photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Nearly two and a half years after the accident that almost claimed his life, Charlie Davies made his official return for Sochaux.

Having last played in a Ligue 1 game on Oct. 3, 2009, Davies completed his return to Sochaux by coming off the bench in its 1-0 defeat to Stade Rennes.

USA 2014 World Cup Squad Projection Version 1.5 - The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

It's been a few months since the initial projection and it's changed a bit with several friendlies taking place. Overall, the core of the team remains the same with the final spots still unclear. This projection is of what the team (23 man squad) will be for the World Cup (in 2014) and not during qualifying.

The U.S. Men's National Team last faced Canada in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but it's been more than 13 years since the teams met on Canadian soil. With the U.S. and Canada set to face each other in Toronto at 7 p.m. ET on June 3, we took a look at the history between the sides and found some interesting facts.

As usual, ussoccer.com provides with comprehensive news and notes to get you prepped for today's game. Here's five notes to get you started:

• The USA has a 2-0-1 record against Venezuela all-time. Since the opening draw, the U.S. has won back-to-back 2-0 decisions against Venezuela.
• Five players are in search of their first international cap with the U.

Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu both started as Alejandro Bedoya made the bench away against Arbroath in weekend Scottish action.

Carlos Bocanegra and company will look to get Rangers back on the winning path when two meets three in the Scottish Premier League.

Maurice Edu started from the bench as Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers fell narrowly to their bitter rivals at Celtic Park.

Smoldering kindle around a possible sale of the New York Red Bulls' Tim Ream to Bolton.

Wandering?

While nothing is confirmed and Ream's wedding to a US bride, not to a new team has been cited as the reason he is not in Jurgen Klinsmann's January Camp, the move would seem to make a lot of sense and offers the opportunity to investigate a few things around both the teams and leagues:

• First, it would seem the Red Bulls are selling at a valley in Ream's value.

It is no real surprise that the Scottish Premier League race already appears to be down to the two usual suspects. How Rangers and Celtic have gotten to their current positions, though, is a story in itself.

Heading into Wednesday's latest edition of the venomous Old Firm Derby (2:45 p.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

Ives Galarcep reports at Fox Soccer that Freddy Adu is heading to with Spanish side Rayo Vallecano for a two-week training stint. The report notes, "Rayo Vallecano is also a club that had been in talks with Adu about signing him last summer before Adu settled on a return to MLS.

Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu will need to be at their very best if Rangers want to walk away from Celtic Park with a win.

Carlos Bocanegra scored in Rangers' win over Inverness but both Maurice Edu and Alejandro Bedoya were early subs in the lackluster win.

With all three of Rangers' Americans starting against Inverness, it was the defender getting the goal. Carlos Bocanegra opened the scoring in the 55th minute from the run of play, with Inverness equalizing 12 minutes later. Kyle Lafferty broke that deadlock in the 83rd minute. Lafferty subbed on for Alejandro Bedoya in the 52nd minute.

Been a little under the weather this weekend, so I've been moving slowly - another way of saying sleep all day. I nearly plum forgot about the owed Carlos Bocanegra goal clip and took a while to notice Tony Taylor's strike in a losing cause on Sunday. It's now Monday, which means tons to do, which means quit the moaning and get 'er done.

By FRANCO PANIZO

A week after enduring one of his worst performances of the season, Clint Dempsey responded in a big way.

Dempsey lifted Fulham to victory over Bolton Wanderes on Saturday, scoring a goal and assisting on another in the 2-0 affair. Dempsey found the back of the net with a well-placed header before sending Costa Rican teammate Bryan Ruiz in on goal with a nifty pass.

We've got two goals to talk about today, but thus far only one clip. While we're waiting on the video of Carlos Bocanegra's opener in a Rangers win, let's laud Clint Dempsey for his opener in Fulham's much-needed win. The U.S. star now has three goals in the last four games, taking his season total across all competitions up to eight.

Dominic Cervi and Greenock Morton will be looking to get a big win in the Scottish First Division while Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu welcome Inverness CT to Ibrox Stadium.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Zak Whitbread is on the brink of doing something that he's only done once this season: Start consecutive games.

A week after returning to Norwich City's lineup in a surprise victory over Newcastle, Whitbread appears set to start for the Canaries when they play Tim Howard and Everton.

Carlos Bocanegra returned to Rangers starting line up as they picked up a win at Hibernian while Dominic Cervi could not keep Patrick Thistle at bay in Scottish action.

Xabi Alonso strokes his beard whilst mulling over his team's chances of winning this weekend's El Clasico.

It's going to be a big, contentious weekend of footy, we can feel it.

Short on time or interest to catch all the action as it happens? Yeah, we can feel that too.

There is a solve, though, that we've never explored before.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Having been beaten by Kilmarnock in shocking fashion last week, Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and Alejandro Bedoya enter their match against Dunfermline Athletic with one thing in mind: Winning.

Rangers is still four points clear of Celtic for first place in the Scottish Premier League, but the Blues need to bounce back from last weekend's defeat.

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Nov 29, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Tony asks about Carlos Bocanegra's injury, looks at what Fulham and Everton might need to do to move higher in the EPL standings, and is the last one to become aware of AZ Alkmaar's nickname. How does Carlos Bocanegra's injury affect Rangers?

By JOEY SAMUEL

When he took the job as head coach of the US national team, Jurgen Klinsmann urged players in Major League Soccer to keep playing at a high level throughout the offseason.

It appears as though they are listening.

Amobi Okugo became the latest American to earn a training stint at a European club on Monday when he joined SC Freiburg, sources told SBI.

With Carlos Bocanegra injured, Rangers played to a shocking defeat against Kilmarnock while Dominic Cervi and Greenock Morton drew Queen of the South

As people across the United States get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, we give you some extra food for thought as we look at the year by the numbers. Here's 11 from '11:

• A total of 46 players earned at least one cap for the full team; under Klinsmann, 28 players got at least one game.

Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra, and Maurice Edu all started but Rangers were unable to secure three points in a disappointing draw against St. Johnstone

Thnx @esanchez6 for the tip!

Remember that time, way back when, where we charted Skankocity's course? That was loads of laughs, right?

Well, there's finally something better. One that didn't require us lifting a fancy finger to create.

In honour of Carlos Bocanegra's 100th cap with the USMNT which he earned last night versus Slovenia US Soccer has put us and our charts to shame with their aptly-titled Bocagraphic.

In celebration of United States National Team captain Carlos Bocanegra winning his 100th cap on Tuesday, US Soccer has a highlight video of every goal Bocanegra has scored at National Team level.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Carlos Bocanegra has enjoyed a distinguished career as a U.S. national team defender, and he joined exclusive company on Tuesday, becoming the 12th player in U.S. Soccer history to reach 100 caps.

The steady U.S. captain marked the 3-2 victory over Slovenia by joining Cobi Jones, Jeff Agoos, Landon Donovan, Marcelo Balboa, Claudio Reyna, Paul Caligiuri, Eric Wynalda, Kasey Keller, Earnie Stewart, Tony Meola and Joe-Max Moore in the century club at the start of his 90-minute shift.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA's 3-2 victory over Slovenia.

U.S. Men's National Soccer Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann finally opted to start a formation with two strikers in Slovenia on Tuesday and it paid off with the most impressive offensive performance seen in Klinsmann's tenure.

Clint Dempsey tied Joe-Max Moore's mark of 24 U.S. goals and moved into 4th on the all-time list.

TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS
SPECIAL NOTE: Soccer By Ives uncovered info from Panama that the USA will play a friendly in Panama City on Wed Jan 25.
-You can also expect to see another friendly match to be scheduled for Sat Jan 21 on USA soil.
dN
Today is Slovenia and what on paper should be an easier game than last Friday in Paris.

Retribution? Probably not.

Improvement? Needed.

One overwhelming positive. Captain Carlos Bocanegra with his 100th cap as the United States tangles with Slovenia today.

Starting line-ups shortly.

Funny, still looks young...

A video of Seba Le Toux talking about endurance (careful, it auto-plays!). This is perfect. Nobody on Earth can possibly be more qualified to discuss this topic. Oh wait, he just says he works hard? What!? This is like getting superman to talk about his powers and walking away with a quote like, "I just do it, y'know?

U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra steps on the field for the 100th time today representing the United States, and the 54th time as captain. He becomes the 12th MNT player in history to achieve this milestone. It's truly a proud day for one of the best all-around guys ever to play for the USA.
In honor of the occasion, ussoccer.

Tim Howard (GK) - Lindemans Framboise: Sweet and sour temperament, but effervescent as usual. Made some crucial saves that kept the match level for 70 minutes.Timmy Chandler (LB) - Weihenstephaner Hefe: Typically a refreshing bit of German goodness, but on this occasion a little too light when something stronger was called for.

Carlos Bocanegra looks to earn his 100th cap in Slovenia, where he played his first game for Rangers.
Carlos Bocanegra's move from St. Etienne to Rangers was a whirlwind, to say the least. Within 24 hours, the U.S. captain signed with the Scottish club, hopped on a plane to Slovenia, and played in an important Europa League qualifier.

The United States played another dull and creatively challenged game against France last night, losing 1-0 in a game in which the U.S. managed just two shots on goal. The loss it the fourth in six games under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann with all four losses coming by the same 1-0 scoreline. The honeymoon period is quickly coming to an end for Klinsmann with the United States suffering from a severe offensive drought having scored just two goals in six games.

It wasn't a game USA fans will be re-watching for entertainment purposes, or one American players will want to remember, but the U.S. national team's 1-0 loss to France still offered up plenty of information, if not attacking soccer.

France was always going to be favored and expected to be the better side, even with a young lineup, but the U.

1. Carlos Bocanegra earned his 99th cap and could hit the century mark Tuesday against Slovenia.
2. Fabian Johnson collected his first cap for the United States after having received approval from FIFA for a change of association last month.
3. In honor of Veterans Day, the U.S. players will autograph their individual jerseys and donate them for an online auction to benefit the Disabled American Veterans organization.