For those looking to spot Americans in action overseas, check the Europa League—it's televised, great teams abound and, well, there are Americans, too. The elusive soccer grail, as it were. Europa League matches offer rare chances to see national team expats competing against high-caliber opponents on a real live TV.

The international break gives us a chance to take a look back at this early part of the Serie A season and see what we can take from it. Five game in to 2011-2012 and only one thing is certain, and that is nothing is certain. While it may be a bit early to pass judgement, what we can say is that this season's scudetto is there for the taking.

In my whole entire stinking existence I have never seen Arsenal involved in a relegation scrap.
There is always a first for everything I suppose!
People say Arsenal will find it tough to get into the top four this season.
Well, at the moment, I'd be happy if we finish outside of the bottom four!

Emma, the star of Borussia Dortmund

Germany, Borussia Dortmund-Hertha Berlin 9:30amET (GolTV): Dortmund were the surprise stars of the Bundesliga last season, running away with the title. They did sell young Turkish-German midfielder Nuri Şahin to Real Madrid, but hung on to 19yo midfielder Mario Götze, despite interest from Bayern Munich and ManU.

Cotonsport are champions of Cameroon again

Two of Africa's top football championships have been decided in the past few days with Cotonsport maintaining their stranglehold of the Cameroonian domestic game whilst Al Ahly did likewise in Egypt.

Cotonsport, from the north Cameroonian city of Garoua, sealed their tenth league title in fifteen seasons with a 2-1 win against fourth place Unisport Bafang.

Almost every country treats the release of the fixture list like a national holiday, crafting the rumors, conspiracy theories, and potential outcomes months in advance just to spark interest. Luckily for Spain, the press need not conjure up such ridiculous and outlandish stories since the boneheads who run the RFEF do all the work for them.

We have arrived at the stage of the summer where one begins to mentally tick off checkpoints for the maddening methadone of pre season. In the last seven days, two of my traditional tick boxes have been inked. The release of the season review DVD (bet this year's sold like hot cakes. Any chance of a reduction if we only buy up to February?

Juventus twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Champions League qualifiers Napoli on the final day of the Serie A season, but it was not enough to put them in the Europa League. Goals from Christian Maggio and Cristiano Lucarelli had given the visitors the lead on two occasions but Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro Matri levelled the scores.

Udinese are on the verge of making the Champions League qualifiers – but Sampdoria's relegation offers a cautionary tale.
Udinese close to 'paradise', but Sampdoria's despair offers a warning.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov says he made a mistake in failing to buy Liverpool when he claims the club was offered to him for £200 million in 2005.
"In 2005, my club Kaunas was playing against Liverpool in the Champions League qualifiers," said the Lithuanian businessman and banker, who the same year bought a majority shareholding in Hearts.