The U-23 Men's National Team wrapped up their January training camp with a scrimmage today against Alajuelense of Costa Rica.
Caleb Porter's squad has been in Central American since last week as they continue to prepare for Olympic Qualifying in March. A big part of that preparation as been acclimating themselves to the rhythm of a qualifying tournament and that's where this trip has come in: playing two games in four days is just the type of schedule the team will face when they take the field in Nashville for the group stage of the competition.

Philadelphia Union

Le Toux spotted with Tim Ream at Bolton's win over Liverpool on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Kyle Scott and crossingbroad.com

A report from The Bolton News on Friday quotes Wanderers' manager Owen Coyle on Sebastien Le Toux, "I've had some decent reports on him. He's very industrious, hard working and looks a very good team player, which is what I'm all about.

The United States Under-23 National Team is currently training in Costa Rica, with scrimmages scheduled against Costa Rican clubs Saprissa and Alajuelense.

Graham Zusi was flying down the flanks throughout the first half
Graham Zusi and Jack McInerney traded sweet strikes as the National Team and the U-23's finished with a 1-1 draw in the second of two scrimmages played here between the teams at The Home Depot Center.

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.

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

January is a busy month for U.S. Soccer across almost all ages, and following Jurgen Klinsmann's roster announcement for the senior camp that kicks off today in Phoenix and Tab Ramos' roster announcement for this week's Under-20 camp in Florida, two more sets of U.

Peter Nowak spoke to the press today, only hours after the Union announced Costa Rican left back Porfirio Lopez as the team's fifth offseason signing.

"Porfirio [Lopez] has a great capacity going back and forth and taking pride at defending, and that's a part we take a look at very closely," Nowak said.

By FRANCO PANIZO

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The U.S. Under-23 men's national team wrapped up its December camp with a second intra-squad scrimmage on Thursday afternoon, and the competition for roster spots set the tone for a physical and fiery match.

Split up into white and blue teams, the 29 players in camp (Bill Hamid left camp earlier in the week due to family reasons) took part in a windy match at IMG Soccer Academy that saw its share of physical play and rough challenges.

FIFA Team of the XXth Century of CONCACAF Deportivo Saprissa S.A.D.(formerly known as C.D. Saprissa) is Central America's and Costa Rica's most successful soccer club. Twenty nine time Primera División de Costa Rica and CONCACAF Champions' Cup winners in 1993, 1995, and 2005, Saprissa is the only team from the region apart from Mexico's Necaxa [.

While still a ways off from being able to announce a new signing, Seattle Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer confirmed reports that the team is pursuing Costa Rican international Heiner Mora. Hanauer also said the team would be looking at the 27-year-old as a right back, although Mora has played several positions during his 18 appearances with the national team.

(All translation help from @barbcvphilly)

A Costa Rican news outlet, Teletica Deportes, is reporting that Deportivo Saprissa will play the Philadelphia Union in a summer friendly during the 2012 MLS season. Deportes says that the Union areed to play Saprissa as part of the two teams' transfer that ended with striker Josue Martinez joining Philadelpia.

Peter Nowak and the Philadelphia Union introduced their first summer signing today. Josue Martinez is a 21-year old Costa Rican international who fits the Nowak mold as someone who can slot in at multiple positions. ""He's a very humble guy. He has a different qualities with his speed, and can play as a central striker or on the wing," Nowak said.

Current Saprissa and Costa Rican right sided player Heiner Mora to the Seattle Sounders rumors are shifting from "just another rumor" to "hey that sounds legit" based on his latest interview with al Dia. Both he and the President of Saprissa are quoted in the story that an offer is on the table. Now, there have been a handful of players who have been quoted as signed with the Sounders that never donned the Rave Green, so this isn't a certainty.

The Philadelphia Union announced on Wednesday that they have acquired 21-year-old Costa Rican international striker Josue Martinez from Club Deportivo Saprissa.

According to the announcement, "The forward will be available upon receipt of his P-1Visa and International Transfer Certificate. Per MLS and Club policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

The Philadelphia Union added a young, promising attacking piece on Wednesday by acquiring 21-year-old Costa Rican forward Josue Martinez from CD Saprissa.

Martinez brings a strong pedigree and attacking flair to the Union, where he joins a strikeforce that boasts other up-and-comers Danny Mwanga and Jack McInerney in addition to stalwart Sebastien Le Toux.

Deportivo Saprissa is set to allow Josue Martinez to move to the Philadelphia Union, according to La Republica.

A throwaway line in the website's game recap of Saprissa's 2-2 draw with Alajuelense included a comment about Martinez's future with Saprissa, saying that the 21-year-old had played his last game with the Costa Rican power.

The Philadelphia Union are negotiating with Deportivo Saprissa over a transfer for Josue Martinez, Saprissa President Juan Carlos Rojas confirmed on 103.9 FM program Primer Tiempo. Costa Rican soccer news outlet everardoherrera.com picked up on reports from the United States about Martinez and is reporting that Rojas said on the radio show that the Union have had contact with Saprissa over the 21-year-old.

Back in July, the Philadelphia Union were linked to Deportivo Saprissa striker Josue Martinez, and reportedly even made a bid of nearly $1 million for him. MLS Rumors spotted a new report, out of Norway, that says that the Union are set to bid for the forward again, but this time are the most likely destination for Martinez with Norwegian club FFK unable to afford a transfer themselves of between $400-500,000.

Not much time for lots of prose, since I'm on my way to bed and will be out of town for a few days. But I did want to put out the results and upcoming schedules for the playoff action throughout Central America. BELIZE None COSTA RICA The Invierno playoffs start on Sunday with the first leg of the semifinals.

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has mocked England by suggesting that the only way the Three Lions could score against his Spain side was from a set piece and that the visitors dominated throughout the 90 minutes at Wembley on Saturday evening.

World champions Spain lost 1-0 after Frank Lampard got at the end of a free-kick sequence to nod home the only goal of the match.

Mais um jogo da Copa América, foi realizado no dia 07/07/2011, na cidade de Jujuy-ARG, no Estadio 23 de Agosto, onde jogaram as seleções da Bolívia (94º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Costa Rica (55º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Copa América
2001Medellin 19/07/2001 BOL0:4 (0:1)CRC Group matches
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Carlos Vera-ECU
O primeiro gol do jogo, foi de Josue Martinez, aos 14 minutos do segundo tempo, ele que é jogador do Saprissa-CRC, que marcou seu segundo gol pela seleção nacional.

A review of the rosters for the USA's opponents in the upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium reveals a lot of talent as well as some very familiar faces.
For the USA's first friendly against Costa Rica since 1995, interim head coach Ronald Gonzalez has chosen four players from MLS, handing Portland Timbers defender Rodney Wallace his first call-up.

Jurgen Klinsmann's 24-man crew now knows exactly who it'll be going up against in the upcoming friendlies.

Costa Rica and Belgium have put out their rosters for the matches against the U.S. men's national team, who will be hosting Los Ticos at the Home Depot Center on Sept.

Remember when MLS teams couldn't buy a win in Mexico?
Way back in like 2010 and before, MLS teams did pretty bad south of the border. It was a little sad to see MLS teams go there, knowing that no matter what they did, it would not be good enough for a win. Heck, a draw would have been seen as an accomplishment.

Remember when MLS teams couldn't buy a win in Mexico?
Way back in like 2010 and before, MLS teams did pretty bad south of the border. It was a little sad to see MLS teams go there, knowing that no matter what they did, it would not be good enough for a win. Heck, a draw would have been seen as an accomplishment.

Untold Arsenal on Twitter @UntoldArsenal By Tony Attwood Joel Campbell has completed a transfer of a little under £1m from Deportivo Saprissa a record for a Costa Rican player. I feel a little attachment to the lad already since I have actually been to the country, and loved every second of it except [.

Arsenal have agreed terms with Deportivo Saprissa, to sign Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell.

The deal for the 19-year old, is reported to be worth around £930,000, but will rise to around £1m, if bonuses are met.

Arsene Wenger has already praised the teenager, stating that Campbell is a very talented youngster.

Well here's an interesting subplot to the Union's 1-1 draw in Chicago, and particularly ahead of Saturday's home match against Houston: despite a report posted today on Major League Soccer's official website citing officials of Mexican side Veracruz that an acquisition of Carlos Ruiz's rights from MLS has gone through, Philadelphia Union CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz told Union play-by-play announcer JP Dellacamera that this is not the case.

Joel Campbell's agent has told ESPNsoccernet there is "nothing official" regarding reports the Saprissa striker has joined Arsenal.

Facing a 1-0 deficit heading into the home half the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round, advancing to the Group Stage is far from a foregone conclusion for the Seattle Sounders. If they get there, though, they'll at least know a home match awaits them.

The CCL released the schedule for the first two rounds of the Group Stage on Thursday.

We'll be back early next week with our fourth annual World Club Ranking pre-season edition. In the meantime, we'll return to a place where we haven't been in a while. The past.
In 1995, we saw an end to three consecutive years in which the top ranked club of the year was the UEFA Champions Cup (now, Champions League) victor.

The Costa Rican wonderkid will remain at Deportivo Saprissa. Apparently his father was not too professional about the whole thing. He probably had City or Chelsea on his radar.

Players represented by family carry that risk - Nicholas Anelka comes to mind.

Well, that was quite out of the blue. A few days ago, reports started fluttering through about how Arsenal representative Richard Law had travelled to Costa Rica to thrash out a deal for nineteen year-old striker Joel Campbell with Deportivo Saprissa. And just earlier today, Gunnerblog revealed that Saprissa's President, Juan Carlos Rojas, has told a radio station of an ‘agreement in principle' between the two clubs and a virtually completed transfer pending only on personal terms.

Well, that was quite out of the blue. A few days ago, reports started fluttering through about how Arsenal representative Richard Law had travelled to Costa Rica to thrash out a deal for nineteen year-old striker Joel Campbell with Deportivo Saprissa. And just earlier today, Gunnerblog revealed that Saprissa's President, Juan Carlos Rojas, has told a radio station of an ‘agreement in principle' between the two clubs and a virtually completed transfer pending only on personal terms.

It looks like Arsene Wenger has masterminded the arrival of yet another unknown talent at Arsenal after it was revealed by Joel Campbell's team in Costa Rica that they have agreed to sell the youngster to the Gunners for a price of $1.5m (£930,000). Visit 365 italia to place bets at the best bookmaker worldwide.

Now this bit of Arsenal transfer news looks like a typical move by Arsene Wenger in the transfer market. The Mail reports that the Gunners are currently negotiating with the Costa Rican team Deportivo Saprissa for their young striker Joel Campbell (full name: Joel Nathaniel Campbell Samuels). He has only played a few games but [.

Argentina's poor performance has forced the hometeam to be in a situation where they must defeat Costa Rica in their last group match. Since Costa Rica is playing the tournament with an under-22 squad, this may not sound difficult for the Argentinean super-stars, but after having watched Costa Rica take out Bolivia last night, this will surely not be an easy task.

[This post will get bumped to the top on CCL matchdays.] Below are collated results for the knockout stage of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League. Ties are two-leg series, aggregate goals, away goals rule in effect unless the tie goes to extra time in the second leg. Winners of each round are highlighted in bold red lettering.

Jason Kreis continues to blaze trails in the American game, and his Real Salt Lake team is primed for their appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League final versus Monterrey.
Andrea Canales of Goal.com writes of Kreis' path to coaching fame, as well as on his philosophies on the game.

It was a relief this weekend to finally see the Seattle Sounders close out a good game with three points. The Fire played well throughout the match, but quality won through for the first time this season. O'Brian White scored a brilliant header and incidentally continued the reverse-curse of Toronto FC players regaining their form once leaving the snake-bitten club.