photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

Conmebol's Copa America is the oldest international continental tournament in soccer, and 2016 will mark its 100th birthday.

That could also be the year that many American soccer fans have a dream come true.

According to Mexican outlet mediotiempo.

With our next fixture coming up February 29th in Genoa against the United States, I realized what a shame it is that Giuseppe Rossi is injured right now. Certainly, he likes to score against his native country, he scored a brace when we met in 2009 in the Confederations Cup. But more important than delightfully watching him punish the American team in a friendly, I wonder whether or not he'll be able to make it back to full fitness in time for the Euros this summer?

Brazil has announced a massive US Tour for this summer in which they will play the USA, Mexico and Argentina between May 30 and June.

With no World Cup qualifying for Brazil, they are the host nation in 2014, these three games will be important matches for Brazil as they get ready for the Confederations Cup in 2013.

Adu's brief reemergence to the international scene during the Gold Cup was one of the most intriguing stories of 2011. (Photo: Chris Aduama/aduama.com)

If 2011 was a roller coaster year of the U.S. Men's National Team, it was a ride that featured more plunges than peaks. A disappointing second place finish in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was followed by the sacking of head coach Bob Bradley after a five-year tenure that included a run to the 2009 Confederations Cup Final and a trip to the 2011 World Cup Round of 16.

Decided tonight, in the midst of some serious procrastination, to check on the old blog and see how it's gone. I'm very pleased to know that my post regarding the average number of minutes of actual playing time is the most commonly cited post on here. While I enjoyed the momentary notariety that came with predicting Jorge Larrionda would red card an American midfielder in our Confederations Cup match against Spain in 2009, I didn't start the site to criticize refs.

Egypt ushered in the Bob Bradley era this week with their friendly versus Brazil.
John Duerden of Sports Illustrated writes of the task ahead of Bradley in his tenure with the Pharaohs.
Even two hours before kickoff, the Egyptian fans were in full voice, chanting a soccer version of a refrain familiar to anyone who had been in Tahir Square earlier this year as the Arab Spring reached its zenith.

South Africa vs Ivory Coast Score 1-1 Highlights Video 2011 Bafana Mandela Challenge is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

South Africa vs Ivory Coast Score 1-1 Highlights Video 2011 Bafana Mandela Challenge is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter South Africa vs Ivory Coast 2011 ( Bafana vs Cote D'Ivoire 2011) Nelson Mandela Challenge, 12 November, 2011- Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, PE Final score and result:- South Africa vs Ivory [.

Their Words That was the tournament where Fulham came and watched me, and I was able to get the opportunity to go over to the Premiership after that. It was just a huge opportunity, and I was lucky enough that I was able to be seen by some European coaches. US National Team captain Carlos Bocanegra on playing in the 2003 Confederations Cup in France.

FIFA have finally confirmed the venues, dates and kick-off times for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 & Confederations Cup in 2013.
The World Cup will run from 12th June to 13th July. The opener is set for Corinthians new stadium in Itaquera, São Paulo, which may not be ready until February 2014.

In case you were planning on skipping off to the wonderful land of the World Cup in 2014 and were waiting on details to make some travel plans, FIFA's gone ahead and set in motion a few of the details, if we're a long, long way from knowing the names of the participants. Unless you're of the idea that FIFA's corrupt and someone somewhere knows, in which case.

One of the world's most famous stadiums is due to be opened in 18 months or so, just ahead of the world's biggest football tournament the Confederations Cup, obviously. And then such afterthoughts as the World Cup and the Summer Olympics.

A detailed look inside the future of the stadium in 3D graphics, with lots of little digital people.

Remember the Confederations Cup? For the most part, we try not to. But there was one game and one very bright spot within that game that I do like to remember. The game was against the USA, and the bright spot was Giuseppe Rossi. [read more]

By Eric Beard

In the ever-elusive environment that is African football, Egypt are the winners. They may not be the best, but they're winners. They may not have the talent to match the Ivory Coast or Ghana, but the 7-time winners of the African Cup of Nations won't back down against anybody.

Egypt have appointed former United States coach Bob Bradley as national team manager, state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.
Bradley replaces long-standing coach Hassan Shehata who left in June after holders Egypt struggled in qualifying for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals. They have since been eliminated.

The beginning of this Spanish-language doc looks excellent, but not speaking a lick of Spanish, one can only hope it encompasses some form of English subtitles. Or a leprechaun doing an interpretive dance routine.

This is the trailer for the first part the 2011 Copa America. There will be four more to follow, with the Olympics, Polkraine 2012, the Confederations Cup and then Brazil 2014.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Brazilian defender Andre Santos from Fenerbahce

The 28-year-old international joins the Gunners from Super Lig champions Fenerbahce, for whom he has played since 2009. Santos supplanted Roberto Carlos as the team's first-choice left-back in his first season in Turkey and went on to make 52 league appearances, scoring 10 times.

Jurgen Klinsmann will begin his USMNT coaching career with a game against Mexico tonight in Philadelphia.
While the result won't mean a whole heck of a lot, some (many?) fans and media are taking this game rather seriously. Of course, it's a game no US supporter wants to lose. It doesn't matter if it's a friendly, a qualifier, a game on FIFA 11.

Jurgen Klinsmann will begin his USMNT coaching career with a game against Mexico tonight in Philadelphia.
While the result won't mean a whole heck of a lot, some (many?) fans and media are taking this game rather seriously. Of course, it's a game no US supporter wants to lose. It doesn't matter if it's a friendly, a qualifier, a game on FIFA 11.

Former U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley has surfaced as a leading candidate to take over Egypt.
Bradley, will meet with the head of the Egyptian federation this week, national team press officer Azmi Megahed told MLSSoccer.com.
Bob Bradley appears to be in line to coach Egypt's national team.

Recently I tweeted out asking what you think is wrong with MLS. I got a plethora of responses. Some were well thought out and some simply ranted and moaned without being realistic. I thought I'd address some of the more thought out ones. Number one on my list was a follow up to my previous thoughts on Jurgen Klinsmann.

Jurgen Klinsmann faces this!Jurgen Klinsmann ain't no Bob Bradley. He's younger, has slightly more hair and has won more World Cups albeit by the narrowest of margins, 1-nil.
Now Klinsmann is further burdened by having to coach Bradley's boys. Y'know, the team he molded into Gold Cup and Confederations Cup finalists.

Jürgen Klinsmann named new USA coach | Football | guardian.co.uk.

As I failed to predict, German coach Jurgen Klinsmann was announced today as the successor to Bob Bradley as coach of the USA Men's National team. His official unveiling is at a press conference on Monday, and hopefully, with his record, it should herald a new era for a squad which has failed to impress since the Confederations Cup success two years ago.

Poor Bob Bradley. He always was U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati's Plan B.
Twice, Gulati failed to land his prized national team coaching candidate, Jürgen Klinsmann, and twice he settled on the stoic but hard-working Bradley.
To his credit, the no-nonsense New Jersey native never indicated he suffered from wounded pride.

As one era ends, another begins. Bob Bradley was relieved of his duties yesterday as the United States Men's National Team coach and one day later we have his successor: Jurgen Klinsmann. The former Germany head coach and World Cup veteran has long been the target of Sunil Gulati who has courted him since 2006.

Stunned.
As much as this move was warranted and as much as many U.S. supporters wanted to see it happen, my first reaction to the news that Bob Bradley had been fired was that.
U.S. Soccer hasn't sacked a coach since 1998, and before that... well, that might as well be ancient history, right?

Today the United States Soccer Federation announced that it had parted ways (fired) US Men's National Team Coach Bob Bradley. The Era of Bob Bradley began after the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany where the US failed to get out of their group. The poor showing in Germany resulted in Bruce Arena being fired and Bob Bradley being named interim coach, and then, in 2007, being named coach.

If you are a Fire and USMNT fan, it has been quite the busy time. We had the Gold Cup in June for the USMNT, and the Fire have been busy themselves lately what with the Pardo and Grazzini signings, Ristic leaving, and a Gargan/Robinson swap, just to name a few. When everyone thought things couldn't get more interesting, the plot thickened as the U.

Our long national nightmare is over. Bob Bradley has been ousted as coach of the USMNT. And like Jeff Carlisle says, there's little downside:

World Cup qualifying doesn't start until next year. There is no Confederations Cup to plan for. And given the USSF's ability to schedule quality friendlies, there would seem to be ample opportunity for a new coach to get up to speed.

In a move that is only surprising by the timing of the announcement, the United States Soccer Federation announced today that Bob Bradley has been relieved of his duties as coach of the United States Men's National Soccer Team. The move ends weeks of speculation after USSF President Sunil Gulati failed to publicly back Bradley when the United States lost to Mexico in the Gold Cup final.

Bob Bradley, the man who led the United States Men's National Team to its second-ever first place finish in the Group stage of the World Cup, was relieved of his duties by the U.S. Soccer on Thursday.

The 53-year-old coach, who initially earned the job under the "interim" tag in 2007, took a program that quickly bowed out of the 2006 World Cup to unprecedented heights in his four-year tenure, despite constant criticism of his tactics and player selection.

Shocked to hear that the U.S. men's team have fired Bob Bradley. A statement from U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said Bradley had been relieved of his duties.

"We want to thank Bob Bradley for his service and dedication to U.S. Soccer during the past five years," Gulati said in a statement.

Bob Bradley has been sacked by USSF as coach of the US men's national team.

"We want to thank Bob Bradley for his service and dedication to U.S. Soccer during the past five years," said Gulati. "During his time as the head coach of our Men's National Team he led the team to a number of accomplishments, but we felt now was the right time for us to make a change.

Bob Bradley has been relieved of his duties of head coach of the United States men's team, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced on Thursday.

"It is always hard to make these decisions, especially when it involves someone we respect as much as Bob. We wish him the best in his future endeavors," Gulati said in a statement.

Five of the eight places for the 2013 Confederations Cup have now been decided and already the line-up looks tasty already.
BRAZIL - Hosts
SPAIN - World Cup holders
JAPAN - Asian Cup 2011 winners
MEXICO - Gold Cup 2011 winners
URUGUAY - Copa America 2011 winners
These famous five will be joined by the winners of Euro 2012, the 2013 African Nations Cup and next year's Oceania championship.

Five of the eight places for the 2013 Confederations Cup have now been decided and already the line-up looks tasty already.
BRAZIL - Hosts
SPAIN - World Cup holders
JAPAN - Asian Cup 2011 winners
MEXICO - Gold Cup 2011 winners
URUGUAY - Copa America 2011 winners
These famous five will be joined by the winners of Euro 2012, the 2013 African Nations Cup and next year's Oceania championship.

COPA AMERICA 2011 FINAL
Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
URUGUAY 3 : 0 PARAGUAY
Suarez 12', Forlan 42', 89'
Uruguay won the Copa America by a canter this afternoon to confirm themselves as undisputed champions of South America.
From early on it was clear that the World Cup semi-finalists were the better team.

"Yes, i could be available a little earlier than i expected", says Mano Menezes

For the latest news on Brazil, follow me on Twitter here

The Brazilian Football Confederation, the CBF, has announced that Brazil will take on Mexico in a friendly on 11th October in Torreón, Mexico.

With the European Championships in 2008, the Confederations Cup in 2009, and the World Cup last year, in recent seasons the first day of pre-season training has been largely a mish-mash of kids and older fringe players. All of which made it rather easy to overlook the first signs of a new season approaching.

Is it time for Bob Bradley to go?
Most US national team supporters will answer with a resounding "Yes!" when asked that question. I've not been calling for Bradley's head on a platter or anything of the sort, but I'm starting to think that removing him is the only way for the US to really move forward.

An English take on the American dilemmaBob Bradley might be fired tomorrow and if he is I cannot say I would be wholly surprised following that embarrassing surrender in the Rose Bowl. US Soccer has lofty ambitions, which is noble, but Rome was not built in a day.With no Confederations Cup to plan for, the World Cup is the next major international competition on the horizon in 2014, so there is