuperSport (Africa), TV2 Sport 1 (Norway), TV3+ (Denmark), TV4 Sport (Sweden), W9 (France), 3e (Ireland), RTL 7 (Netherlands)

AZ Alkmaar v Anderlecht, 18:00 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), C+ (Spain), Digi Sport (Hungary), NTV (Russia)

Lazio v Atletico Madrid, 18:00 GolTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), ESPN (UK), C+ (Spain/Sweden), Digi Sport (Hungary), Sport TV4 (Portugal), Setanta Sports (Ireland), SuperSport (Africa), Viasat (Norway), Sport+ (Russia)

Legia Warsaw v Sporting, 18:00 ITV 4 (UK), C+ (Spain), Sport TV1 (Portugal), SuperSport (Africa), DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East)

Plzen v Schalke, 18:00 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), Kabel Eins (Germany/Austria/Switzerland), Sky Sport (Germany), SuperSport (Africa), C+ (Spain)

SV Salzburg v FC Metalist Kharkiv, 18:00 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), C+ (Spain), Sky Sport (Austria/Germany), NTV (Russia)

FC Porto v Man City, 20:05 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), ITV 1 (UK), C+ (France/Finland), Digi Sport (Hungary), Sport 1 (Israel), SuperSport (Africa), TV3+ (Denmark), TV4 Sport (Sweden), Viasat (Norway), SIC (Portugal), Setanta Sports (Ireland), NTV (Russia)

Hannover 96 v Club Brugge, 20:05 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), Kabel Eins (Germany/Austria/Switzerland), NTV (Russia), Sky Sport (Germany), C+ (Spain), SuperSport (Africa)

Steaua Bucharest v FC Twente, 20:05 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), C+ (Spain), Pro TV (Romania)

Stoke v Valencia, 20:05 GolTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), ESPN (UK), C+ (Sweden), Digi Sport (Hungary), Sport TV1 (Portugal), Sport+ (Russia), SuperSport (Africa), TV2 Sport 1 (Norway)

Trabzonspor v PSV Eindhoven, 20:05 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), C+ (Spain), RTL 7 (Netherlands), Sport TV4 (Portugal)

Udinese v PAOK Salonika, 20:05 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), ANT 1 (Greece), NTV (Russia), Sport TV2 (Portugal), SuperSport (Africa)

Wisla Krakow v Standard Liege, 20:05 DirecTV (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), C+ (Spain), TV4 (Poland), AB3 (Belgium)

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UEFA Europa League TV Listings 16 February 2012 - The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

Yes, Predictification is back! And if you think we have a lack of confidence in our UEFA Champions League predictions, you ain't seen nothing yet! The Europa League, as was its predecessor the UEFA Cup, is nearly impossible to predict. Why? Well, some clubs put in their best lineups while others put in scrubs because they place less emphasis on this tournament than they do in their own domestic leagues.

The Europa League's Round of 32 is set to begin on Thursday afternoon, and there are several appetizing match-ups on tap for soccer fans everywhere.

From Ajax-Manchester United to FC Porto-Manchester City to Lazio-Atletico Madrid, Thursday's list of games should have plenty of quality on display as teams look to jump ahead on aggregate in the first legs of these home-and-home series.

U.S. forward Jozy Altidore and his AZ Alkmaar side topped Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht 1-0 on Thursday in Europa League play.

U.S. Men's National Team and AZ Alkmaar forward Jozy Altidore found the win column as AZ Alkmaar defeated midfielder Sacha Kljestan's RSC Anderlecht 1-0 on Thursday in the knockout stage of the Europa League.

Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com

Another week, another bout of speculation over whether Tim Ream will make his Bolton debut.

At the very least, he appears destined for a place on the bench for the first time since making his move from the New York Red Bulls to the Premier League.

USMNT will face Italy next week. (Getty Images)

As expected, US Men's National team coach Jurgen Klinsmann called a very Euro-based roster for next weeks friendly against Italy.

Only four MLS players were called up while the rest of the 21-man roster plays outside of the US. Some folks will be shocked not to see some of the usual Klinsmann guys like keeper Bill Hamid or midfielder Brek Shea, but the U23 national team also plays Mexico on the same day.

Jurgen Klinsmann has announced his USMNT roster for the upcoming February 29th friendly against Italy. The game will be played at 1:30 PM CST and you can catch the action on ESPN2, ESPN3, and Galavision. As per usual, HTIOT will also be featuring a gamethread during the match. Please join us to talk all things USMNT during the match.

Union

Read Ed's piece on Camden Youth Soccer Club's stolen goals. Do it now. (please)

The700Level wonders whether any of the Union's announcements at their recent town hall meeting will win back fans who were put off by the Sebastien Le Toux saga.

The team for Ghana's friendly against Chile at PPL Park will arrive on Monday, February 27.