In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the U.S. Men's National Team, the USA beat Brazil 1-0 on Feb. 11, 1998, in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. That game was the first U.S. win against the South American side, and today it remains the only time in 16 matches the U.S. has emerged victorious.

Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) was named to the Republic of Ireland squad for the Algarve Cup in Portugal.

The 24-year-old Smyth, who will start her second season with Amazon Grimstad FK in Norway's Toppserien in April, has six career caps. She has dual citizenship because her father, Brendan, was born and raised in Ireland.

United States National Team alum, Olympian, National Soccer Hall of Famer, and National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Famer Harry Keough passed away on Tuesday morning. Keough was 84, a member of the 1950 USA World Cup team that beat England. He was also the architect of the St. Louis University soccer dynasty, leading them to five NCAA championships starting in 1967.

As if the defending MLS Champions needed any more offensive firepower, the LA Galaxy announced today that Edson Buddle would be rejoining the Galaxy after terminating his contract with FC Ingolstadt by mutual consent.

Buddle's addition gives LA the league's best forward tandem, as he and Robbie Keane will lead a line that should feast on the service provided by Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

Today, US Soccer came out with their list of candidates available for selection to the US Soccer Hall of Fame. On that list are two current coaches of Sporting KC. Head coach and technical director, Peter Vermes is on the list again, as is assistant coach, Kerry Zavagnin, in his first year of eligibility.

Talk about a 180.

Just a week or so ago it was Sebastien Le Toux on a plane to England to train with Bolton. Now he is back in North America and has been traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

No word yet on what the terms of the deal will be but the Frenchman just tweeted out that it is official.

Philadelphia Union and Faryd Mondragon confirmed Monday that the veteran goalkeeper will leave to sign with Colombian club Deportivo Cali.

Mondragon, 40, will return to his hometown to play for the team he made his professional debut for more than 20 years ago.

"For family reasons, I have requested the club to allow me the opportunity to finish my career where it started," Mondragon said in a statement released Monday afternoon by the Union.

The out-Stoking of Stoke at Anfield two weeks ago, followed a week later by the utter shambles of a performance at Bolton, set the table for a four-day stretch in which Liverpool's future, not only in the two domestic cup competitions, had been placed in the balance by a fairly significant portion of those who fancy themselves supporters of both Liverpool and general unrest.

via www.elheraldo.hn

The former Man in Red may be a part of the Fire's future. Honduran websites El Heraldo and La Prensa are repoting that former Fire midfielder Ivan Guerrero is training with the Fire at their pre-season camp in Ave Maria, Florida. La Prensa also claimed Guerrero was "very close" to signing with the Fire.

Toronto FC appears determined to fix its defensive problems, and it has turned to an Ecuadorian international to help it do so.

On the day it signed Richard Eckersley to a permanent deal, Toronto announced it acquired defender Geovanny Caicedo. The 30-year-old, who has earned eight caps for Ecuador since making his debut in 2009, last played for LDU Quito.

On Tuesday, the United States Soccer Federation announced that Richie Williams has been named coach of the Under-17 National Team. Williams - a former National Team and Major League Soccer player who also served as an MLS assistant coach - had been coaching the U-18 team. The U-17 coach is a fulltime role.

Here is the USA's starting lineup against Venezuela:
Hamid
DeLaGarza Parkhurst Cameron Pearce
Larentowicz Jones (capt.)
Zusi Feilhaber Shea
Bunbury
1-Bill Hamid2-A.

Liverpool are thought to be lining up a raid on Celtic for their talented winger James Forrest.
The 20 year-old flyer made his debut for the Hoops at the end of the 2009/10 season, but has only truly established himself as a star in the making this season.
He has scored 5 goals in 22 Clydesdale Bank Premier League appearances this season, and great things are expected of the young Scot, who has so far earned 4 caps in his short career.

Continuing on with the caps trend, here's the updated stats for caps as a member of the SKC Wizards. First is the caps that a player got while with KC, the second number is goals scored in those caps.
Josh Wolff - USA - 38 - 6
Jimmy Conrad - USA - 28 - 1
Preki - USA - 26 - 4
Roger Espinoza - Honduras - 21 - 3
Kerry Zavagnin - USA - 21 - 0
Eddie Johnson - USA - 20 - 3
Shavar Thomas - Jamaica - 19 - 0
Chris Klein - USA - 17 - 3
Gary Glasgow - Trinidad & Tobago - 16 - 1
Khari Stephenson - Jamaica - 15 - 3
Scott Sealy - Trinidad & Tobago - 14 - 1
Tony Meola - USA - 12 - 0
Craig Rocastle - Grenada - 9 - 0
Sunil Chhetri - India - 9 - 5
Stephane Auvray - Guadeloupe - 8 - 1
Davy Arnaud - USA - 7 - 1
Kei Kamara - Sierra Leone - 6 - 0
Nick Garcia - USA - 6 - 0
Uche Okafor - Nigeria - 6 - 0
Onandi Lowe - Jamaica - 3 - 2
Mike Sorber - USA - 3 - 0
Miklos Molnar - Denmark - 3 - 0
Teal Bunbury - USA - 2 - 1
Mark Chung - USA - 2 - 0
Jermaine Hue - Jamaica - 2 - 0
Peterson Joseph - Haiti - 1 - 0
Chris Henderson - USA - 1 - 0
Steve Pittman - USA - 1 - 0
Digital Takawira - Zimbabwe - Unknown
Unfortunately I've still been unable to find a source for Digital Takawira's caps for Zimbabwe while with Kansas City, I've tried contacting the FA and the CAF, but have struck out in both instances.

I have gone ahead and updated my list of capped Sporting KC players total. This is a list of players that have played for Kansas City and been capped by their respective national teams at any time. New signing Bobby Convey, along with Daneil Cyrus and Peterson Joseph are the only new players to join the list.

The San Jose Earthquakes took a step toward fortifying their back line Wednesday by agreeing to a deal with Honduran centerback Victor Bernardez.

Bernardez, 29, has 52 caps for Honduras. He started in all of Honduras' games during this past summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup and was also a member of the country's World Cup team in 2010.

When the Seattle Sounders lost James Riley in the expansion draft there was some real concern about how Seattle would fill the void let by the dependable veteran's departure.

The Sounders have reached an agreement with Swedish right back Adam Johansson, according to the club website of Johannson's current club, IFK Goteborg.

More than half the 20-players on the roster have two caps or less for the full national team, and five will be seeking their first appearance including A.J. DeLaGarza, whose fine 2011 season with the MLS Cup-winning Galaxy was fully deserving of a call-up. The central defender was also part

After weeks of speculation, Chivas USA this afternoon confirmed the signing of Oswaldo Minda, a 28-year-old midfielder with 13 caps for Ecuador. Minda has played with newly-crowned Ecuadorian champions Deportivo Quito since 2008, scoring 11 goals in 85 games. Chivas fans can check out this YouTube video to see the

Jurgen Klinsmann is bringing in former Bayern Munich teammate Andreas Herzog to be his assistant coach on the U.S. national team. The Austrian soccer federation made the announcement that Herzog, who had 103 caps for Austria, would be leaving his job as Austrian U-21 coach to return to the United States, where he finished his career with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2004.

This is a common saying about football in Arabic, and it has a lot of truth in it. When there is a trusted keeper in the team, he gives the whole team the confidence and balance to go forward and win. Spain is enjoying these days the fun of having the best keeper in the world. Everyone remembers the great saves Casillas did in the WC final, or the PKs vs.

The Under-23 Men's National Team camp is officially underway in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. as the team arrived this evening in advance of tomorrow's first training session.
U.S. U-23 head coach Caleb Porter has called 30 players into the eight-day camp, and plans to use the time to get a full picture of the talent pool.

The lottery to allocation Lee Nguyen to an MLS team is set to talk place tomorrow. Rumor is that all the teams in the league have applied to be in the lottery. For those that don't know, the lottery is based off of a team's record over the last season. That being said, with Sporting KC finishing 5th in the regular season last year, their chances are not great.

Liverpool are being touted to make a shock January move for in-form Wolves striker Steven Fletcher.
The Scottish striker, who has bagged six goals in ten appearances this season has reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, who is growing concerned at his side's lack of goals this term.

Liverpool's hopes of signing Brazilian youngster Lucas have been dashed after he revealed he is scared of leaving his country for Europe.
The midfielder is under contract with Sao Paulo until 2015 and is valued at around £30m, with Liverpool among a string of admirers from across Europe.
Manchester United, AC Milan and Barcelona have all tracked his progress but Lucas believes he is better off staying put for now.

Their Words It's been an incredible journey – full of (mainly) ups and downs, (mainly) highs and lows, but I will long remember how our fans maintained their great support and encouragement for us – thank you so much. outgoing Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Paul Barber. Other Sources Female executive thrust into Caps' front-office breach - from The Province's Marc Weber: "She's been our unsung hero.

Liverpool 1-0 QPR: Suarez caps bad week with great finish

Both sides hit the woodwork in close-fought game

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-12-10 17:03:01 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Well at least we'll be able to watch one Timber this off season as it looks like Rodney Wallace is off to represent Costa Rica once again. Both matches are international friendlies, but any national time he can get the better, in my opinion.

The first match will be against Cuba in Cuba... not many Americans can say they've been there.

Liverpool are the latest club to be linked with a move for Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin who has reiterated his desire to move to the Premier League.
The Uruguay international was strongly linked with a switch to Chelsea over the summer but it appears as though Andre Villas-Boas will now move to sign the cheaper option in Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill.

Farewell then to Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira. Better known throughout the world simply as Sócrates, captain of perhaps the best side not to win the World Cup. 60 caps and 20 goals for Brazil; drinker; smoker; political activist; humanitarian; surely one of the greatest, coolest players to grace the game.

Today the football world, still morning the untimely death of Gary Speed, is now mourning former Brazil Captain Sócrates, who passed away as a result of an intestinal infection at the age of 57. Sócrates earned 60 caps with the Brazil national team between 1979 and 1986, and captained the team in the 1982 World Cup.

Brazilian football legend Socrates has died at the age of 57 it has been reported today.

The former Botafogo, São Paulo, Corinthians, Flamengo and Fiorentina player was taken to hospital on Friday with food poisoning and later died through an intestinal infection.

Socrates was perhaps best known amongst football followers for his performances with the Brazilian national team in the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups and it is sad that he is one of few Brazilians superstar players never to win a major tournament with the Seleção.

The name of Jan Vertonghen was mentioned on here a few weeks ago but it seemed at the time that Spurs' real target was Bolton's Gary Cahill. However, stories emerging from Holland are adamant that Tottenham have agreed a £10m fee for the Belgian international and that the deal will be rubber stamped when the transfer window opens next month.

Philadelphia Union

With yesterday's announcement that the Union had declined the option to re-sign Stefani Miglioranzi and Chase Harrison, the eyes of many Philly soccer followers turned to the other castoffs throughout the league and the possibility that the Union might find a worthy signing in Monday's Re-Entry Draft.

Harry Redknapp told us over the weekend not to expect any transfer activity at the Lane this winter but that was never going to stop the rumour mills from continuing to turn.

However, it may be as a result of the exit rumours concerning Vedran Corluka that Portuguese right back Joao Pereira has now been linked with a January move to the club.

Before I say anything else, let me just make it clear that I think that Gary Speed's death yesterday, at the age of 42, is unquestionably tragic; an awful, shocking piece of news. It's difficult for me to imagine a circumstance so terrible that hanging myself seemed the best option, and I hope I never experience anything remotely approaching it.

The agent of Brazil international midfielder Lucas Moura has revealed that there has been contact from both Liverpool and Chelsea as the Premier League pair attempt to lure the youngster to England.
Lucas is considered one of the hottest properties in South America and has consistently been linked with a move to Europe after becoming a regular for Brazil.

85 Caps, and current coach of the Welsh NT only belie the fact that at 42, Gary Speed had more to accomplish in life.Notching 103 goals in 677 matches for club, and another 7 in 85 during NT duty, Gary is survived by his wife and 2 sons.Another great player lost.Video: SYZE84
[[ This is a content summary only.

Sad and tragic news broke today about the passing of Gary Speed, who took his own life.

Gary Speed had an illustrious career playing for five different clubs and receiving 85 caps for Wales.

I'll always remember Gary Speed for his unsung hero's role in Sir Bobby Robson's midfield, his galvanising displays in the Champions League, and those headers against Kiev and PSV.

With such a settled side and the emergence of players such as Kyle Walker and Younes Kaboul, it seems increasingly unlikely that there will be too much transfer activity at White Hart Lane this January.

Predictably however, that hasn't stopped the rumour mills and there are a couple of interesting names being touted around today.