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With every passing year, the format for the MLS All-Star Game seems to continue to be a point of contention among fans and media, but even with that, the 2012 version won't be providing any drastic changes.

While officially awarding this year's game to Philadelphia, the league announced that it will maintain its unique MLS vs.

Tunisia vs Ivory Coast Highlights 0-2 2012 Friendly Goals Drogba Kalou Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Tunisia vs Ivory Coast Highlights 0-2 2012 Friendly Goals Drogba Kalou Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Tunisia vs Ivory Coast 2012 ( Tunisia Cote D'Ivoire video below) Final score and result:- Tunisia vs Ivory Coast 0-2 ( Salomon Kalou, Didier Drogba) Friendly- 13 January, 2012- Abu Dhabi- Mohammed [.

The U-23s are back in action to start 2012, holding a training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Head coach Caleb Porter has named a squad of 23 players to train at the HDC, with eye towards Olympic Qualifying in March (just more than two months away!).
In addition to two-a-days in Southern California, the team will also head to Costa Rica for a first trip abroad under Porter.

India vs Bayern Munich 2012 Score 0-4 Highlights Video Goals Muller Schweinsteiger Audi Football Summit is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

India vs Bayern Munich 2012 Score 0-4 Highlights Video Goals Muller Schweinsteiger Audi Football Summit is a post from Soccer Blogger.

PPL Park could soon show itself off to the North American soccer community, as the Philadelphia Union's game day home is one of two finalists for the 2012 MLS All Star Game. A league source informs the Brotherly Game that PPL Park and Sporting Kansas City's Livestrong Park are the last of a group of stadiums, which included the Vancouver Whitecaps' BC Place and the Montreal Impact's Saputo Stadium, but "nothing [is] firm" yet.

It isn't every day that a bright young player like Junior Flores comes around. Major League Soccer knows it and is trying desperately to add him to their 2012 Generation adidas class.

Reports from the Washington Post say that the league has already offered Flores a lucrative GA contract, one likely to be on the high end of those deals signed in this class.

The 2012 MLS SuperDraft is set to take place January 12, 2012 in Kansas City, MS and one local player has garnered a lot of attention from potential MLS suitors.
Herbert Mejia-Flores of Manassas, VA has recently helped the U.S. U-17 MNT win the Nike International Friendlies in December:
U.

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There's been another coaching change in the U.S. Soccer youth tree under the Jurgen Klinsmann regime.

Months after Thomas Rongen and Mike Matkovich made way for Tab Ramos and Richie Williams on the Under-20 and U-18 levels, respectively, U.

Like all responsible pet owners, we left our snark in the office over New Year. We ensured it had adequate food, water and celebrity list programmes to see it through the night, with the TV turned up loud to avoid firework-related outbursts.

We were concerned that it might be sulking today and therefore refuse to contribute to the first results post of 2012, but you'll be relieved to see it's in fine form and frolicking around our captions like nothing had even happened.

New England Revolution midfielder Benny Feilhaber is among the 20 players called in by U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann for the team's annual January training camp, which will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, in Phoenix, Ariz.

The annual camp held in January for players in their offseason is a largely domestic-based group that includes 18 players who ply their trade in the United States.

Der Bomber Jurgen Klinsmann, named his 20-man roster for January camp and the two international friendlies in Arizona against Venezuela and away in Panama.
The good? The bad? The ugly? What are your thoughts?
GOALKEEPERS (3): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (7): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), A.

Warning: not for the squeamish.

Mr. Illa Illa Illa, Villa Maravilla went and broke his leg in the Club World Cup semis, which should go a long way in making the competition's injury lists look like those of international friendlies in the near future lots of muscle pulls and 24 hour illnesses.

With all the Development Academy coverage lately, it's exciting for us to learn that an Academy product has signed a professional contract. Kyle McLaughlin, who played two seasons at FC DELCO and just wrapped up his first season at Colgate, has become the Philadelphia Union's second ever Home Grown signing.

Zach Pfeffer is no longer all alone as the only Philadelphia Union Home Grown Player. The 16-year-old midfielder now has fellow former academy star Jimmy McLaughlin as a teammate on the Union's first team roster.

McLaughlin started all 22 games possible at Colgate in 2011, including the University's 4-1 loss to Rutgers in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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.

ussoccer.com profiled two U-17s who made an impact at the Nike International Friendlies: Tyler Turner and Junior Flores. Both players were part of the team's success at the tournament, helping the USA to lift its first Nike Friendlies trophy.
Read more about Tyler Turner
Read more about Junior Flores

All the focus yesterday was on USA vs. Brazil. Understandably so, since that was the decider for the 2011 Nike International Friendlies. But if you only watched the second game on the bill, you missed an absolute thriller in the undercard: France vs. Turkey. This game had everything. From six goals, to great saves, a red card and a late, late equalizer, France vs.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2011) - The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team won the Nike International Friendlies for the first time, beating Brazil 3-1 in the final game of the tournament in front of a capacity crowd at the Premier Sports Campus.
The U.

The U.S. Under-17s ouclassed, outmaneuvered and out-flaired Brazil on the day, winning the Nike International Friendles tournament with the 3-1 victory.

The U.S. Under-17 team took on Brazil in Lakewood Ranch, FL, and never looked outclassed in the slightest, defeating Brazil 3-1. Having drawn 2-2 with France midweek and beaten Turkey 2-1 on Friday, they won the Nike International Friendlies trophy with three first half goals and an impressive second-half defense.

The US U17 national team defeated Brazil 3-1 on Sunday night in Lakewood Ranch, Florida to win the 2011 Nike International Friendlies.

The U.S. U-17 Men's National Team defeated Brazil 3-1 on Sunday at the Nike International Friendlies at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The tournament took place in conjunction with the U.S. Developmental Academy Winter Showcase. Rubio Rubin, who has been very impressive for the U.

Photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com

Plenty can change in terms of player development over the next number of years, but for the time being, the United States Under-17 national team proved that there's much to be excited about when it comes to the future of the U.S. program.

The U.S. wins the Nike International Friendlies for the first time
The U.S. edged out Brazil in the final match of the 2011 Nike International Friendlies to win 3-1 and claim its first trophy in the history of the tournament. First half goals from Rubio Rubin, Tyler Turner and Wesley Wade (yes, we noticed their first and last names all start with the same letter!

Many soccer fans have become familiar with the Brazil Nike 2011/12 home kit since its launch in February. The jersey in Brazil's famed canary yellow with green accents has been the Seleção's first choice shirt for its international friendlies and Copa America 2011 campaign. There has also been a hard to find black version of [.

Neymar played for Brazil against the U.S. MNT in 2010
The Nike International Friendlies are in their ninth season and the event has seen its fair share of quality players coming in from national teams around the world. We were looking through some of the scores in past editions and found these highlights from 2008:
If you read the match report you'll read a name you may recognize: Neymar.

The 2011 Nike International Friendlies trophy is on the Stadium Field and ready for kickoff!
Day 3 of the 2011 Winter Showcase kicked off today at 9 a.m. with 40 Development Academy games and the final round of Nike International Friendlies.
Today's the big day for the U.S. U-17s, taking on Brazil at 5 p.

We've got some photos from the USA's games so far at the Nike International Friendlies:

DeAndre Robinson opens the scoring for the USA. More photos from USA vs. France.
A handshake between captains. More photos from USA vs. Turkey.

A fantastic day of action in the Nike International Friendlies witnessed a thrilling 1-1 draw between France and Brazil, setting the stage for the USA's dramatic 2-1 win against Turkey. Here's a look at the highlights:
USA vs. Turkey
Brazil vs. France

Referee Alejandro Mariscal gained some international experience during France's 1-1 tie against Brazil
The 2011 Development Academy Winter Showcase provides an opportunity for the country's top referees to be identified and trained in a positive learning environment. No test at the Premier Sports Campus here in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Turkey's U-17(16)'s started the match in very shaky grounds and sat in their half of the field whole first half of the match and than after with ten men they played a lot more better in the second half but lost the match in the last minutes of the match!
In 2010 ,Turkey beat USA, 2-1 and won the Nike International Friendlies Tournament.

Photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com

The United States Under-17 national team takes to the field at the Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., again, looking to build off its first performance of the tournament with a matchup against Turkey (5 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel).

In case you missed Wednesday's games, or you just can't wait until this evening's contests, catch the highlights from the opening two matches of the 2011 Nike International Friendlies.
In the tournament opener, Brazil edged Turkey with an impressive solo effort from substitute Linik in the 64th minute.

The USA will face Panama in a Gold Cup rematch.

Less than six months before the start of its campaign to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men's National Team will continue preparations with a pair of international friendlies in January.
The U.

The U.S. U-17 men's national team scored a beautiful opening goal and another in second-half stoppage time to tie France, 2-2, in the team's Nike International Friendlies opener on Wednesday.

Wesley Wade earned the Americans a result at Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch, Fla when he scored a goal in the 93rd minute following a long throw-in.

The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team tied France 2-2 in its opening match of the Nike International Friendlies after an opening goal from DeAndre Robinson and a stoppage-time equalizer from Wesley Wade. With the draw, the U.S. is tied with France and sits behind Brazil in the four-team tournament being played at the Premier Sports [.

[Editor's note: Nice write up about what went on during the u-17 game today]

The U-17 team resides in Brandenton, Fl. at the IMG Training Academy. The system used at IMG is similar to the youth academies of Europe, where students receive an education at the local school while intensively practicing soccer.

Real Salt Lake and MNT Goalkeeper Nick Rimando will be hanging out at the Winter Showcase
U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper will be on-site at the Development Academy Winter Showcase and NIKE International Friendlies on Sunday, December 4 from 3:00 to 7:30. Nick will be signing autographs and taking pictures at AT&T's interactive area at the Athletes Lounge, playing soccer tennis, participating in a Q & A during pre-game and halftime of the U.

The future of the United States men's national team is on display in Sarasota, Fla., as the U.S. Under-17 national team takes on France on the opening match of the 2011 Nike International Friendlies (5 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel).

The match is the first of three for the U.

At the 2010 Nike International Friendlies, the U.S. Under-17 MNT took on Korea Republic, Brazil and Turkey in Phoenix, Ariz. With the 2011 edition set to kick off this afternoon, ussoccer.com looks back on last year's tournament.
Brazil and Turkey opened the competition last year, with both teams earning a point in the scoreless tie.

Vriginia players Jorge Calix (D.C. United; Alexandria, Va.) and Herber Mejia-Flores (McLean Youth Soccer; Manassas Park, Va.) are the latest Virginia players to be recognized by the U.S. National program.
Calix and Mejia-Flores have been named by U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team head coach Wilmer Cabrera to be part of the 20 man squad set to compete in the upcoming 2011 Nike International Friendlies in Florida starting November 30.