Paraguay perfect in PK shootout, earn first-ever QF berth

Paraguay edged Japan in a penalty shootout on Tuesday. (Getty Images)

Paraguay booked their ticket to their first-ever World Cup quarterfinals after edging out Japan, 5-3, in the tournament's first penalty shootout in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Oscar Cardozo netted the deciding PK after Japan's Yuichi Komano struck the crossbar with his spot kick. Paraguay converted all their PKs after the match went scoreless in 120 minutes.

The win denied Japan their first appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal. The result also ensured that an Asian team has yet to beat a South American side in the history of the tournament.

Substitute Cardozo will remain the hero of the night after coolly burying Paraguay's fifth-and-final spot kick. Diego Barreto, Lucas Barrios, Cristian Riveros and Nelson Valdez also tallied from the spot.

Japan, though, will be disappointed with the result after enjoying the slight edge during open play. Both teams defended well throughout, but it was Japan who boasted the better chances on goal. However, with so much at stake, scoring opportunities were relatively scant as both teams approached the match tentatively.

Paraguay's Barrios produced a flash of brilliance to create the game's first chance on goal. The striker collected a through-ball from the midfield before rotating around his defender at the top of the box. However, his shot was not equal to the build-up, and Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima easily saved.

Japan responded immediately when Daisuke Matsui launched a dipping shot from distance, but his effort caromed off the crossbar and away from goal. Matsui later set the table for Keisuke Honda a few yards from the edge of the box, but the striker shot wide.

Paraguay began to find space to attack in the second half, but Japan protected their goal well and continued to threaten on the break. However, their finishing in the final third was not equal to their defending: Marcus Tulio Tanaka headed wide from a corner kick, and then the center back couldn't reach a looping pass at the far post in the waning minutes of regulation.

Paraguay were also guilty of wasting the final pass, and early in extra time they flashed a serve across goal that eluded everyone. But they applied huge pressure minutes later when Claudio Morel threaded a pass to substitute Edgar Barreto, but his shot was saved, and the Japanese defense kept out the following barrage of shots. Paulo Da Silva then headed wide midway through the second period.

As the clock wound down, though, it seemed inevitable the match would be decided by penalty kicks, and after Komano—who has yet to score for Japan in 56 appearances—struck the woodwork with Japan's fourth effort, the quarterfinal berth was there for Paraguay's taking.

Paraguay next faces the winner of the late tilt, which sees Spain face Iberian rivals Portugal.

Paraguay: 1-Justo Villar; 14-Paulo Da Silva, 3-Claudio Morel, 13-Enrique Vera, 6-Carlos Bonet, 20-Nestor Ortigoza, 21-Antolin Alcaraz, 10-Edgar Benitez, 16-Cristian Riveros, 9-Roque Santa Cruz, 19-Lucas Barrios.

Japan: 21-Eiji Kawashima; 2-Yuki Abe, 22-Yuji Nakazawa, 4-Marcus Tulio Tanaka, 3-Yuichi Komano; 5-Yuto Nagatomo, 16-Yoshito Okubo, 7-Yasuhito Endo, 17-Makoto Hasebe, 8-Daisuke Matsui, 18-Keisuke Honda.

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).

Scoring summary (PKs):

PAR: Barreto

JPN: Endo

PAR: Barrios

JPN: Hasebe

PAR: Riveros

JPN: Honda

PAR: Haedo Valdéz

PAR: Cardozo

Italy begin title defense with draw against ParaguayPrimera Liga round-up

David Villa strikes to send Spain into the quarterfinals

David Villa clips his shot up and over Portuguese keeper Eduardo. ()

David Villa seems to be the key to unlocking any defense, even Portugal’s stiff backline, which entered this match having not conceded a goal. The Barcelona striker struck in the 63rd minute to send Spain into quarterfinals for the first time since the 2002 World Cup.

His goal in the 63rd minute was a typical poacher’s strike, coming at the end of a second-half siege from La Furia Roja. Xavi shuffled a heel pass into the path of Villa, who was somehow left alone inside the Portuguese area. The striker’s first shot was saved by Eduardo, but the keeper could do nothing about the rebound.

And Spain were on their way. However, despite the Spanish controlling possession, Portugal had more of the chances for the most part on the day. At least until the goal.

In the 20th minute Portugal came close. Breaking quickly on the counter, Tiago found himself alone in the middle and whipped a shot from about 25 yards out that Iker Casillas parried straight up into the air. Hugo Almeida challenged for the high ball, but Casillas was able to recover and knock it out of danger.

In the 52nd minute, Almeida came close again, rushing down the left side and into the Spanish area. After he cut to the inside, his low cross was deflected up and nearly landed in the goal.

Finally, Spain actually threatened in the 60th minute. A lovely cross from Sergio Ramos picked out Fernando Llorente, but the Bilbao striker’s diving header was blocked by a well-positioned Eduardo. Seconds later, Villa curled a shot just around the outside of the right post.

The furious action led to the situation and the goal, as Spain pressed to get the goal, knowing that just one would be enough. After it came, though, they continued attacking.

In the 70th minute, Ramos sprinted down the right side again, cut inside to his left, and drilled a low hard shot that Eduardo pushed around the post. Seven minutes later, Villa stung Eduardo’s hands with a long-range effort.

But they didn’t need the second goal. Other than an 89th-minute red card to Ricardo Costa, the game drained away and Spain moved on.

Scoring Summary

ESP – Villa 63’

Spain: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Carlos Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Joan Capdevila; Xavi, Xabi Alonso (Carlos Marchena 93+’), Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta; David Villa (Pedro 85’), Fernando Torres (Fernando Llorente 59’)

Portugal: Eduardo; Ricardo Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Fábio Coentrão; Tiago, Pepe (Pedro Mendes 72’), Raul Meireles; Hugo Almeida (Danny 59’), Simão (Liedson 72’), Cristiano Ronaldo

England squeak past Slovenia and into 2nd round; Slovenia out.Iker - Utd and City want me

James: World Cup impact will be seen long term

One Salt Lake City sports media personality believes many kids have been captivated by the World Cup (Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY – The World Cup brings one thing to Major League Soccer: expectations. The expectations are that the domestic league will see increased interest and growth on the heels of the excitement around the sport's premier tournament.

Salt Lake City sports media personality David James believes that while you may not be able to draw a direct line between the World Cup and MLS, the impact will be seen in other ways.

James, who has a young son who is an avid soccer fan, explains that there are many youngsters who have grown mesmerized by the vuvuzelas, along with the action on the pitch in South Africa. His son is an avid soccer fan himself.

“When he’s 40 and has disposable income, he’d like to own an MLS franchise," James said of his son. "That’s just going to happen slowly over time.”

James explains his own personal introduction to the game of soccer. He knew kids who played soccer in high school and was aware of the 1990 World Cup, but there were lots of roadblocks to him becoming a fan of the game, including the lack of television coverage.

“I didn’t like it, I didn’t hate it – I just couldn’t see it," James said. "The ’94 World Cup sucked me in, and specifically the US vs. Colombia game. It moved so fast. It was over in two hours. There were no commercial breaks, and the action was constant.”

From there, James became more acquainted with the game when Real Salt Lake came to town in 2005.

“Now there’s a team here, and I know the guys here," he said. "And you watch a little bit more and figure some stuff out.”

He explained that between his drive time sports radio show and late night TV sports show, he saw a rise in the interest surrounding the game that lasted for a couple of years after Real Salt Lake came into existence. However, there came a point where the honeymoon feeling wore off.

Then in 2008, Rio Tinto Stadium opened its doors, renewing the excitement that was there at the start. The fact that the team had started to become competitive was the real story.

“The more they win, the more people get into it, especially with a sterling home record," James said. "When people pay money, they get their money’s worth.”

And of course, last year’s MLS Cup championship pulled in those potential fans hiding in the shadows and brought them out into the open.

Today, James says he'd like to see more World Cup stars and US National Team personalities continue to make their way into the league. From his vantage point, this will be the next critical step in continuing the growth of the game.

“I do think soccer has established its niche, and is continually broadening its niche," James said. “They need to figure out a way to get some of the world’s best players here.”

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KC 3-game breakdown: Tough slate ahead

Kansas City's Ryan Smith, left, needs to up his production in his debut MLS season. (Getty Images)

MLSsoccer.com will break down the Wizards’ season in three-match blocks during the MLS campaign. Consider it ten quick glimpses into Kansas City’s season, each of which will play a critical role in the team’s quest to return to the playoffs.

Position

Fifth in the Eastern Conference (3-6-3, 12 points)

Last three

June 5 at Toronto FC – 0-0 draw

June 10 vs. Philadelphia Union – 2-0 victory

June 26 vs. New York Red Bull – 3-0 defeat

Next three

July 3 at FC Dallas (4-2-6, 18 points)

July 10 vs. Chivas USA (3-9-1, 10 points)

July 14 at Columbus Crew (7-2-3, 24 points)

Player to remember: Ryan Smith (two assists)

Apart from Kei Kamara, Smith has been the Wizards' most productive offensive player this season by a long shot. His goal and five assists put him on pace for what should be an breakout season in his first go round in Major League Soccer.

Unfortunately, Smith's ankle is still bothering him, and that has sometimes limited his effect on games for the full 90 minutes. If the Wizards are to find their form, Smith will have to up his production even more and find a way to adapt to the physical play—and inconsistent refereeing—that he has found frustrating so far.

Player to watch: Davy Arnaud

Following Saturday's defeat to New York, Arnaud was as down as he has been this season. Not only did the Wizards lose handily in front of their home fans, Arnaud drew yet another red card—this one in second half stoppage time—and will miss his third game of 2010 through suspension.

It's no secret how much the veteran means to Kansas City, and it will be interesting to see how the team copes with the absence of its captain and how Arnaud himself deals with another week in which he cannot contribute.

Two things that went right

1) Two results before the break

The Wizards did well to end their long winless streak and pick up some much needed confidence with a draw on the road in Toronto and a 2-0 victory against the Union before embarking on a long layoff during the World Cup group stages.

Those two results seemed to calm the players and coaching staff's nerves, allowing them to enter the break relaxed and focused on the rest of the season. It also kept them from finding themselves at the very bottom of the league table, something that would have been a tough pill to swallow considering the side's fast start.

2) World Cup hype in Kansas City

It may have surprised some people, but Kansas City's Power & Light District became an epicenter of support for the United States national team during its run to the round of 16. Thousands packed the common area and bars during the group stage, and a P&L record of 12,000 jammed into the area for Saturday's disappointing defeat.

WATCH: KC fans flock to Power & Light district

It would have been exciting to see the kind of support that would have mobilized for a quarterfinal matchup with Uruguay, but the attention and press the events elicited will be priceless in the city's quest to be a World Cup host city in 2018 or 2022.

Two things that went wrong

1) Defensive misgivings against the Red Bulls

Kansas City seemed calm and confident heading into Saturday's tilt with first-place New York, but that attitude didn't manifest itself on the field or in the result. With Salou Ibrahim providing a battering ram in the penalty area and Juan Pablo Angel providing the attacking guile, the Reb Bulls waltzed to a 3-0 victory in front of a sellout crowd at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

That wasn't the way the Wizards wanted to return from break, and it certainly wasn't the kind of performance needed to piggyback on the attention being devoted to soccer because of the World Cup.

2) Roger Espinoza and Honduras' short run in South Africa

The World Cup started out as a dream come true for Espinoza and Honduras, but it ended almost as quickly as it started. Despite Los Catrachos hasty exit, Espinoza gained some valuable experience during the group stages that the Wizards will hope translates into even better performances for his club.

Getting the third-year defender back should also help bolster Kansas City's back line and provide defensive bite on the left side, where Smith's tendency to stay forward makes the left back's role in defending critical. He could be available as early as this weekend against FC Dallas.

Looking ahead

Kansas City will be disappointed to have fallen so flat against New York, but there is no time to focus on the past with three tough matches coming up in the next two weeks.

WATCH: HIGHLIGHTS: NY 3, KC 0

Dallas have only been beaten twice this season and will have the heat and—former Wizards 'keeper Kevin Hartman—on their side. Then it's Chivas USA, who are desperate for points. Throw in a road game against first-place Columbus, and its obvious nothing will come easily from here on out, even if Kansas City get Espinoza and Stephane Auvray back soon.

From the looks of it, four points wouldn’t be a bad haul from three matches that include two road games. The problem is that Kansas City have been ineffective away from CAB all season. No matter what happens during the next two weeks, that will have to change at some point if the Wizards want to return to the playoffs.

Join the Debate! MLSsoccer.com's "ExtraTime Radio" is LIVE every day during the World Cup, 5-7 pm ET. Call in at 888-MLS-GOAL.

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Nagamura officially re-signs with Chivas USA

Paulo Nagamura made 73 appearances for Chivas between 2007-2009. (Getty Images)

CARSON, Calif. — First, there were rumors floating around that he might be leaving Mexican First Division side Tigres UANL to return to Los Angeles.

Then he showed up at practice last week and began training with the Red-and-White.

Now, he has re-signed with Chivas USA to make it official: Paulo Nagamura is back.

“I’m very happy to be here,” said Nagamura after watching Saturday evening’s Chivas USA match. “I had a great experience in Mexico, but I have a lot of friends here, and I have a good relationship with this club.”

The 27-year-old Brazilian inked a new contract with Chivas USA on Friday, which returns him to the squad after six months in Mexico. He had formerly been with the Red-and-White from 2007 to 2009, making 73 appearances for the team during that time.

Nagamura returns to a Chivas USA side that currently sits in last place in the Western Conference. The team is mired in a club-record six-game losing streak and has scored just five times in the last 540 minutes of play.

“I’m not the savior,” said Nagamura of Chivas USA’s current troubles. “We have to work on our mistakes and change our attitude. But we’re going to be all right. We have plenty of quality here in this locker room and, with a lot of work, we’re going to put a stop to this bad streak.”

Nagamura won’t be eligible to play until the transfer window opens on July 15. Assuming all goes well with his International Transfer Certificate, his first game back with Chivas USA could be the team’s Superliga match against Mexican First Division side Puebla FC on July 15.

Until then, he is happy to be back in training at The Home Depot Center and will spend the next two weeks getting to know his new teammates and new head coach Martín Vásquez.

“I’ve started to get my fitness back,” he said. “Hopefully, in these two weeks, I’ll get myself to 100 percent so I’m ready for when I can play on July 15. I’m going to be working with the team, so that when I step on the field, I know my teammates well.”

Join the Debate! MLSsoccer.com's "ExtraTime Radio" is LIVE every day during the World Cup, 5-7 pm ET. Call in at 888-MLS-GOAL.

Chivas hoping lightning strikes again vs. NYXavi signs Barca extension

Holland prefer substance over style vs. Slovakia

The Netherlands celebrate their second goal in a 2-1 defeat of Slovakia on Monday. (Getty Images)

The 2-1 scoreline would indicate that the Holland vs. Slovakia Round of 16 match was a real contest.

However, aside from Slovakia having a golden opportunity to equalize the match in the second half, the Dutch kept their Round of 16 opponents at bay in what was, for the most part, a comfortable victory.

“We want to play beautifully, but it doesn’t always work,” midfielder Mark van Bommel told reporters. “But the bottom line is we qualified for the quarterfinals. We know what we’re doing.”

After Arjen Robben put Holland ahead in the 18th minute, the Oranje were happy to sit back and manage the game without pushing for more opportunities. It was a Dutch team that emphasized substance over style.

“I think in all the matches we’ve played you can see that we’ve been able to control possession and deny our opponents any space,” Dutch manager Bert Van Marwijk said. “We simply want to win, and I don’t think we’re doing a bad job.”

"It was a pretty difficult match for us,” said goalscorer Arjen Robben, who made his first start of the tournament. “However, nobody will remember how we won this game. The only thing that counts is that we've won the match and that we progress to the next round. We have yet to show our real class.

It was inevitable that Slovakia, who were largely ineffective in attack, would have at least one great opportunity. That came in the 67th minute through a shot by Miroslav Stoch, which was followed up by a one-on-one opportunity that fell to forward Robert Vittek.

Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was up to the challenge in what was effectively the turning point of the match.

"That's no disgrace to us,” Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said. “Nevertheless, we had chances to score the equalizer throughout the game, but we never took them."

Slovakia got their goal on a dubious penalty kick scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time when the score was out of reach at 2-0. Vittek converted to become Slovakia’s all-time leading scorer.

"With a bit of luck we could have been in it," Weiss said. "The penalty will make us feel a little better on the flight home, but the one who advances is the better team … Over the whole game, the Netherlands were stronger.

Aside from the Stekelenburg saves midway through the second half, the only real drama for the Dutch came when forward Robin van Persie was visibly miffed at his head coach after being substituted late in the match.

"Robin was a bit disappointed that I replaced him,” Van Marwijk told Dutch media outlet NOS. “That's why he reacted like that. I don't blame him for his reaction, though, and I'm absolutely not angry."

Monday made for four matches and four wins for the Dutch with minimal effort and far from playing their best soccer. With Robben back and making a difference, Holland will feel good about their room for improvement in the week leading up to their quarterfinal against Brazil or Chile.

Join the Debate! MLSsoccer.com's "ExtraTime Radio" is LIVE every day during the World Cup, 5-7 pm ET. Call in at 888-MLS-GOAL.

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Good overall performance helps Dallas nab full points from Chivas USA

Dallas' Ferreira scored from the spot against Chivas USA to give his team a third straight win. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

FRISCO -- Exactly three weeks after a 2-0 win over San Jose at Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas returned to MLS action on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center against Chivas USA.

WATCH:FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Clearly the better side in the opening half of play, FCD capitalized off their many set piece opportunities when, right before the break, Chivas USA defender Ante Jazic accidentally knocked a David Ferreira corner kick into the back of his own keeper’s net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

One had to figure if FCD were going to show any rust or a lack of focus, then those issues would rear their head early in the match. However, after a rock-solid performance in the opening 45 minutes, Schellas Hyndman’s side clearly took a step back to begin the second half.

Despite being down by a goal, it was the Red-and-White who had the better run of play coming out of the locker room and, in the 59th minute, the home side drew things level with a nice goal from Osael Romero after a good cross from Mariano Trujillo.

So, once again, it looked like FCD were about to leave points on the table, something they have done fairly often in their first 11 games of 2010. However, Marvin Chavez, who got his first start of 2010 at right mid with Atiba Harris moving up top to replace Jeff Cunningham, did a great job of drawing a penalty kick after Jazic brought him down inside the right edge of the box.

Ferreira stepped up and drove home the resulting penalty kick, giving FCD a 2-1 lead. But still there was just that feeling that this one was far from over. To their credit, the Dallas back line weathered the storm and came away with a big three points on the road, FCD’s first win at the HDC against Chivas USA since 2008.

The lineup changes made by Hyndman clearly paid off. Harris was pretty active up top in the first half and had a couple of nice chances of scoring against one of his former teams. Chávez was also a big factor on the offensive end and he, too, had a near miss in the opening frame on a shot in the eighth minute that went wide right.

With Cunningham struggling to score and the debut of Colombian forward Milton Rodriguez still a few weeks away, putting Harris up top looks to be a viable option—at least for the time being. The big question with Chávez was his fitness, but the speedy Honduran lasted 70 minutes with no issue before coming off for Eric Avila.

The Chávez/Harris experiment worked out pretty well tonight. Also, Brek Shea, who had two goals in the win over the Earthquakes three weeks ago, was also pretty active on the offensive end. The midfielder had several great chances and delivered another solid performance.

Also worth noting was another solid game between the posts for starting goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. The veteran keeper came up with several big saves and, while there was some question about whether or not he was out of position on the goal by Romero, Hartman continues to play well and show why he remains the top choice in goal for his club.

FCD now return home to host Kansas City next Saturday. If the Chavez/Harris partnership is one that will continue to develop, then this pairing could help alleviate FCD’s scoring struggle that has plagued the team in the early stages of this season.

Join the Debate! MLSsoccer.com's "ExtraTime Radio" is LIVE every day during the World Cup, 5-7 pm ET. Call in at 888-MLS-GOAL.

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Historic Euro rivalry takes center stage

Fabio Capello's future at the helm of England could be defined by the match against Germany (Getty Images)

Another chapter in the rivalry between two European heavyweights will be written on Sunday as England take on Germany in the World Cup Round of 16 in Bloemfontein (10am ET).

England defeated West Germany in the 1966 final for its only World Cup triumph while Germany ousted the English on the road to hoisting the 1990 trophy. Their semifinal encounter in 1990 finished in a dramatic penalty kick shootout which saw Die Mannschaft advance. The two sides have faced each other a total of four times at the World Cup and there has never been a winner after regulation.

While Fabio Capello's English squad was widely considered disappointing during the group stage, Germany have been impressive despite a 1-0 loss to Serbia.

Joachim Loew's young German team, without injured Michael Ballack, proved it can be a contender in the tournament with some of the most spectacular attacking soccer of the tournament. The star of the second youngest team at the World Cup is 21-year-old creative midfielder Mesut Ozil, who scored the game-winner against Ghana in the Group D finale.

Meanwhile Wayne Rooney is yet to get on the board for the Three Lions in South Africa. The English superstar is expected to be partnered with Jermain Defoe up top in a lineup which Capello said will feature one change from the team that defeated Slovenia.

Germany will be without injured forward Cacau (abdominal injury) while influential midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been doubtful with an ankle problem. Veteran forward Miroslav Klose will be back from suspension to make up for Cacau's absence.

The pressure of the match-up came through in the press conferences leading up to the game. England made Capello available for eight questions in a press session that lasted around five minutes. Loew did not appear to the German pre-match press conference.

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Germany romp into World Cup quarters

Wayne Rooney attempts to convince the assistant referee that Frank Lampard's ball crossed the line (Getty Images)

With the help of a controversial call, Germany bounced England from the 2010 World Cup after a 4-1 drubbing in a Round of 16 match at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa on Sunday. The Germans will now face the winner of the Mexico vs. Argentina in a July 3 quarterfinal.

While it represented the worst loss ever for England in a World Cup, Germany maintained their streak of advancing to the quarterfinals of every World Cup since 1954.

In the first half Germany’s Miroslav Klose matched the legendary Pele for fourth place all-time with his 12th career World Cup goal and Lukas Podolski netted his team’s second. Although England would pull one back through a Matthew Upson header, a double by Germany’s Thomas Müller put the game out of reach in the second half.

However, the match result will forever be mired in controversy after England scored a first-half equalizer which the officiating crew did not validate. Frank Lampard lofted a shot which struck the underside of the crossbar in the 38th minute and replays showed the ball crossed the goal line by a foot. It would have represented a 2-2 equalizer.

The play was reminiscent of the goal by England’s Geoff Hurst against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final. That goal counted as England went on to win their only World Cup.

Joachim Loew’s men exhibited much of the same attacking soccer that left an impression during the group stage. Klose gave them a 20th minute lead when a long Manuel Neuer goal kick drifted over the heads of England’s central defenders. It bounced perfectly for Klose, who held off Upson before lunging to beat onrushing goalkeeper David James.

The Germans’ crisp passing game allowed them to weave through the English back line at will and another strong build-up led them to a second in the 32nd minute. Klose turned provider and put Müller through and into the box. Müller lifted a cross to Podolski, who followed the play on the left and rifled home a left-footed drive from a tight angle inside the far right post for his fifth career World Cup goal.

Facing a 2-0 deficit and with Germany dominating the proceedings, the English reacted and finally pulled one back in the 37th minute through an Upson header. The German goalkeeper was an accomplice on the goal as he went flailing after mistiming a Steven Gerrard cross from the right.

England thought they had equalized one minute later on the controversial play of the game when Lampard struck the underside of the crossbar. The English midfielder once again struck the crossbar seven minutes after the break on a free kick. That effort bounced away from goal.

The second half was an end-to-end affair but the Germans, who have the second youngest team in the 2010 World Cup, proved deadly on the counter.

After an England free kick on the German end in the 67th minute, Müller started a counter which he would later finish. His blast was deflected by James but still made its way inside the right post.

Three minutes later it was Mesut Ozil’s turn to guide the counter, running onto a long ball down the left flank. He beat Gareth Barry in a foot race before entering the box and serving Müller, who easily deposited the ball into the back of the net to round out the 4-1 final score line.

Scoring Summary:

GER – Klose 20’

GER – Podolski 32’

ENG – Upson 37’

GER – Muller 67’

GER – Muller 70’

Lineups (right to left):

Germany (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neueur – Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Arne Friedrich, Jerome Boateng – Bastian Schweinsteiger (83’ Kiessling), Sami Khedira – Thomas Müller (72’ Piotr Trochowski), Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski – Miroslav Klose (72’ Mario Gomez)

England (4-4-2): David James – Glen Johnson (87’ Wright-Phillips), John Terry, Matthew Upson, Ashley Cole – James Milner (64’ Joe Cole), Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard – Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe (72’ Emile Heskey)

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

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Houston's defensive miscues almost sink them against Colorado

Ngwenya buried an equalizer in his first start of the season. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

HOUSTON -- Coming off three consecutive losses, the Dynamo were hoping to turn things around after the World Cup break. Two defensive mistakes, however, cost Houston a much needed three points at home as they tied the Colorado Rapids 2-2 at Robertson Stadium.

WATCH:FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

“[There were] some positives and negatives,” said midfielder Danny Cruz. “We broke the losing streak, so that’s important; that being said, we wanted to come out with three points at home, but we take a point and look forward to Thursday against Toronto.”

Houston talked at the break about fixing its leaks in defense. On Saturday night, it was a poor turnover by Eddie Robinson and a ball deflecting into the net off of Lovel Palmer that doomed the Dynamo.

“No excuses, I let the team down tonight,” said a frank Robinson. “The effort that [my teammates] have put in these last two weeks to try to turn things around and for me to make a mistake like that, it’s like me punching them. It’s disappointing and mentally it’s tough.”

“We were doing fine until the huge mistake right before halftime,” said coach Dominic Kinnear. “We were well in control of the game and not giving up chances and keeping possession of the ball. It really turned the game around and it took us a while to recover.”

The defense has now given up eleven goals in its last four MLS games, a disturbing trend for a team that prides itself on a total team defensive effort. Houston is now tied with the expansion Philadelphia Union for conceding the second most goals in MLS.

While the mistakes have to be frustrating, there were some positives on the night. Danny Cruz continued to impress as he scored a goal and was unlucky not to have another as one shot somehow hit off both posts without crossing the line. Joseph Ngwenya also got his first start of the year and played well and converted a goal himself. Both players contributed to Houston controlling more of the ball than they had in their three consecutive losses.

“I thought we did some pretty good things tonight [offensively],” said Brad Davis. “We moved the ball pretty well.”

However, it was Houston’s ability to battle back to earn a draw despite conceding the second goal late that might be the biggest positive on the night.

“The way things are going, it’s good that we showed some fight and walked away with a point,” said midfielder Corey Ashe. “It’s a good point and we battled back.”

“We still fought to the end, got a good goal and got a point when we could have put our heads down,” added Davis. “If we can just eliminate the mistakes and make other team’s beat us, we will turn things around.”

Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or comments can be sent via email to dwaincapodice@gmail.com.

Join the Debate! MLSsoccer.com's "ExtraTime Radio" is LIVE every day during the World Cup, 5-7 pm ET. Call in at 888-MLS-GOAL.

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Bradley's future to be decided in coming weeks

Bob Bradley was cryptic about his future when addressing the media a day after the loss to Ghana (Getty Images)

IRENE, South Africa – A day after the US’ elimination from the World Cup, Bob Bradley wouldn’t elaborate on his future with the national team and said no decisions had been reached yet. But in his typical enigmatic fashion, he sure talked like this might be the end.

“The only real comment I would make, I’ve always enjoyed new challenges,” he said from US base camp on Sunday. “But I also from Day 1 have said and consider it a tremendous honor to coach the national team.”

Bradley said there have been no conversations yet with the US Soccer Federation, but that there would be “a process” in the coming weeks in which a decision would be made. The longtime former MLS coach has a contract that expires in December, but it’s doubtful US Soccer would wait that long to make a change if it decides to do so – and it's entirely possible Bradley could step down of his own accord.

USSF president Sunil Gulati was unavailable after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Ghana in Rustenburg that knocked the US out of the World Cup as he was on a plane to Cape Town with former President Bill Clinton for a summit on global affairs. But US Soccer told MLSsoccer.com that Gulati is expected to address the media back in Johannesburg on Monday morning.

“There’s always a process with any situation where both sides probably need time,” Bradley said, “and you go from there.”

But when asked about his future, and perhaps the possibility of taking a new coaching job – perhaps in Europe – Bradley was cryptically open-ended.

“I’ve enjoyed the opportunities that I’ve had along the way, the different challenges,” he said. “And so as I move forward, there will always be an open mind in that regard.”

In the short term, Bradley said, he’ll return home to Manhattan Beach, Calif., and go back to burying himself in soccer. He said he’ll continue to go to MLS games at the Home Depot Center, as usual, and spend some time with his wife.

Interestingly, he also added he’s already thinking about the next US fixture, a friendly with Brazil on Aug. 10 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

“When one game ends as a coach, you start thinking about the next one, believe it or not,” he said of that fixture.

We may know shortly whether Bradley will still be standing on the sidelines for that match.

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Poll: What is your favorite soccer-specific stadium in MLS?

A view from behind the goal at PPL Park. (Philadelphia Union)

What is your favorite soccer-specific stadium in MLS?online survey

PPL Park is certainly one of the most scenic stadiums in the United States, perched as it is on the banks of the Delaware River. And the Philadelphia Union fans know how to cheer on their boys.

But is it now the best place to catch MLS action?

Let us know what you think!

Henry poised for States moveColumbus set to celebrate 11 years at Crew Stadium

Nkufo, Swiss bow out with scoreless draw

Switzerland's Blaise Nkufo takes a tumble during a scorless draw against Honduras on Friday. (Christof Koepsel/Getty)

Nine days after they shocked the world against Spain, Switzerland limped out of the World Cup against on Honduras on Friday in Manguang.

Needing at least a two-goal win in their Group H finale to overcome a goal differential tiebreaker with Chile, the Swiss never found the back of the net against their CONCACAF foes and settled for a scoreless draw that eliminated them from reaching the round of 16.

The result was a far cry from how the Swiss started in South Africa, with a 1-0 win over Spain on June 16 that was arguably the biggest upset of the group stage.

But instead of building on that monumental win, the wheels fell off. They lost to Chile 1-0 in their second group matchup, and never found the final touch against a Honduras team most considered to be lucky to be in the World Cup at all.

For Honduras, the result was a positive ending to their first World Cup bid since their debut in 1982. Los Catrachos actually could have advanced with a decisive win over the Swiss and some help from Spain against the Chileans, but instead they battled for a respectable draw against a round of 16 World Cup qualifier from 2006.

All MLS eyes fell on Swiss forward Blaise Nkufo, who is now set to join Seattle Sounders FC when the MLS transfer window opens July 15. Nkufo threatened periodically but never seriously before he was subbed out for Swiss football mainstay Alexander Frei in the 69th minute.

Honduras’ best scoring chance came in the 71st minute, but Edgar Alvarez’ breakaway attempt was swatted wide by Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

Kansas City Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza failed to see any time for Honduras, while 34 year-old former MLS league MVP Amado Guevara also never got off the bench in what could have been his last match for Honduras in a major international competition.

LINEUPS

SWITZERLAND: Benaglio, Grichting, von Bergen, Ziegler, Lichtsteiner, Inler, Huggel (Shaqiri, 78’), Fernandes (Yakin, 45’), Barnetta, Nkufo (Frei, 69’), Derdiyok

HONDURAS: Valladares, Bernardez, Chavez, Figueroa, Sabillón, Thomas, Palacios, Núñez (Martinez, 67’), Alvarez, Suazo (Turcios, 87’), Palacios (Welcome, 78’)

Twitter heats up after Nkufo's Switzerland beat SpainPrimera Liga round-up

Suddenly surging United bullish about Crew trip

D.C. United's Stephen King and Clyde Simms have been essential to the team's recent rebirth. (Ned Dishman/Getty)

With the World Cup hiatus behind them, D.C. United are optimistic about continuing their summer revival in this weekend’s visit to Columbus for a meeting with the first-place Crew.

A newfound confidence now surges through a side that looked dead and buried a month ago, and United believe they can extend their six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions on Saturday night. A newfound confidence now surges through a side that looked dead and buried a month ago.

After giving their players a brief break upon return from Seattle two weeks ago, Curt Onalfo and his staff kept the squad busy with lively training sessions and a friendly match against El Salvador.

“We want to build off of what we’ve been doing here,” said Santino Quaranta on Wednesday. “We’re not far out of being into some contention here –we hit these next couple of games, we get a few points and we’re looking pretty good. There’s plenty of games left, we’re getting a lot of guys back [from injury]. There’s a lot of challenges for Curt to pick the [starting] 11, so we’re doing well.”

The past month has brought a transformation of mentality as a succession of victories, even those in friendlies, have cleared the mental funk that lingered over a team long stuck in the MLS basement.

“We’ve done a good job of staying positive. Of course there’s some days in there where the last thing you want to do is come in [to training] – I mean, you want to come in and train to get better, but after being 0-7, 0-8, it was tough for a little bit,” midfielder Clyde Simms said. “But guys are starting to believe in themselves and believe in each other, offensively and defensively.”

Quaranta has prospered since moving from midfield into a second striker’s role and many of his teammates have similarly benefited from a period of tactical and positional stability that was often lacking in the spring.

“We have worked a lot on our shape before we hit this little streak and I think that’s helped us a ton,” Simms said. “Teams are having a harder time breaking us down, we’re giving up less chances and now I feel like it’s gotten to the point where guys know where they’re supposed to be when the ball is in a certain spot on the field.”

Simms has crafted an effective central partnership with Stephen King since the latter’s arrival from Seattle. But in the Crew’s Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the duo have a different sort of challenge this weekend as United look to better the quality performance of their last trip to Ohio, a 1-1 draw on July 4, 2009.

“Yeah, he’s one of those players for Columbus who makes them go, for sure,” Simms said. “They’re a different team when he’s on the field and on top of his game. Last year we did a good job of shutting him down and we had a good result there because of it. We think he’s the key to their team and we’ll definitely have an eye on him the entire game.”

Columbus’ Argentinean maestro thrives in the space in front of opposing defenses and is given few defensive responsibilities, meaning that Simms and King will have to track him diligently in order to keep the United back line from being stretched by the wide running of Eddie Gaven and Robbie Rogers.

“They like to attack,” Quaranta said of the Crew. “Schelotto seems to run that team with Gaven and Rogers on the outside. They’re a talented team but if we go in with the right mentality, I feel like there’s three points there for sure.”

Columbus resume training, feel focused and reenergizedMessi - Rooney always welcome

Commentary: There's no "I" in USA

The US' penchant for comebacks and Hollywood endings has both created and taken advantage of a united team. (Getty Images)

PRETORIA, South Africa — In terms of sports and all the truisms, hyperbole, platitudes and clichés that help describe the action and scenes, somewhere along the continuum of “truth” lies a tiny sweet spot.

It’s somewhere to the left of all the breathless exaggeration pouring from the writers and announcers on one side, but somewhere to the right of the cynicism and negativity that can pour from the writers and announcers on the other side.

If we start talking about this notion of team chemistry and group accord, there is an element where the sweet spot of truth, the “keepin’ it real” factor may be even tinier.

On the one hand, I’ve always thought that team chemistry can be a tremendous influence on the success or failure of a team. On the other hand, the concept is so overused in the vernacular. It’s such a handy crutch for anything going wrong or a convenient refrain when things go right; in the absence of deeper analysis, when things go right it’s pretty easy to fly the flag of team bonds and not think about it past that. So, the true benefit of a harmonious camp becomes lost in the ceaseless din of it all.

From the athletes: oh, they tell us all the time that the locker room is tighter than a government budget, that everyone loves each other and so forth. But the truth is frequently something else, as a professional sports locker room is a ripe environment for cliques and personality clashes that lead to low-level disharmony, jealousy, a simmering apathy or much worse.

All this is to say, I think the United States truly has something special going. Strip away all the fluff and the fringe, and I really believe the spirit of the American camp here in South Africa, the driving force of esprit de corps, has been the difference between success and failure here.

(And let’s face it, the line between the two is razor-wire thin; if Landon Donovan doesn’t poke home that ball in stoppage time to punctuate such an amazing night, everything looks so very different today. Coaching changes and individual recriminations would be the order of the day, rather than pride and praise for the big heart in their collective engine.)

In a lot of ways, there’s no magical or mystical quality about it. If a coach selects the right guys and establishes the proper hierarchy of leadership, everything more or less takes care of itself. Without naming names, there are people out there who were under consideration who always seem to find the “I” in “team,” and Bob Bradley took some lumps for not inviting them. Well, look how swell that’s working out now.

You know what they say about how a couple rotten apples spoil the whole bunch. Or, sometimes, the entire camp could be wrought with self-centered or just plain dunderheaded attitudes. Do we need to look any further than the French camp, which came apart cartoonishly—truly, it’s like Wile E Coyote driving an Acme motorcycle over the cliff there—to see what happens when the blend is corrupt?

It’s not always easy to achieve the balance, to arrive at a place where the players truly care for one another, at a place where they are finding that little extra push of energy, that little bit of enhanced effort simply because they don’t want to let down the guy next to them.

Here in South Africa, the US team is rather isolated. It’s a much different World Cup experience from 2006, when the team base was smack in the middle of Hamburg, a truly beautiful city with a relaxed-but-active feel. Here, location and security concerns mean team members never really venture beyond their walled lodge unless they ride out on the team bus. I’ve asked several, and they all say basically the same thing: They are here for a reason and, besides, the set-up ain’t bad at all.

It’s a lot like the setup in 1998. But then the players complained; they didn’t feel like they were part of the World Cup.

The point is, when things go right, when you like the guys you’re around, it doesn’t matter where you are. Similarly, when things are all askew, the setup is just as irrelevant. You’re not going to have a good time, no matter what, and the effort surely suffers.

Based on the way the three US results have gone here, there is no other conclusion to reach but this: The well-stitched team accord is being summoned to tremendous use.

The team fell behind against England after just four minutes. It must have been an incredibly deflating moment; all the preparation, all the hopes, all the daydreaming could have started washing away right there on the Rustenburg field. But the resolve was steadfast, the effort improved, the goal was found (even if it was a Robert Green gift) and the beachhead had been established at World Cup 2010.

The deficit was doubled in Johannesburg, where Solvenia took a 2-0 lead. That really is a big mountain against a side that was tactically sound, a side driving forward on its own tremendous sense of self belief.

It would have been easy at that point for a team of less resolve, a team less committed to one another and to the cause, to start pointing fingers or begin lashing out at manager Bob Bradley. After all, Bradley’s decision to play Oguchi Onyewu backfired tremendously. In retrospect, it really was something close to delusional to believe that a man without a minute of truly competitive soccer for eight months (no, friendlies don’t count) could step into the World Cup breach successfully. And the choice to deploy Jose Torres against Slovenia was about as useful as a broken clock.

But adjustments were made. Steve Cherundolo, Jozy Altidore and Landon Donovan drove the comeback. Michael Bradley manufactured the first of two “Where were you when …” moments for the US team here and, well, on they went.

The resolve remained ferocious and undeterred against Algeria in Pretoria on Wednesday. Again, it’s easier to keep fighting and keep believing when you have a genuine affection for the teammates and support staff around you. (Neither did it hurt to have tremendous support in the stands, as players and coaches mentioned afterward. It’s a long way and it cost a pretty penny to get here, and the players, wealthy by average American standards, seem to truly appreciate that.)

The fans are appreciating them back. They love living in the United States of Donovan at the moment. They welled up along with the team when Donovan’s driving run forward in stoppage time found the ball and the magic moment.

A tremendous team spirit will never be enough by itself. But all the evidence here suggests we would already be talking about Brazil 2014 if not for the harmonious contributions of a group in such hale solidarity.

Mourinho coy on transfersBradley: We had a really good chance to win

Dunivant happy for LA Galaxy teammate Donovan

Landon Donovan has defied the critics who said he wouldn't mature or improve in MLS. (Stuart Franklin/Getty)

Landon Donovan's stunning stoppage-time goal against Algeria, a goal that sent the US team through to the knock-out rounds and the US soccer nation into delirium, was a moment made possible by a decade of growth and perseverance.

One year Donovan was branded a phenom, winning the Golden Ball at the 1999 U-17 World Cup. The next he was a wash-out, failing to win a regular spot with German power Bayer Leverkusen. One World Cup he was the future of the game, the best young player in the tournament. The next he was one of the event's biggest disappointments, the symbol of a US team that went home winless and dispirited.

When Donovan cut his European adventure short and landed in MLS with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001, the naysayers were loud and unapologetic. Playing in MLS would "stunt his growth." He'd find a comfort level in a league that wouldn't challenge him. He wouldn't learn how to win, how to lead, how to even compete. The nation's best young talent since Claudio Reyna was "taking the easy way out," and this would surely doom the country to third-rate status in perpetuity.

Four years later - after another brief and disappointing stint with Leverkusen - Donovan came home again. The criticism and mockery? It only got louder.

Today, those criticisms and seem impossibly short-sighted and just plain wrong. Donovan rose to the occasion on Wednesday, and after all the shouting and celebrating was done, it's clear that MLS was right there with him.

Donovan has been the face of the league for more or less his entire professional career. He learned how to win and how to lead, taking titles with both the Quakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy. He's been a key player and a leader on US teams that have won the CONCACAF Hexagonal twice on the trot. He scored two of the biggest goals in US history along the way - against Mexico in the World Cup Round of 16 in 2002, and against Brazil in the Confederations Cup final last summer - and set up countless others.

The folks who wrote Donovan off and derided him for coming back to the States to play his club ball missed the mark. Being a part of our thing here, this nascent league that has struggled for recognition and respect in both the US sports media and the world soccer media, strengthened Donovan and gave him a willingness to accept responsibility for something bigger than himself. It's the ultimate sign of leadership, the ultimate sign of growth for any soccer player.

"(To) have the chance … to come back in the prime of your career, there’s a special feeling when you play on a team where you know people are really counting on you. Your character, your personality is really at the core of how that team does,” US coach Bob Bradley said Wednesday. “Some players play their whole careers and never experience that. When you have that, it takes time to get a feel for what that’s all about. But over these years, both on and off the field, I think the fact that he’s grown and matured and accepted these types of challenges has made a huge difference.”

There are surely more challenges to come. Sometime in the next month he'll return to his league-leading Galaxy and try to get them their first MLS Cup since 2005. Over the next four years, the heart of the US team will transition to a younger generation, with the likes of Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Jozy Altidore and others taking the mantle.

Donovan's challenge, then, will be to help guide his teammates and avoid, in 2014, the pitfalls of 2006. And, of course, there might be the challenge of another stop with in Europe along the way.

Wherever the story goes from here, though, Donovan's choice to make his home in the States was the right one. The growth and perseverance of MLS - not only in size and recognition, but in the passion of its fans and players - has mirrored Donovan's own.

On Wednesday, they both earned the right to celebrate.

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KC's Power & Light district lit up by US fans

Landon Donovan has defied the critics who said he wouldn't mature or improve in MLS. (Stuart Franklin/Getty)

Landon Donovan's stunning stoppage-time goal against Algeria, a goal that sent the US team through to the knock-out rounds and the US soccer nation into delirium, was a moment made possible by a decade of growth and perseverance.

One year Donovan was branded a phenom, winning the Golden Ball at the 1999 U-17 World Cup. The next he was a wash-out, failing to win a regular spot with German power Bayer Leverkusen. One World Cup he was the future of the game, the best young player in the tournament. The next he was one of the event's biggest disappointments, the symbol of a US team that went home winless and dispirited.

When Donovan cut his European adventure short and landed in MLS with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001, the naysayers were loud and unapologetic. Playing in MLS would "stunt his growth." He'd find a comfort level in a league that wouldn't challenge him. He wouldn't learn how to win, how to lead, how to even compete. The nation's best young talent since Claudio Reyna was "taking the easy way out," and this would surely doom the country to third-rate status in perpetuity.

Four years later - after another brief and disappointing stint with Leverkusen - Donovan came home again. The criticism and mockery? It only got louder.

Today, those criticisms and seem impossibly short-sighted and just plain wrong. Donovan rose to the occasion on Wednesday, and after all the shouting and celebrating was done, it's clear that MLS was right there with him.

Donovan has been the face of the league for more or less his entire professional career. He learned how to win and how to lead, taking titles with both the Quakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy. He's been a key player and a leader on US teams that have won the CONCACAF Hexagonal twice on the trot. He scored two of the biggest goals in US history along the way - against Mexico in the World Cup Round of 16 in 2002, and against Brazil in the Confederations Cup final last summer - and set up countless others.

The folks who wrote Donovan off and derided him for coming back to the States to play his club ball missed the mark. Being a part of our thing here, this nascent league that has struggled for recognition and respect in both the US sports media and the world soccer media, strengthened Donovan and gave him a willingness to accept responsibility for something bigger than himself. It's the ultimate sign of leadership, the ultimate sign of growth for any soccer player.

"(To) have the chance … to come back in the prime of your career, there’s a special feeling when you play on a team where you know people are really counting on you. Your character, your personality is really at the core of how that team does,” US coach Bob Bradley said Wednesday. “Some players play their whole careers and never experience that. When you have that, it takes time to get a feel for what that’s all about. But over these years, both on and off the field, I think the fact that he’s grown and matured and accepted these types of challenges has made a huge difference.”

There are surely more challenges to come. Sometime in the next month he'll return to his league-leading Galaxy and try to get them their first MLS Cup since 2005. Over the next four years, the heart of the US team will transition to a younger generation, with the likes of Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Jozy Altidore and others taking the mantle.

Donovan's challenge, then, will be to help guide his teammates and avoid, in 2014, the pitfalls of 2006. And, of course, there might be the challenge of another stop with in Europe along the way.

Wherever the story goes from here, though, Donovan's choice to make his home in the States was the right one. The growth and perseverance of MLS - not only in size and recognition, but in the passion of its fans and players - has mirrored Donovan's own.

On Wednesday, they both earned the right to celebrate.

Baraja linked with Prem trioDonovan's rise proves MLS doubters wrong

Donovan's rise proves MLS doubters wrong

Landon Donovan has defied the critics who said he wouldn't mature or improve in MLS. (Stuart Franklin/Getty)

Landon Donovan's stunning stoppage-time goal against Algeria, a goal that sent the US team through to the knock-out rounds and the US soccer nation into delirium, was a moment made possible by a decade of growth and perseverance.

One year Donovan was branded a phenom, winning the Golden Ball at the 1999 U-17 World Cup. The next he was a wash-out, failing to win a regular spot with German power Bayer Leverkusen. One World Cup he was the future of the game, the best young player in the tournament. The next he was one of the event's biggest disappointments, the symbol of a US team that went home winless and dispirited.

When Donovan cut his European adventure short and landed in MLS with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001, the naysayers were loud and unapologetic. Playing in MLS would "stunt his growth." He'd find a comfort level in a league that wouldn't challenge him. He wouldn't learn how to win, how to lead, how to even compete. The nation's best young talent since Claudio Reyna was "taking the easy way out," and this would surely doom the country to third-rate status in perpetuity.

Four years later - after another brief and disappointing stint with Leverkusen - Donovan came home again. The criticism and mockery? It only got louder.

Today, those criticisms and seem impossibly short-sighted and just plain wrong. Donovan rose to the occasion on Wednesday, and after all the shouting and celebrating was done, it's clear that MLS was right there with him.

Donovan has been the face of the league for more or less his entire professional career. He learned how to win and how to lead, taking titles with both the Quakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy. He's been a key player and a leader on US teams that have won the CONCACAF Hexagonal twice on the trot. He scored two of the biggest goals in US history along the way - against Mexico in the World Cup Round of 16 in 2002, and against Brazil in the Confederations Cup final last summer - and set up countless others.

The folks who wrote Donovan off and derided him for coming back to the States to play his club ball missed the mark. Being a part of our thing here, this nascent league that has struggled for recognition and respect in both the US sports media and the world soccer media, strengthened Donovan and gave him a willingness to accept responsibility for something bigger than himself. It's the ultimate sign of leadership, the ultimate sign of growth for any soccer player.

"(To) have the chance … to come back in the prime of your career, there’s a special feeling when you play on a team where you know people are really counting on you. Your character, your personality is really at the core of how that team does,” US coach Bob Bradley said Wednesday. “Some players play their whole careers and never experience that. When you have that, it takes time to get a feel for what that’s all about. But over these years, both on and off the field, I think the fact that he’s grown and matured and accepted these types of challenges has made a huge difference.”

There are surely more challenges to come. Sometime in the next month he'll return to his league-leading Galaxy and try to get them their first MLS Cup since 2005. Over the next four years, the heart of the US team will transition to a younger generation, with the likes of Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Jozy Altidore and others taking the mantle.

Donovan's challenge, then, will be to help guide his teammates and avoid, in 2014, the pitfalls of 2006. And, of course, there might be the challenge of another stop with in Europe along the way.

Wherever the story goes from here, though, Donovan's choice to make his home in the States was the right one. The growth and perseverance of MLS - not only in size and recognition, but in the passion of its fans and players - has mirrored Donovan's own.

On Wednesday, they both earned the right to celebrate.

Henry poised for States moveThe Soap Box: LA's more than just Donovan and Buddle

Chivas back in training, eager to return to pitch

''We’re very anxious to be on the field,'' Chivas defender Mariano Trujillo said. (Getty Images)

CARSON, Calif. — After two weeks off to celebrate the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the MLS season resumes this Saturday with a crucial match for Chivas USA. In the midst of a five-game losing streak, the Red-and-White are eager to get back to league action and pull themselves out of last place in the Western Conference.

The Goats returned to full training on Monday morning after four days off, and they are excited to be back in the swing of things.

“Everybody came back feeling good,” Chivas USA head coach Martín Vásquez said after Tuesday’s training session. “We all feel that those four days were excellent – just to get away and come back with energy and prepare for Saturday. The work was good yesterday and today.”

The Goats have earned just ten points from twelve games so far this season, and are currently tied for last in the Western Conference in the goals-scored column.

“We’re very anxious to be on the field and to turn this thing around,” defender Mariano Trujillo said. “After four days, we had time to think and reevaluate ourselves. We are clear on the mistakes that we’ve made, and we want to resolve those as soon as we can.”

Trujillo and company have been the victim of a few last-minute lapses in recent matches, conceding goals in the final moments of play in three of the team’s last four games. The Goats are squarely focused on improving their concentration and fixing any bad habits they may have developed in the first third of the season.

“We’re focused in our skills right now; we’re not thinking about Dallas,” Trujillo said. “They’re a good team, but in our recent games, we didn’t get any points because of our own mistakes. We’re just trying to fix those mistakes and be sharp with the ball. If we’re able to do that, we’re going to have a lot of chances to win games.”

Chivas USA kicks off against Dallas on Saturday evening at 7:30pm PT at The Home Depot Center.

Join the Debate! MLSsoccer.com's "ExtraTime Radio" is LIVE every day during the World Cup, 5-7 pm ET. Call in at 888-MLS-GOAL.

Chivas hoping lightning strikes again vs. NYHleb set for Barca return

Dynamo focus on back line during WC break

''The team has high standards, and we are our own hardest critics,'' Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell said. (Getty Images)

HOUSTON — If the Houston Dynamo have any hope of turning around their 2010 season, they know their defense will need to improve dramatically.

“We haven’t been good,” defender Bobby Boswell said. “The team has high standards, and we are our own hardest critics. We know it’s not good enough. Sometimes things don’t go your way, and sometimes we’ve had that happen this year, but you can’t say that you have to go out and get it done.”

To say that the team hasn’t been good defensively might be a bit of an understatement. There are currently only three teams that have conceded more goals this year than Houston, and none in the Western Conference. Though Houston have played an extra game or two than some of their counterparts, they are much closer to the bottom of the league in goals-against as opposed to near the top where the team has been stationed in years prior.

“Our goals-against is nowhere close to where we like it,” head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “It’s not just the defense, it is team defense. [Those] guys up front and in the middle, we need to be harder to play against. Also I think possession [is important as] it is the best defense you can have if you hold on to the ball it makes it easier.”

Houston have also had to deal with some injuries defensively in the first half of the season. Eddie Robinson and Mike Chabala have both missed games, but perhaps the biggest injury to the team’s overall ability to defend has been that to forward Brian Ching. Ching’s ability to hold up the ball and his work ethic defensively has been a large part of Houston’s success in the past.

“We can make all the excuses we want, but bottom line is that there is not a guy out there who hasn’t played with other guys in the last two years,” Robinson said. “We have no excuses. Yeah [injuries are] difficult, but we are professionals. I think for us it is time to throw excuses out the window and get back to basics.”

Getting back to the basics includes a lot of different things from the Dynamo.

“It’s a total team effort,” Ching said. “The forwards [need to do better] holding the ball, to the midfielders not giving the other team time and space on the ball, and our defenders not making silly mistakes.”

The break came at a perfect time for the struggling Houston Dynamo defense. The team has has used the time off to get healthy, regroup, and hopefully they can now focus on turning the ship around.

“That’s part of the good thing about the break, when things aren’t going your way, it’s not bad to have a break to get your head and body right,” noted Boswell. “But we are looking forward to getting back on the field to try to get this thing going in our favor and it’s good we have a home game to do it.”

Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or Comments can be sent via email to dwaincapodice@gmail.com.

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5 questions for the Fire, including: Playoffs?

Has the Chicago Fire's Wilman Conde's form dipped in recent games? (Getty Images)

Numerous questions surround the Fire as they head back into MLS action this Sunday at New England. Here are five that stick out.

What’s the deal with Wilman Conde?

Big things were expected of Wilman Conde this year. The Fire’s hulking center back had just come off a 2009 that saw him anchor the Chicago back line, start in the All-Star game, and nab a spot on the MLS Best XI. At age 27, there was no reason to suspect the Colombian defender’s play would drop off in 2010.

But, after a strong enough start to the season, Conde’s performance has slipped.

The gregarious defender has been at fault for several goals in recent matches and isn’t submitting the stellar defensive work the Toyota Park crowd has become accustomed to.

One thing that might be contributing to Conde’s on field struggles is his contract situation off of it. He is in the final year of his MLS deal and could be feeling a heightened amount of pressure as he looks to impress the Fire front office – and other potential suitors – as his current pact winds down.

Of course, whether or not his contract situation is affecting his on field performance is pure speculation. One thing that remains rooted in fact: The Fire’s desire to see the Wilman of 2009 return to Toyota Park. Lord knows they could use him.

New Kids on the Block?

It’s no secret that Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos is craving some roster reinforcements.

Time and time again, the Fire’s head man has been quoted as saying that he feels the need to “strengthen the team” and, with the transfer window reopening in July, the time to do so is drawing ever nearer.

With plenty of European players expressing interest in coming to MLS (and Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s contract at Mexican club Veracruz expiring), don’t be surprised if de los Cobos and technical director Frank Klopas bring in a big name this summer to help with the playoff push.

Will we ever see John Thorrington?

The 30-year-old central midfielder tore a muscle in his quad in preseason training and has yet to see the field – or make the gameday roster – for a match this season.

Thorrington has experienced numerous setbacks after originally hoping to make his season debut on April 10 (yes, April 10 – almost two and a half months ago) and has yet to resume full training with the team.

With no timetable set for a return and his work limited to off the field activities, it’s not unreasonable to think that Thorrington might not see the field this year. If he were to miss the entire season, Thorrington – an incredibly passionate player – would undoubtedly be very disappointed.

Home sweet home?

One of the major disappointments from the Fire’s 2009 season was the home form. The team consistently dropped points late in games at Toyota Park, stumbling along to the league’s third worst home record.

The Fire hoped to turn around the home record in 2010. So far, they haven’t.

Chicago is 1-1-4 in league play at Toyota Park this season. But more disappointing than that record is how the Fire has gotten there. Chicago has surrendered late goals in three of their six home matches (including the lone loss) and the team absolutely must improve their home form if they hope to better their 2-3-6 record.

Will the Fire make the playoffs?

Yes, it’s still early. But, despite the fact that there are 19 regular season games remaining, the question has to be brought up: Will the Fire, the same club that has qualified for the postseason 11 times in its 12 year history, make the playoffs?

Over the course of the first 11 league games of 2010, the team hasn’t exactly put itself in a great spot. With 12 points on the year, the Fire are four points behind the current “last team in.” Chicago will need to string together positive results in a manner that they haven’t so far this season if they want to be playing in November when – as Real Salt Lake proved last season – anything can happen.

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England squeak past Slovenia and into 2nd round; Slovenia out.

Defoe's first half goal was enough to see England past Slovenia and through to the second round. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

With a goal from Jermain Defoe, England were able to top Slovenia 1-0 and managed to grab three points to qualify for the second round of the World Cup, preventing what could have been a flop of a tournament for The Three Lions.

Defoe, who usually scores after coming off the bench, grabbed just his second goal as a starter. However, the lack of understanding between Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the midfield continues to be evident and Wayne Rooney has yet to find the goal.

Slovenia, on the other hand, are out of the World Cup after the US beat Algeria in the other Group C game held simultaneously.

In the first half, it would be Slovenia who would threaten first. In the 7th minute, Valter Birsa ran down the right flank and cut in, unleashing a relatively weak shot that England keeper David James handled without a problem.

The next 16 minutes saw only two attempts on target, both long-range effots by England that failed to trouble Slovenia goalie Samir Handanovic. But it essentially all England from there on out.

The first goal of the match would come in the 23rd minute, when James Milner sent a cross in to Jermain Defoe from the right flank. Defoe, who had made a nice diagonal run to sneak in past the Slovene defenders, put a foot on the ball and sent the shot straight to Handanovic, who couldn’t react fast enough and saw the ball deflect off his hands and into the top netting.

At the half-hour mark, Defoe once again troubled Slovenia’s backline. After receiving a pass from Steven Gerrard at the top of the box, Defoe took a couple of steps and tried at the goal. Handanovic made a diving save, but the ball ended up at Rooney’s feet, who passed to Gerrard. The Liverpool midfielder tried at goal himself, but Handanovic got a hand on it and recovered in time to trap the goal-creeping ball.

In the second half, not 30 seconds had passed when England midfielder Frank Lampard sent a headed pass to Defoe, who whiffed in front of goal and saw the ball go wide of the target.

England would go on to have two clear chances on goal within a span of 60 seconds. In the 58th minute, John Terry headed a corner, only to be denied by Handanovic on the line. Then, just a minute later, Lampard chipped a pass over the defense and onto Rooney, who turned and whipped a shot straight onto the post.

In the 68’ second half, Slovenia had their best chances of the match. First, Milivoje Novakovic received a headed pass in the box and let loose a shot that was blocked by a sliding Terry. The rebound ended up at Zlatko Dedic’s feet, but his effort was blocked by right back Glen Johnson. Finally, Birsa had a try at goal, but his shot went wide of the target.

Just near the end of the second half, a Slovenia attack almost ended with dreadful consequences for England had it not been for some key defensive stops. Tim Matavz laid off a backheel pass to Dedic, who’s shot was blocked by Johnson. The rebound ended up back at Matavz’s feet, but England center back Matthew Upson slid just in time to clear the ball out of the danger zone and keep England in the World Cup.

With the win, England finished second in Group C and will now face the winner of Group D to be decided later today.

Scoring Summary:

ENG -- Defoe, 23’

Lineups:

Slovenia -- Handanovic; Jokic, Cesar, Suler, Brecko; Kirm (Matavz, 79’), Radosavljevic, Koren, Birsa; Novakovic, Ljubijankic (Dedic, 62’)

England -- James; A. Cole, Upson, Terry, Johnson; Gerrard, Barry, Lampard, Milner; Rooney (J. Cole, 72’), Defoe (Heskey, 86’)

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Aguirre wants El Tri to bring a winning attitude to the field, not just the locker room

Which Mexican team will show up against Argentina in the Round of 16? (Getty Images)

Mexico further proved that they are the tale of two opposites, the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, of the world of soccer.

First, El Tri pulled off a draw in a game they arguably should’ve won against South Africa; but it was the tournament opener and, understandably, the visitors were nervous. Then, in a must win game against France, Mexico put on an amazing performance, prompting people to rave about how great the team looked and how this would be the year that Mexico would get to that ever-just-out-of-reach fifth game.

Against Uruguay on Tuesday, everyone expected the speedy, sharp, organized and determined Tri that showed up against Les Blues; that, however, was not the case. Instead, what we got was the complete opposite. We got the Mexican side that struggled against the likes of Jamaica and El Salvador in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

“We maybe lacked some attitude, a desire to really win the game, not just say that in the dressing room,” said Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre after 1-0 loss to Uruguay.

Right on track, Señor Aguirre. Mexico completely lacked the desire to win, perhaps a little complacent and too secure that France or South Africa wouldn’t win in emphatic fashion to displace them from the Group A No. 2 slot.

Furthermore, the clamor of fans and Monday morning gaffers asking for the inclusion of Javier “Chicharito” Hernández—the only forward to score on the run of play—and a keeper other than Óscar Pérez now resonate louder than ever.

Nonetheless, El Tri managed to get into the second round, and that’s all that should matter now, as they are given new life and a fresh start.

Thus, in five days time, Mexico will seek revenge against the rivals that handed them the heart crushing elimination in the Germany 2006 Round of 16. The demands to put “Chicharito” in will subside and the popular “¡Sí se puede!” battle cry will rise.

So amidst all the discontent and frustrations from the followers, one ray of hope remains: The Mexico side that always shows up when they play against big name opponents, such as the team that has beaten Brazil, or most recently the side that dominated England despite the loss. It's the same squad that went toe-to-toe with Holland in a defeat, and the eleven that beat Italy and France in June.

And now El Tri will have the chance to add Argentina’s name to that list.

“We no longer have any kind of inferiority complex or fears of that sort,” defender Francisco Rodríguez told FIFA.com on Monday. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Argentina, Brazil or Germany—we’ll aim to play at the same high level.”

So, for all Mexico fans and followers, it will hopefully be the organized and effective Tri, the fearless one that Rodríguez talked about, that show up on the upcoming fateful night in Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium.

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Jeremiah White on trial at Chicago Fire

Jeremiah White is currently trying out with the Chicago Fire. (Getty Images)

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Constantly looking for new ways to bolster his roster, Fire technical director Frank Klopas has brought another high-profile trialist into the Fire’s camp this week.

The newest arrival to Toyota Park’s training field is 28-year-old American attacking midfielder Jeremiah White. White, who last played with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq, bounced around Europe for most his career, spending the most time – and finding the most success – at Danish club AGF Aarhus.

“He was playing over in Denmark for years,” Klopas said after Tuesday’s training session. “[He's] just a guy that’s got a lot of pace and can play different positions.

"Everybody brings something different, but I think we’re looking at some different options and just got to see how they fit in. There are some good quality players here.”

White, who made a lone appearance with the U.S. national team in January 2008, joins three other trialists in Chicago.

French midfielder Malaury Martin, Mexican defender Victor Perales and a Serbian player have trained with the club for the past week.

Cameroonian midfielder Mba Adek – who was brought in with Martin, Perales and the Serb – was not on the training field Tuesday.

Klopas said that he’d like to see all of the players train for two weeks before making a final evaluation.

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FC Dallas Notebook: State of the team ahead of Chivas USA

Cunningham has struggled to score thus far, but he's feeling refreshed after the break. (Layne Murdoch/Getty Images)

FRISCO, Texas -- Now that the nearly three weeks between matches is almost over, FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman and his team are back to normal preparations with a Saturday match against Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center looming.

FCD will play a final tune-up as they face off against against Dallas-area PDL side DFW Tornados on Tuesday morning at Pizza Hut Park.

“It’s going to be the starters tomorrow and then the reserves in the second half,” said Hyndman after training on Monday. “We want to get [the starters] some outside competition. We’ve gotten the reserves a lot of outside competition and want to continue to give them some games. Now we’ve got to get our starters some games. Before you know it, we’ll be in [Carson] playing.”

Hyndman’s club is now injury free, a trend he hopes to see continue.

“Injuries are a funny thing because once you talk about being injury free, it always seems like something happens,” the FCD coach said. “Right now, we’re pretty happy with the level of fitness, the injuries and players recovering. What we need to do now is pick up again on focus.”

Speaking of Trialists…

Last week, Dallas had Peter Philipakos in camp. The American-born midfielder, who played at St. John’s and most recently played abroad in Greece, is no longer on trial with the club, according to Hyndman.

Plans to bring in another Brazilian on trial, the last of a group of three players FCD Technical Director Barry Gorman recommended during a recent trip to South America, have hit a snag.

“There’s a little bit of an issue, so we’re waiting to see if that gets resolved. A lot of the time, players in Brazil aren’t owned by the club,” Hyndman said, “they’re owned by other people. So we’re trying to get everyone in one meeting room, which hasn’t been easy with the World Cup.”

About two weeks ago, FCD had Brazilian right back Jackson in on trial. He played in a friendly against the West Texas United Sockers but was not offered a roster spot and returned to South America early last week.

Returning to Work

After the league-wide World Cup break from June 9-14, Hyndman and his team returned to practice last week. Although the team was given last weekend off, things are now back to normal as FCD prepare for their first match since a 2-0 win over San Jose on June 5.

WATCH:MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: DAL 2, SJ 0

“We took about five days off, which was good, and trained last week. Now, we’re focusing for the league to start up again,” Hyndman said. “I think everybody is pretty good. We did a fitness test on Friday and I was happy to see everybody has improved. Obviously, we’re getting something out of training.”

One player who looks to be especially sharp after the break is top scorer Jeff Cunningham. Although the striker leads Dallas with four goals, he has struggled for much of the first third of the 2010 campaign.

“Absolutely, I think the break helps all of us but I think for Jeff, it was, ‘Let me get away, clear my head and get rid of bad karma to start fresh.’ He’s really come back with a good attitude and work ethic,” Hyndman said.

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World Cup Preview: Group A, Final Matchday

Group A final matchday games could see France ousted. (Getty Images)

What: Mexico vs. Uruguay

When: Tuesday, June 22, 9:30 am ET

Where: Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg

TV: ESPN, Univisión

Mexico are coming off of an impressive 2-0 win against a France in shambles, while Uruguay thrashed South Africa 3-0. Tied at four points, a draw would see both sides through to the next round, with Uruguay in slot 1 and Mexico in slot 2. However, it is in each team’s interest to win and to qualify as No. 1 so as to not face Group B favorites Argentina in the next round.

Mexico

Against France, Mexico showed the quality of soccer that they are able to play when everything clicks. El Tri’s organization on the pitch completely shut down a troubled Les Bleus and their speed just killed the French backline.

Though the win gives them a good amount of momentum heading into their last group match against Uruguay, Mexico would do well to not underestimate their opponent.

“Maybe [Uruguay] don’t have the quality of a France, but of course they’re still dangerous,” said captain Rafael Márquez. “

To defeat La Celeste, Mexico will probably rely on striker Javier Hernández, who should have earned a spot in the starting lineup after his impressive goal against France. Also likely to play is Andrés Guardado—who has yet to start in a game—in place of Efraín Juárez after the latter earned his second yellow card of the tournament.

Uruguay

The two-time World Cup champs are also feeling quite confident after their defeat of South Africa, where star striker Diego Forlán scored two goals, and will look to carry that momentum into the Mexico match.

The last time La Celeste played Mexico, El Tri walked away with a 3-1 victory and third place honors in the 2007 Copa Ámerica. This time, however, the South Americans are sure that they’ll be able to beat Mexico.

“Mexico will be a difficult rival,” said defender Diego Godín. “They play good football, but we have the weapons to destroy their game and we know how to cause them damage.”

Uruguay, who have yet to allow a goal, will have playmaker Nicolás Lodeiro back in against Mexico after serving a one-game suspension for earning two yellow cards against France.

Final Analysis

Both sides should come out looking for the victory to ensure their qualification into the next round. Uruguay’s biggest threat is Forlán and their strength is their defense. Mexico have the tools to shut down Uruguay’s offense, and the weapons to break open La Celeste’s rear guard. In the end, El Tri’s speed and organization should undo Uruguay just as they undid France.

What: France vs. South Africa

When: Tuesday, June 22, 9:30 am ET

Where: Free State Stadium, Mangaung/Bloemfontein

TV: ESPN 2, Telefutura

France are essentially out of contention in 2010 following a stunning 2-0 loss to Mexico. Host nation South Africa put on a great performance in the tournament opener, but then fell 3-0 against Uruguay and now find themselves at the bottom of the group. Tied with one point, Les Bleus and Bafana Bafana each hope that a dramatic win, coupled with a huge loss by either Mexico or Uruguay, can see them into the next round.

France

News from the French camp just keeps getting worse and more ridiculous. First, striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home for insulting head coach Raymond Domenech during halftime of France’s loss to Mexico. Then, captain Patrice Evra had an argument with fitness coach Robert Duverne. To cap things off, the players refused to practice on Sunday as a show of support for Anelka, who reportedly retired from the international scene. Just moments after the demonstration, team director Jean-Louis Valentin resigned right on the spot. It’s a rough curse that one of the Irish.

“The indignation of the French is great,” said French Minister of Sports Roselyne Bachelot.

Nonetheless, the players have vowed to do everything in their powers to restore France’s honor—or at least whatever’s left of it—against South Africa on Tuesday.

With no Anelka around, Thierry Henry could start up top in possibly his last World Cup appearance.

South Africa

After pulling off a draw in the tournament opener, the Bafana Bafana thought they could upset Uruguay. La Celeste, however, proceeded to shut down the host nation.

“I think our performance against Mexico was pure adrenalin,” defender Matthew Booth told the BBC. “The second and third games are always games where players tend to show their true qualities. We don't have a lot of depth.”

South Africa will hope to get some more of that adrenaline pumping as they face an ailing France. The Bafana Bafana go into their last group matchup without versatile midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi (accumulation of yellow cards) and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune (red card against Uruguay), and with the pressure of likely becoming the first host nation not to reach the knockout rounds.

Final Analysis

The last thing the newly renamed Les Miserables could have afforded to do was miss a practice session. The disheartened French team will have their hands full with a South African side looking to take advantage of their apathetic foes, but a wounded beast can be the most dangerous kind. The two sides will want to put on a good show to keep whatever ounce of hope they have alive, but in the end both squads will say farewell to the World Cup.

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