by FRANCO PANIZO

World Cup qualifying is in the rear-view mirror, and for the Americans Abroad that means it is time to get back into club soccer.

After missing international duty due to an ankle injury, Tim Howard should be healthy enough to start for Everton in possibly the most intriguing match of the weekend when the Toffees host Manchester United, Howard's former club.

by FRANCO PANIZO

World Cup qualifying is in the rear-view mirror, and for the Americans Abroad that means it is time to get back into club soccer.

After missing international duty due to an ankle injury, Tim Howard should be healthy enough to start for Everton in possibly the most intriguing match of the weekend when the Toffees host Manchester United, Howard's former club.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Thierry Henry's handball heard around the world helped secure France's passage to the 2010 World Cup, but the French may not be through to South Africa yet.

The Irish federation has appealed Wednesday's night 1-1 result (2-1 aggregate advantage for France), and is demanding that France replay the second leg of the playoff.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Thierry Henry's handball heard around the world helped secure France's passage to the 2010 World Cup, but the French may not be through to South Africa yet.

The Irish federation has appealed Wednesday's night 1-1 result (2-1 aggregate advantage for France), and is demanding that France replay the second leg of the playoff.

by FRANCO PANIZO

If the Houston Dynamo is to continue its relative MLS success next season, it will likely have to do so without two of their most talented players.

Midfielders Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden are out of contract at season's end, and both players are unlikely to return to the club, having been strongly linked with moves to Europe during the upcoming winter transfer window.

by FRANCO PANIZO

If the Houston Dynamo is to continue its relative MLS success next season, it will likely have to do so without two of their most talented players.

Midfielders Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden are out of contract at season's end, and both players are unlikely to return to the club, having been strongly linked with moves to Europe during the upcoming winter transfer window.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned the club he would quit if striker Francisco Torres were ever sold without his consent.

Speculation has surrounded the Spanish international's future with the club due to its largely-publicized financial debt.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned the club he would quit if striker Fernando Torres were ever sold without his consent.

Speculation has surrounded the Spanish international's future with the club due to its largely-publicized financial debt.

photo by ISIphotos.com

Kenny Cooper has been struggling for playing time with TSV 1860 Munich lately, and now it appears he will have to wait even longer to get on the field.

photo by ISIphotos.com

Kenny Cooper has been struggling for playing time with TSV 1860 Munich lately, and now it appears he will have to wait even longer to get on the field.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

With the World Cup in sight, most of this weekend's attention will be towards the remaining qualifiers, but there are a few high-profile friendlies on tap today that might be just as exciting.

England-Brazil is one of those matches, as the Three Lions will took to topple Brazil for the first time since 1990, a stretch of seven games that includes a 2-1 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

With the World Cup in sight, most of this weekend's attention will be towards the remaining qualifiers, but there are a few high-profile friendlies on tap today that might be just as exciting.

England-Brazil is one of those matches, as the Three Lions will took to topple Brazil for the first time since 1990, a stretch of seven games that includes a 2-1 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.

The United States national team is in Bratislava set to take on Slovakia for the first of two European friendlies.

The game marks the first ever meeting between the United States and Slovakia, and will give head coach Bob Bradley an opportunity to fine tune the U.S. team seven months away from the World Cup in South Africa.

New Zealand is headed to the World Cup.

After a scoreless first leg, New Zealand booked its passage to South Africa 2010 by defeating Bahrain 1-0 on Saturday in front of their home crowd at Westpac Stadium. It took a 45th minute goal from Rory Fallon and a penalty save from Mark Paston to give New Zealand the victory on aggregate, and a place in next year's World Cup.

New Zealand is headed to the World Cup.

After a scoreless first leg, New Zealand booked its passage to South Africa 2010 by defeating Bahrain 1-0 on Saturday in front of their home crowd at Westpac Stadium. It took a 45th minute goal from Rory Fallon and a penalty save from Mark Paston to give New Zealand the victory on aggregate, and a place in next year's World Cup.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Nine spots remain for the 2010 World Cup, and four of those will be decided through the UEFA playoffs, which are set to begin on Saturday.

Russia-Slovenia, Greece-Ukraine, Portugal-Bosnia Herzegovina and France-Ireland are the two-legged playoffs that will determine which remaining UEFA teams punch their tickets to South Africa next summer.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Liverpool midfielder David N'Gog may have salvaged his club from losing against Birmingham on Monday, but he did so with one of the most highly-criticized dives in recent memory.

With Birmingham shockingly leading the hosts 2-1 in the second half, N'Gog dribbled into the penalty area before being brought down by midfielder Lee Carsley's sliding challenge.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Liverpool midfielder David N'Gog may have salvaged his club from losing against Birmingham on Monday, but he did so with one of the most highly-criticized dives in recent memory.

With Birmingham shockingly leading the hosts 2-1 in the second half, N'Gog dribbled into the penalty area before being brought down by midfielder Lee Carsley's sliding challenge.

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by FRANCO PANIZOÂ

The Americans Abroad must have known this was the final weekend before the U.S. national team's two European friendlies, because there was a plethora of positive performances and five different goal scorers in one of the most successful weekends in recent memory.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Clint Dempsey has found his scoring touch again, netting in Fulham's previous two league matches, and this weekend he gets a chance to extend that streak against a familiar foe.

Dempsey and Fulham battle Wigan Athletic on Sunday, a team the U.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Clint Dempsey has found his scoring touch again, netting in Fulham's previous two league matches, and this weekend he gets a chance to extend that streak against a familiar foe.

Dempsey and Fulham battle Wigan Athletic on Sunday, a team the U.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player in the world, but his spot in next year's World Cup will be determined when Portugal and Bosnia square off in a two-legged playoff later this month. There is only one problem for Ronaldo: He may not have a say in if Portugal qualifies.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player in the world, but his spot in next year's World Cup will be determined when Portugal and Bosnia square off in a two-legged playoff later this month. There is only one problem for Ronaldo: He may not have a say in if Portugal qualifies.

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The U.S. national team's friendly vs. Slovakia in Bratislava later this month will air live on Fox Soccer Channel.

U.S. Soccer announced via its Twitter Wednesday that the U.S. team's first of two European friendlies will air live at 10am on FSC on Nov. 14. No word yet on what station will air the U.

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The U.S. national team's friendly vs. Slovakia in Bratislava later this month will air live on Fox Soccer Channel.

U.S. Soccer announced via its Twitter Wednesday that the U.S. team's first of two European friendlies will air live at 10am on FSC on Nov. 14. No word yet on what station will air the U.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

by FRANCO PANIZO

The U.S. Under-17 men's national team finally put together a strong performance in its final group match, and its reward for beating the United Arab Emirates is a Round of 16 date to face Italy.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

by FRANCO PANIZO

The U.S. Under-17 men's national team finally put together a strong performance in its final group match, and its reward for beating the United Arab Emirates is a Round of 16 date with Italy.

by FRANCO PANIZO

If there was any doubt about Michael Bradley having returned to his top form, he surely killed off that uncertainty this weekend.

Bradley capped off his impressive October on Saturday, starting and going the distance in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 3-2 victory over Hamburg SV.

by FRANCO PANIZO

If there was any doubt about Michael Bradley having returned to his top form, he surely killed off that uncertainty this weekend.

Bradley capped off his impressive October on Saturday, starting and going the distance in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 3-2 victory over Hamburg SV.

Clint Dempsey has gotten his groove back.

A week after scoring the equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Manchester City, the U.S. national team midfielder netted in Fulham's 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, easily finishing off a Bobby Zamora pass from ten yards out. The goal, which came in the 87th minute, capped the scoring and was Dempsey's second of the season.

Clint Dempsey has gotten his groove back.

A week after scoring the equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Manchester City, the U.S. national team midfielder netted in Fulham's 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, easily finishing off a Erik Nevland pass from ten yards out.

The goal, which came in the 87th minute, capped the scoring and was Dempsey's second of the season.

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_____________________________________________Photo by ISIphotos.comÂ

by FRANCO PANIZO

From tweets to fines to rumored firings, Hull City's Phil Brown and Jozy Altidore have had quite an interesting week, and it gets even more intriguing this weekend.

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                                    Photo by ISIphotos.comÂ

by FRANCO PANIZO

From tweets to fines to rumored firings, Hull City's Phil Brown and Jozy Altidore have had quite an interesting week, and it gets even more intriguing this weekend.

Real Madrid's new 'Galactico' era has not started out the season quite as expected, and the struggles continued after losing in humiliating fashion on Tuesday.

Real Madrid lost to third division club Alcorcon, 4-0, in a Copa del Rey match. Alcorcon, which has 400 times less the payroll than los merengues, humbled a less-than-full-strength Real Madrid, but it still defeated a team which started players like Raul, Guti and galactico Karim Benzema.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

If Manchester City attacker Robinho's hidden desire is to play for Barcelona then he is not doing a good job at keeping it a secret.

On Monday, Robinho told a Brazilian radio station he is happy with the interest Barcelona has in him, and that he thinks it is much easier to become the world's best player with them than with Manchester City.