Thursday Kicks: Le Toux, Buddle, Klinsmann & more

*While it’s not yet definite, it doesn’t like Philadelphia Union top scorer Sebastien Le Toux will play Saturday against the Galaxy.

*Meanwhile, Galaxy striker Edson Buddle’s seven goals in five games to start the season earned him MLS Player of the Month honors, the league announced today.

i-5f5a27e5fb9848c40fb8e017f24d1e6a-newu.s.jersey.jpg(AP Photo)

*The U.S. officially unveiled their World Cup jerseys today in New York. Will England be afraid, very afraid?

From the press release:

The new home jersey, which will debut when the U.S. takes on the Czech Republic in East Hartford, Conn. on May 25, is white with a tonal grey sash across the front of the right shoulder to the left side, and includes an obsidian blue round-neck collar.

Designed by Nike with the national culture and identity of the U.S. in mind, the jersey echoes the uniform worn by the U.S. Men’s National Team during the 1950 FIFA World Cup in which they defeated England 1-0 in one of the biggest upsets in the history of soccer.

*German soccer great and Orange County resident Juergen Klinsmann is joining ESPN as an analyst for the World Cup, the network announced today.

From the AP story:

A star striker for his country when it won the 1990 championship, Klinsmann also coached his nation to third place four years ago in Germany. He will be a studio analyst on ESPN and ABC for the tournament, which runs from June 11-July 11.

Also hired by ESPN are former South African national team player Shaun Bartlett, who played in the 1998 World Cup, and Robbie Mustoe, Middlesbrough’s longest-serving player.

They join previously announced analysts Ruud Gullit, John Harkes, Alexi Lalas, Efan Ekoku and Steve McManaman.

Klinsmann will appear on prematch, halftime and postgame shows from South Africa, and on “SportsCenter.”

i-1517a78776c17025c3c9fde3ab030d62-jurgen_kilnsmann_1392013c.jpgJurgen Klinsmann will likely be considerably less tense as a TV analyst than he was as a coach with Germany and Bayern Munich (AP Photo).

Klinsmann was the first player to score at least three goals in three World Cups, 1990, ’94 and ’98. He remains Germany’s second-leading World Cup goal scorer with 11.

“Very few people in the world possess the firsthand knowledge and experience of playing and coaching in a FIFA World Cup match, and Juergen is one of them,” said Jed Drake, ESPN executive producer for the World Cup.

Added Klinsmann: “I hope that I can give American viewers insight into the world’s greatest game. Living in the U.S. for more than 10 years, I’ve seen soccer grow incrementally, and I think ESPN’s coverage of this exciting World Cup will take it to a new level.”

*Finally, Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena will serve as an analyst for Fox when the network airs its first-ever soccer game May 22, the UEFA Champions League final, which is also being played for the first time on a Saturday, the network announced today.

Martin Tyler (play-by-play) and Andy Gray will call the game between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Kickoff is 11:30 a.m. and there will also be a one-hour pre-game show.

Eric Wynalda will also serve as an analyst with Arena.

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!