The United States takes on Italy in Genoa at 2:30pm on ESPN2. You can read our Scouting Report on the latest European test for USA soccer. The Under-23 US National Team plays Mexico at 10pm on Univision. Fox Soccer has England - Holland at 3pm. Montenegro - Iceland is on ESPN Deportes at 12pm followed by Spain - Venezuela at 3:30pm.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

The San Jose Earthquakes have added some punch to their attack, and it comes in the form of Colombian midfielder Tressor Moreno.

The Earthquakes announced they signed Moreno on Thursday, adding a 33-year-old attacking midfielder with experience playing for clubs in Colombia, France, Mexico, Peru and Chile.

The Philadelphia Union were expected to announce the signing of Lionard Pajoy last week, but the team has yet to officially recognize the striker as a player. According to a Colombian league report, Pajoy is experiencing visa problems, which are keeping him from joining the Union.

The 30-year-old had problems getting out of his contract with Itagui Ditaires, per a source that talked to Kerith Gabriel, of the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.

The Portland Timbers were finally able to talk about the long term status of their young Colombian forward, Jose Adolfo Valencia. After discovering some scarring in his left knee during a pre-season medical exam that could lead to troubles down the line, the Timbers worked with Valencia's former club in Colombia to adjust the transfer agreement, allowing Valencia to undergo surgery in Portland this year.

05.02.2012 - Terminadas las (6) series del repechaje (Fase 1) clasificatorio a la Copa Libertadores de América (2012), las seis plazas vacantes fueron ocupadas por:
G1: Arsenal (Argentina) sobre Sport Huancayo (Perú) - (4-1) - Al Grupo 4.G2: Libertad (Paraguay) sobre El Nacional (Ecuador) - (4-2) - Al Grupo 5.

The Rapids played their first friendly of the preseason today against the Ventura County Fusion at Oxnard College in California. The game was a scoreless draw and with no coverage its hard to draw much of anything from the result, but here are the starting lineups for each half (* denotes trialist):
1st Half:
Cascio - Amarikwa - AkpanThompson - Nane - LaBauexFreeman - Marshall - Palguta - Zapata*Ceus
2nd Half:
Angulo* - Archer* - ArmstrongThompson - Nane - Guido*Huazo* - Marshall - Palguta - AbabioJoyce
Obviously this was a game for some of the reserves to try to make their mark in competing for a starting spot.

Jose Balcazar - No position announced (Deportivo Cali)
Joe Bendik - Goalkeeper (Sogndal)
Lance Davids - Midfielder (Lierse SK)
Miguel Ibarra - Midfielder
Ryan Kawulok - Defender
Brendan King - Midfielder
Sebastián Rincon - Forward (Santa Fe, Colombia)
Franck Songo'o - Midfielder (Albacete Balompie)

Per the Timbers site, here are the non-roster/trialists that are in California with the Timbers.

It looks like Pepe Moreno may not be playing or practicing in a Revolution uniform anytime soon.

Five days after New England announced that it had reached a loan agreement with Colombian side Once Caldas to bring the 30-year-old striker to Gillette Stadium, a report surfaced on Tuesday surfaced that the deal is off.

The New England Revolution thought that they had secured a prized piece to their attacking puzzle by announcing the signing of Colombian forward Jose "Pepe" Moreno on loan from Once Caldas last week. While that still may wind up being the case, there's something a bit awkward and unusual going on.

Lionard Pajoy was having the best season of his career as a 30-year old in Colombia, and now the 6'1″ striker has a chance to build on his late blooming success as a member of the Philadelphia Union.

The team announced the signing of Pajoy (pronounced "Pa-hoy") from Colombian first division side Itagui Ditaires today.

Lionard Pajoy was having the best season of his career as a 30-year old in Colombia, and now the 6'1″ striker has a chance to build on his late blooming success as a member of the Philadelphia Union.

The team announced the signing of Pajoy (pronounced "Pa-hoy") from Colombian first division side Itagui Ditaires today.

It's been 17 years since Rene Higuita executed his audacious scorpion kick to block a weak shot from Jamie Redknapp in a friendly between England and Colombia at Wembley. Since then, it's become one of the most iconic in the sport's history and has been attempted by goalkeepers and attackers alike, some more successful than others.

You might have caught wind of reports that the Portland Timbers were getting ready to sign 20 year-old left back Juan David Duque out of Colombia. Stumptown Footy had solid looking reports up on January 25 and February 1. Here we are on February 8 though and still no Juan David Duque inking a deal.

WE'RE BACK! Ultras Alive returns this Monday February 13 at 10pm for it's 35th show and the first one in 2012 with guests Gabriel Gabor Major League Soccer / Soccer United Marketing's (Twitter: @MLSGabor )who will be promoting the Mexico vs Colombia game this coming February 29, 2012
We will also be giving out 2 tickets to the game so stay tuned on how you can win them.

Anyone who has read anything on Soccer Soap Box pretty quickly sorts out that I am a US Soccer supporter (and occasional complainer.) But after the United States, the country that gets the most coverage here is undoubtedly Colombia. Colombia is, after all, my adopted-by-marriage second country.

I've also been over-sharing Colombian related ideas lately because I was recently visiting the country (my ninth such visit if my math is correct) at the same time as my local team the New England Revolution was adding two and a half Colombian players and MLS is seeing an influx of Colombian talent.

Admit it, there's nothing more exciting than football drama, and today's United-Liverpool showdown at Old Trafford has all the ingredients that scream "Phantom Of The SuarezGate II!" Whether Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez will be :

a) shaking hands (-20 points),
b) doing the Uruguayan cumbia dance (+10 points) or
c) shoving jalapeños down each other's throats (+40 points) ;

Past statistics favour goals from both sides and hopefully mio dios!

Colombia has long been an under-performer in international football, and although improvements have happened in the last 20 years, this continues. It does not help that the Colombian national team often has been the subject of scandals, and it was also a recent scandal of the woman beater Hernán Darío Gómez that led to his dismissal, and Colombia looking for a new coach.

Colombia has long been an under-performer in international football, and although improvements have happened in the last 20 years, this continues. It does not help that the Colombian national team often has been the subject of scandals, and it was also a recent scandal of the woman beater Hernán Darío Gómez that led to his dismissal, and Colombia looking for a new coach.

Well the Rapids, via a tweet from Tim Hinchey, essentially confirmed that our new #10 is Martin Rivero. However there was no official announcement of the signing today. The Denver Post suggests one reason:

So what's the delay? Here's why, maybe:Rivero remains in a contract dispute with Rosario Central, according to Diario La Capital.

There's probably a team deep in the seedy parts of the regional Bangkok league where makeup and fake nails are as much a part of the club as the football itself. But there's at least one fresh new club in Colombia which will do likewise, and this team will only have one ball on the pitch.

Yes, it's a women's team which will play dressed up, and has claims of being 'model-only'.

There's probably a team deep in the seedy parts of the regional Bangkok league where makeup and fake nails are as much a part of the club as the football itself. But there's at least one fresh new club in Colombia which will do likewise, and this team will only have one ball on the pitch.

Yes, it's a women's team which will play dressed up, and has claims of being 'model-only'.

PPL Park is set to host its third ever international friendly, according to an article out of Chile.

Chilean news outlet La Tercera is reporting that the Philadelphia Union's home will be the location of a February 29 friendly between Chile and Ghana. "The swanky modern stadium" was apparently the top choice after MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

¿A qué edad se puede debutar en el fútbol grande? Los reglamentos no lo establecen y en varios países se dieron casos de futbolistas que pisaron las canchas cuando aún tenían rostro de niño. Esta publicación la iré engrosando con más casos de otros países.
El 5 de julio de 2003 Independiente cayó 1-0 ante San Lorenzo.