The CONCACAF Gold Cup is vital for its ultimate reward, a berth in the 2013 Confederations Cup. It's darned serious business, not to be taken as some summery, playful distraction. Even if you don't think so, U.S. Soccer certainly does. Coach Bob Bradley and his staff have made the strategic choice that Gold Cup glory must be claimed.

GOLD CUP: Reason to worry for one-time favorite U.S. squad - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

On the day of the U.S.' Gold Cup quarterfinal against Jamaica it's seems like ages since the 2010 World Cup. Despite a tough extra time elimination at the hands of Ghana, the U.S. soccer program was riding high coming home from South Africa.

Manchester United will want to avoid a slip-up at Arsenal as their Premier League title bid continues at the Emirates Stadium. It is a weekend with a number of huge games at both ends of the top-flight, as with just four matches remaining this term, the fight for crucial points is as desperate as ever.

This could be a fun week in Major League Soccer. Two clubs could clinch playoff tickets while three others could be eliminated all together.

Seattle Sounders FC will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF:

• Seattle defeats or ties host Vancouver on Saturday OR
• Seattle loses to Vancouver AND
  • Two of the following occur: Houston ties or loses; Colorado loses, Portland loses

Real Salt Lake will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF:

• RSL defeats host New York on Wednesday AND
  • Houston ties or loses OR Colorado loses
• OR RSL defeats host D.

Group C wrapped up the second round of Gold Cup group stage matches on Saturday night in Tampa. In the night's opening match, Canada and Guadeloupe were both looking for their first group stage win while the United States and Panama met in the second match with both teams looking for that win that would secure a quarterfinals berth.

USA Fans at Farmers Gastropub

Join us Saturday evening at 8pm at Farmer's Gastropub as we cheer on the USA in their match against Mexico. Farmer's noted on their Facebook page today that they'll have the grills going outside on Saturday with some special treats!

The 2011 Gold Cup final will take place on Saturday, June 25 at a sold-out Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

photo by David Leah/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

PASADENA, Calif.- The U.S. men's national team knows all too well the benefits that come from winning the first of two Gold Cups in a World Cup cycle. But if the Americans are to repeat their performance from four years ago when they lifted the Gold Cup trophy, they'll have to beat an undefeated Mexican team that is considered to be one of the most talented in its history.

PASADENA, Calif. A relentless Mexico squad climbed out of an early deficit with four unanswered goals and emerged the victor as they emphatically staked a 4-2 win over the United States to earn the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup and a berth to the 2013 Confederations Cup tournament.

Despite Mexico's formidable firepower, the U.

Jordan has played 1-1 draw against Japan, defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 and beat Syria 2-1 in the first round of the Asian Cup. Jordan lost 2-1 to Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup quarterfinal. Recently, Jordan played 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan, 1-1 draw against Kuwait and identical draw against North Korea in friendlies.

Seattle Sounders made history by becoming only the third team in American soccer history to win the Lemar Hunt US Open Cup three times in a row. Following wins in 2009 and 2010, this year's competition was secured with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in front of a healthy 35,615 crowd at the Sounders' CenturyLink Field Stadium.

Martin Kelly has handed Liverpool a welcome boost ahead of Saturday's clash with Manchester United by declaring himself fit for the north-west derby.
The young defender was sent back to Melwood last week by the England under-21s having complained about tightness in his groin.
Since then, however, Kelly has been able to train for Liverpool and will be available for selection when Kenny Dalglish choses his starting XI.

The Associated Press has the details:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The United States will open qualifying for the 2014 World Cup at home against Antigua and Barbuda on June 8.

The Americans, trying to qualify for their seventh straight trip to soccer's championship,
play at Guatemala on June 12, FIFA announced Wednesday.

Click here to watch Champions League Games Live!

Watching their respective seasons unfold, it seems unlikely that either Chelsea or Manchester United will be celebrating at Wembley come 28 May 2011. It's not to say that they're not capable of winning the Champions League only Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid and.

A simple question in the poll this week: which competition do you want to see Liverpool put more effort into as the season approaches its final quarter?

Previously, talk was that Liverpool's only route back to Europe was to win the Europa League, but current form has them for the time safe in sixth and with an extremely slim chance of wrangling fourth.

The U.S. captured the Gold Cup title in 2007, earning a 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup berth.
The U.S. will learn its path to the regional title when CONCACAF announces the groups and match schedule for the 2011 Gold Cup on concacaf.com Tuesday, March 8 at 12 p.m. ET. The confederation championship will run from June 5-25 in 13 different stadia across the United States, culminating at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the championship final.

United States U-20 national soccer team head coach Thomas Rongen unveiled his squad for CONCACAF qualifying to the U-20 World Cup on Thursday, and it included two members of the Philadelphia Union.

Midfielder Amobi Okugo and goalkeeper Zac MacMath have been summoned by Rongen to take part in the 2011 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Guatemala, where the four semifinalists will qualify for the 2011 Under-20 World Cup.

Spurs fans have made the trip to Madrid as their side test their mettle against Real tonight in arguably the biggest night in the club's history.

Yet despite the Champions League novices continuing to surprise many with their accomplished performances, the main worry for the North Londoners is whether they can replicate their fourth placed finish last season.

One Major League Soccer team will be a step closer to the U.S. Open Cup field of 40 by night's end.

The San Jose Earthquakes travel north to JELD-WEN Field to face the Portland Timbers in an Open Cup qualifying semifinal. The winner advances to a final play-in game against the Chicago Fire, where one of the league's two play-in berths in the Open Cup proper will be on the line.

Bayern Munich slaughtered now relegated St. Pauli 8-1 in German Bundesliga action in Hamburg on Sunday. The win seals a spot for FC Bayern in next season's UEFA Champions League qualifiers. The right combination of results next weekend could see Bayern finish in second in the 2010/11 Bundesliga and obtain an berth in the group stage [.

Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing has been drafted into England Under-21s' provisional 40-man squad for this summer's European Championships.
The 22-year-old will join up with Stuart Pearce's side after Bolton midfielder Mark Davies was ruled out of the tournament in Denmark through injury.
Pearce will submit his long squad to European governing body UEFA on Thursday and Spearing has been handed an Under-21 berth for the first time.

In a match played at the Guyana National Stadium, Puerto Rico Islanders FC defeated Alpha United of Guyana 3-1 in the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) semifinal last night.

In doing so, they secured a berth in this year's edition of the CONCACAF Champions League tournament.

I also meant to get this up sooner, but then it slipped my mind when I went for another nap. This is, of course, no reason for anyone to miss it.On Thursday and Sunday, ADO Den Haag battled FC Groningen in a two-leg tie playoff final tie seeking their first proper European berth (a ka no Intertoto Cup) since 1988.

Liverpool's hopes of landing Barcelona ace Bojan Krkic seem to be all but over, after the player laughed off speculation linking him with a switch to Anfield reports skysports.com.
With Barca's star-studded line-up having completed a La Liga and Champions League double this season, Bojan's chances have often been limited.

'I miss football already'
'What am I going to do without football?'
'My life is rubbish without football'
'Can't wait to see some football'

All these are comments I've heard or read over the last few days. For any football fanatic, the summer can be a tough time.

By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (June 10, 2011) US Soccer Players -- After outclassing Canada in its Gold Cup opener, the United States takes on Panama on Saturday in another delicate Group C encounter. A win would earn the National Team a berth to the quarterfinals. A loss or draw would set up a potential do-or-die match against Guadeloupe.

A WIN IS THE WAY TO RFK: After a successful start to the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-0 win against Canada in Detroit, the U.S. was upset by Panama in the second match, setting up a Group C finale which has more significance than anyone in the U.S. camp had hoped. A win in the first all-time meeting with Guadeloupe sends the U.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is prepared to let midfielder Alberto Aquilani leave for as little as £8million just two years after Liverpool paid £17m for the Italian international.
Aquilani spent last season on loan at Italian giants Juventus and despite impressing many with his assured performances in the centre of midfield was told that he would not be signed on a permanent deal after the club appointed Antonio Conte as their new manager.

szólj hozzá: England 1-2 Czech Republic

Despite this stunning training ground goal, the U21 English squad like their senior counterparts in the World Cup crashed out of the Euro. All the highlights were crammed in the last 15 minutes off the second half as Danny Welbeck's header gave England the lead.

Paul Kennedy of Soccer America writes of the United States Under-17 National team kicking off play at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic.
The USA opened play at the 2011 Under-17 World Cup in Torreon, Mexico, Sunday with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic thanks to superb goals from midfielders Alejandro Guido and Esteban Rodriguez and late sub Alfred Koroma.

The Central FC Select Under-15 girls team scored 18 goals in its four matches at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Presidents Cup over the weekend in South Bend, Ind., but just missed out on advancing to nationals.

The Stevens Point-area team won all three of its group matches, then lost to KC Fusion Cummings 4-3 in the final Sunday.

TORREON, Mexico (June 19, 2011) – The U.S. opened the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup with an emphatic 3-0 win against the Czech Republic on Sunday in Torreon, Mexico. Goals from midfielders Alejandro Guido and Esteban Rodriguez, as well as a late strike from substitute forward Alfred Koroma gave the USA a deserved three points in scorching three digit temperatures.

The U-17 USMNT started off their World Cup with a bang Sunday, easily handling the Czech Republic en route to a comfortable 3-0 victory. Although the senior US team has never won in Mexico, the U-17 team braved the heat in Torreon, Mexico to net their first win of the WC. Alejandro Guido, Esteban Rodriguez, and Alfred Koroma all netted for the US.

Written by Gooner in Exile

Some time ago I wrote an article slightly jokingly about the vines that Arsene had planted and how we were now seeing them produce some wonderful fruits. A few months on and with another trophyless season under the belt there is a serious question to be asked.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Barcelona has long flirted with the idea of acquiring midfielder Cesc Fabregas, but the Spanish club will have to increase its offer if it wishes to pry him away from Arsenal.

Barcelona had a $42.6 million bid for Fabregas rejected by Arsenal, which reporedly wants at least $70.

No witty headline is needed for this preview. A matchup between old rivals for a Gold Cup trophy and a Confederations Cup berth. It doesn't get much better than that. If you are a US soccer fan at any level of any league, this matchup should make your mouth water. If not, you might want to check your pulse.

Manchester United winger Nani has welcomed the signing of Aston Villa winger Ashley Young despite his place in the United first XI being in jeopardy.

The Premier League champions completed the signing of Young from Aston Villa last week for an initial fee believed to be in the region of £17 million, with Young already setting his sights on securing a regular first team place.

Matchday #2 for Group A at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup began with a match between two teams aspiring to advance out of the most difficult draw in the tournament. Canada needed at least a draw from this match after a 2-1 loss to Germany. Instead, France dominated Big Red in a 4-0 triumph, and ensured their berth in the quarterfinals, coupled with Germany's subsequent victory.

Ince & Bruna Close to Blackpool Move

Liverpool youngsters Tom Ince and Gerardo Bruna are edging closer to their proposed moves to Blackpool, according to Seasiders chairman Karl Oyston. As revealed on Kopsource last week , the duo are likely spend the season on loan at Bloomfield road in order to gain some first team football.

After watching the most recent Major League Soccer All-Star clash against Premier League champions Manchester United I began to think about the current format. For the second year in a row the Red Devils showed just how much talent they have as a team compared to the squad that MLS assembled. But really, is that much of a surprise?

Or, Avoiding Cubs syndrome: what the Fire must do for the rest of this season to prepare for the next.

While the Fire are not yet mathematically out of contention for a playoff spot, let's be honest: it's not going to happen. Fans were spun around on this carousel every week last season when every disappointing result came with a headline on the Fire homepage about how the playoffs were still in reach.