Friday Football: Death & the Galaxy

I'll post an interview with new Galaxy signing Dema Kovalenko Saturday morning.

But first:
*Mexico Coach Sven-Göran Eriksson today announced his squad to face Sweden Wednesday in Oakland:

goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (América), Oswaldo Sánchez (Santos Laguna), José de Jesús Corona (Tecos UAG)

defenders: Juan Carlos Valenzuela (América), Julio César Domínguez (Cruz Azul), Edgar Dueñas (Toluca), Leobardo López (Pachuca), Fausto Pinto (Cruz Azul), Diego Martínez (Monterrey), Israel Castro (UNAM), Edgar Castillo (América)

midfielders: Pável Pardo (América), Leandro Augusto (UNAM), Luis Pérez (Monterrey), Israel Martínez (San Luis), Lucas Ayala (Atlas), Antonio Naelson (Toluca), Marco Fabián (CD Guadalajara)

forwards: Alberto Medina (CD Guadalajara), Vicente Matias Vuoso (Santos Laguna), Carlos Ochoa (CD Guadalajara), Nestor Calderón (Toluca), César Villaluz (Cruz Azul)

*Galaxy goalkeeper Charles Alamo has retired before his professional career really began after suffering two serious MCL injuries within a year. He played one reserve game for the team and will return to graduate school.

*Former Galaxy midfielder Quavas Kirk, not retained by D.C. United, will reportedly begin a trial with the Seattle Sounders.

*The club has also finalized a Feb. 12 preseason friendly against the Houston Dynamo in Texas.

*Finally, here's a contender for soccer story of the week from the Associated Press:

LONDON - An English amateur soccer team mourning the death of one of its greatest players discovered an important error in the tributes by the club and local press to the 86-year-old man -- he's still alive.

Tommy Farrer had the rare distinction of reading his own obituary as a former "legend"
with northern amateur side Bishop Auckland FC.

The mistake came to light when an official of the club, which held a solemn minute of
silence before a match last week, called Farrer's wife to offer condolences.

A surprised Gladys Farrer said her husband had indeed departed -- but only for a few
minutes to buy a newspaper and would be back soon if the official wanted to talk to
him.

Farrer, a former England amateur who played in three Wembley finals, said in Friday
editions of the Northern Echo: "We are not upset, but we did think it was a bit of a joke
at first."

Farrer said he wants to play down the mistake, saying it was time to "let it
die."