If you assume, like I do, that Bob Bradley's contract with US Soccer won't be renewed in December, then you have to start thinking about who the USSF would hire to replace him. Here is my very early and admittedly speculative effort at naming the candidates.
The favorites:
Jurgen Klinsmann.

The first World Cup match is less then a single week away and the rosters have officially been set for next weekend's action.

And when it comes to comparing the starpower between the US and England, it becomes a grim analysis for us Yanks. After all their average player is an EPL star contracted to make several millions of dollars a year for a world renowned powerhouse club and our average player is also a league star, but most likely in the MLS for a considerable amount less and for a considerably worst overall team.

Ha you have to love the internet!
Rumours have gathered pace this morning about Steven Gerrard allegedly (yes that's allegedly!) cheating on his wife Alex Curran with a 16 year old and getting her pregnant. To add to the sensationalism Curran herself has been (allegedly) cheating on Gerard with a Derby County player.

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Fabio Capello Tried, and Failed, to Lure Paul Scholes into England Comeback!

England put an end to their World Cup campaign and their misery in South Africa today, by completely capitulating to an ordinary German side 4-1, and it could have been even worse. Fabio Capello -has to be last game in charge One of the problems we've kept pointing out about the English players is that [.

Since the United States tied England 1-1 last Saturday, every sportswriter that doesn't put an extra U in "These colors don't run!" has been hooting and hollering about the significance of picking up a point. And while there is no disputing the importance of grabbing that point off the group favorites, there are plenty of issues for the U.

We all know that Joe Cole hasn't recovered his form as yet for Chelsea since his return from the knee injury that ruined his season at Southend last year, so much so that he has not featured in the England set up since he has come back. Yesterday Fabio Capello made it clear to Joe that he's got some work to do but hasn't shut the door.

By Ollie Irish

I'd like to post up the final 23-man England squad in one article, but thanks to the shambolic FA, there's nowt but a painful drip drip drip of news and rumours. Just announce the bloody squad already!

Anyway, the biggest story so far, by far, is the news that Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is NOT on the plane to South Africa.

A new decade, a new year, and 10 players I'll be keeping a watchful eye on for one reason or another in 2010. We all know Drogba, Rooney, Torres, Defoe and the lot will get their 20+ goals and single handily place their teammates on their shoulders and march onwards. But what about the role players that could make or break their clubs championship winning run, help their club break into the top 4, or save their club from relegation and a year in the Championship?

It had to happen, hadn't it? Shades of 1996 all over again? Some sort of sick German vindication? Those thoughts went through everyone's mind as the referee overruled Frank Lampard's perfectly legitimate goal against Germany at Bloemfontein. A section of the England fans will argue that the match could have swung in England's favour if that goal had stood.

No less a publication than the New York Times took note of Deuce's wonder goal against Stoke earlier this week (watch it here), a small but sure sign that there is a growing appetite for football/soccer in the States.

The NYT ran a blog post yesterday titled "Spectacular Dempsey Goal Raises Eyebrows, and His Reputation".

Captain, my captain.

Perhaps I'm jaded living here in the States, but what's the big deal about who wears the captain's armband? Yes, I get it, you're the de facto team leader on and off the pitch. You're the symbol of professionalism for your squad, and you're often the team spokesperson when things go South.

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on England's players following their devastating World Cup exit. The current Ipswich manager has never been known to keep his thoughts to himself, and Keane made it clear that he believes the players not Fabio Capello are firmly at fault for England's exit.

Being the cultured Italian gentiluomo that he is, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is probably not averse to the odd shot of grappa in his cafe corretto, or a even willing sip of Nebbiolo Vino Rosso when the occasion arises, but one thing that he can't tolerate is what he deems to be the excessive drinking culture that appears to be rife amongst the young(ish) English contingent of his current squad.

In January 2010 Mikel Arteta completed five years UK residency, and having been ignored throughout his playing career by the country of his birth (Spain, for the ignoramuses out there) is now eligible to play for England. Just turning 28 Arteta could still enjoy a fruitful England career and though this (2010) World Cup is too soon, he would only be 32 at the next.

Owen Hargreaves

With 67 days to go before the big kick-off in South Africa, recent developments have changed the look of England's squad with currently several positions still up for grabs due to injuries and form issues. Let's look at some of the questions Fabio Capello has to deal with before the plane leaves.

Union/Independence/MLS

The coach of the Kansas City Wizards, who the Union are playing tonight, likes the way the Union plays. The game is at 8pm on the Live Well Network. That's Comcast channel 245/246, Fios channel 465/466.

Vote Seitz for the NAPA MLS Save of the Week. (Bet you didn't think you would read that sentence a few weeks ago.

A case for Carrick after England's passing horror show?

One thing was increasingly obvious during the England-Algeria game those bleach blonde hairstyles donned by some of the Algerian players were horrible. Oh, and if you didn't notice England's passing in that game was dreadful.

Jermain Defoe is the hero in England today after he scored the only goal of the game that helped England move into the second round of the 2010 World Cup.

In a game that England dominated, despite some good chances by Slovenia to equalize, Defoe's goal was what separated the sides and enabled England to finish in second place in the group.

Former Manchester United player Roy Keane has launched an astonishing attack on England's World Cup failures.

The United legend is famously candid when speaking about football and his latest verbal assault was no different.

Among those in the firing line were David James, Robert Green, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Gareth Barry, Emile Heskey and Steven Gerrard.

Sad but true...unless your not English in which case it's probably fairly amusing.

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Germany ace Thomas Muller believes England had too many alpha males in their failed World Cup bid.

With less than a week to go before the World Cup ends, the cast of characters on Special1 TV are out of the World Cup. Fabio Capello and Wayne Rooney went home with their heads down. Sven had an early exit courtesy of Ivory Coast. But they're all back on Special 1 TV in what I feel is their best episode yet on BBC 3.

Chelsea left back Ashley Cole broke his left ankle in the game against Everton last night, an injury that will keep him out of the Chelsea line-up for three months, and puts his World Cup in doubt.

Cole's injury means we might see the combination of Wayne Bridge and John Terry playing along side each other when England play Egypt on 3 March at Wembley.

Devastating news for all Chelsea fans yesterday was the news confirmed by Chelsea on the official site when they announced that Ashley Cole has suffered a fracture to his left ankle and will be out for three months!.
This is a massive blow to us as he has been one of our best and most consistant players this season.

Peter Crouch pretty much booked his plane ticket to South Africa this summer, with two goals against Egypt last night. Despite his excellent goalscoring record for England, his place in the World Cup squad was still in doubt, as Capello tries to find the right mix up front.

Capello's main priority is to find a blend that will bring out the best in Wayne Rooney, but as that may well translate to the Manchester United striker starting alongside the non-scoring Emile Heskey, it's important to have some more prolific options available in the squad.

It's common in cricket half our team is South African. But our football team doesn't (generally) purloin talent from other nations. We're not Ireland. It appears we have lost a couple though...

Perhaps the best known is Aaron Hunt. The 23 year old currently plays for Werder Bremen, and has made a couple of appearances for the German National side.

Sports Illustrated Magazine recently released some candid photographs of four beautiful soccer WAGS who were bodypainted wearing the national colors of their respective countries.

The girls modeled include Bethany Dempsey (wife of US international Clint Dempsey), Melissa Satta (girlfriend of Christian Vieri), Sarah Brandner (girlfriend of Bastian Schweinsteiger) and Abbey Clancy (fiance of Peter Crouch).

On Tuesday, Bob Bradley announced the 30-man preliminary United States mens' national team roster for the World Cup. Here it is:

GK: Howard, Guzan, Hahnemann
Def: Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Spector, DeMerit, Goodson, Pearce, Marshall, Bornstein
Mid: Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Holden, Kljestan, Rogers, Feilhaber, Torres, Bedoya, Beasley, Clark, Edu
For: Altidore, Buddle, Ching, Johnson, Findley, Gomez

First things first.

By Oli Davies, writing from England

With the footballing space on the internet dominated by Britain and America, this group is being intensely studied. But it shouldn't be. I mean, really, it's not all that interesting.

They Think It's All Over... brings you reaction from the England-USA game.

IN Fabio we were supposed to trust. The Italian has always claimed that he knows what he is doing, and qualifying with two games to spare has obviously given him some leg room. Yet three poor decisions from Capello cost England three points in their opener in Rustenburg, and the overall performance will do little [.

Humbled by impressive opponents and unimpressive officials.

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Oh boy that hurt. Before I get this piece under way let me stress the following.

By Ollie Irish

You can see that Stevie Gerrard and co. were delighted to still have to wear the Capello Three-Piece Suit of Shame for the duration of their long, miserable flight home from South Africa to Heathrow. Naughty schoolboys, the lot of 'em. Detention for a week, at least.

Recently, the Guardian published a workup of the English players ranked by their manager's namesake "Capello Index". Apparently, the top-3 USMNT players fared better than any of their English counterparts.Before it gets taken down, here are the averages (unfortunately, not given on the index site, and necessarily calculated by hand/calculator) for any American players ranked for their

England were booed off once again after another uninspiring performance. I don't really care for the English football team so never feel strongly enough but they do get really boring at times.

I'm not sure if this is down to the manager or the general approach to football in England. I'd love to know what Capello truly thinks about English football.

At 3:37pm on Thursday, 2nd December 2010, it was announced by Fifa president Sepp Blatter that Russia will be the host nation for the 2018 World Cup.

Ater tireless preparation by some of England's most prestigious faces that includes the likes of Prince William, PM David Cameron, David Beckham, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker, our bid was subsequently eliminated in the first round of voting.

Its funny. Four years ago, heading into Germany for the 2006 World Cup, we were convinced Lampard and Gerrard were the two best midfielders in the world (they'd come second and third at the 2005 Ballon d'or). They both misfired at the World Cup, spawning what we now think of historically as the Lampard/Gerrard Problem.

One of the most compelling arguments over the last few years regarding England's midfield set-up has been whether Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are capable of playing together and producing the kind of performances that they both show regularly for their clubs. Typically, Gerrard has held the upper hand in selection preferences to the point where at times Lampard has suffered all the criticism, especially from the fans.

Beating the best side in North America two months after a victory against the best side in Africa should be a cause of optimism for England in their quest to become the best side in the world, but Monday night's 3-1 win over Mexico at Wembley was as qualified a success as the defeat of Egypt in March by the same score.

We watched England win their first warm-up game for the World Cup last night against Mexico, and we were underwhelmed by the performance. Fabio Capello poor England performance England won the game 3-1 and that's important, but Mexico controlled the game for long periods with their skillful play, and they also managed to score their first [.