Friday Football: Waiting for the weekend

It’s a big weekend.

The EPL cranks up (best game is 8 a.m. Sunday when Liverpool hosts Arsenal on Fox Soccer Channel). New-look Chivas USA is at home in Carson against the Seattle Sounders Saturday (8 p.m. Prime). And the Galaxy plays in New York Saturday against the DP-laden Red Bulls (3 p.m. FSC).

Here’s what you need to know:

*Phil Collin looks at Chivas USA and striker Justin Braun.

*Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid is wary of the overhauled Chivas USA.

*Ex-Galaxy striker Alan Gordon talks about joining Chivas USA.

For a full run-down of televised games, click at top right.

Have a great weekend.

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Thursday Kicks: Chivas USA’s Kennedy out for season & more

*For the second consecutive season, Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, who has made six starts this season mostly in place of an injured Zach Thornton, is out for the season after sustaining an arm injury last Saturday against Toronto, club officials said today.

He will undergo surgery Friday for a “tear of the long head tendon of his left biceps.” He suffered the injury in the 62nd minute, but played the rest of the game.

Kennedy also suffered a season-ending injury last year, although that came in preseason.

The 28-year-old out of Fullerton has been restricted to just 14 starts in three seasons. His injuries have come just as he seemed ready to establish himself as the first choice goalkeeper ahead of Thornton.

Pool goalkeeper Kevin Guppy, a Cal State Northridge product, who was backing up Kennedy, will now back up Thornton.

The veteran has returned to full training in the last few days after being out with an injury himself.

*Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that a “person familiar with David Beckham’s plans says the former England captain will reject the chance to play in one final match for his country.”

That person told The Associated Press that “it would seem strange to say you are not retiring then to signal your retirement in a benefit match.”

England Coach Fabio Capello announced Wednesday that the 35-year-old Beckham was too old to continue playing competitively for England, but offered him one last appearance in an exhibition match.

*The groups and venues for the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament, set for Oct. 28-Nov. 8 in Cancn and Playa del Carmen, Mexico, were announced today after the draw was held at CONCACAF headquarters in New York.

The U.S. was drawn into Group B along with Costa Rica, Haiti and Guatemala. Group A features Mexico, Canada, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana.

The eight-team competition, formerly known as the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, will send both finalists to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. The tournament’s third-place finisher will face the fifth place team from Europe in a home-and-home and series for a World Cup spot.

The 16-team 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament will be held in nine German cities from June 26-July 17.

The United States has won all four CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournaments in which it has competed

The match dates and times for the Women’s World Cup Qualifying will be announced at a later date.

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Spain ties Mexico at the Azteca

i-696450be8243da0dae9c4093a4da1a23-Azteca.jpgThe World Cup winners drew a packed house to the Azteca (AP Photo).

The World Cup winners needed a last ditch effort to attain the draw, however:

MEXICO CITY (AP) — David Silva scored two minutes into second-half stoppage time, giving Spain a 1-1 exhibition tie against Mexico on Wednesday in the first match for La Furia Roja since winning the World Cup.

Javier Hernandez put Mexico ahead in the 12th minute of a game to mark the 200th anniversary of Mexican independence from Spain.

Spain arrived Monday and had little time to adjust to the 7,350-foot altitude. The champions opened with only three players who started the July 11 World Cup final victory over the Netherlands: goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defender Carles Puyol and midfielder Sergio Busquets.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque made eight substitutions in the second half, bringing on World Cup starters Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernandez.

“This was a party more than a game,” Mexican captain Rafael Marquez said.

Eight players started for Mexico from the 3-1 second-round loss to Argentina.

“We had more control than Mexico, but we lacked width and failed to get in deep,” Del Bosque said. “Without much preparation, my players played like they had spent time training when, in truth, some trained for the first time yesterday.”

Mexico’s green jerseys and Spain’s red and yellow — many bearing the lone star to signify the World Cup win — filled a near-sellout crowd at 100,000-capacity-plus Azteca Stadium.

Del Bosque said he was sensitive to demands from Barcelona and Real Madrid that their players be rested, with the Spanish and European seasons about to begin.

Casillas was just as up front, saying his team lacked the “appropriate preparation” with the vast majority having only recently returned from vacation.

The match was without much contact, allowing both teams to have long spells of possession without many scoring threats. Rain fell in the second half, slowing the match and probably adding to the caution.

Marquez, newly signed by the New York Red Bulls, had a 20-yard shot that was stopped by Casillas in the 32nd. Carlos Vela shot just wide minutes later, and Marquez missed a 20-yard free kick in first-half injury time.

Spain had more of the play in the second half. After his goal, Silva shot across the front of the goal a few seconds later.

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Beckham back with the Galaxy*

i-6876e68bbff249caf769f62b90e65fa6-Beckhamfirst.jpgDavid Beckham took part in his first training session with the Galaxy today at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson since tearing his Achilles tendon (AP Photos).

*Updated

And it appears he is no longer wanted by England, according to this AP story by Rob Harris:

WEMBLEY, England (AP) — David Beckham’s international career appears over after England coach Fabio Capello said Wednesday the former captain is too old to play for the national team — without notifying him first.

Capello said the 35-year-old midfielder will have the chance to play in a friendly “farewell
game” but will not be part of England’s team in qualifying for the 2012 European
Championship.

Beckham has played 115 times for England, second behind only goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s 125 from 1970-90.

Beckham has repeatedly said he has no plans of retiring from playing for England. He went to the World Cup in South Africa in June as a member of Capello’s off-field staff after being sidelined following Achilles’ tendon surgery.

Appearing on ITV television in Britain, Capello was asked whether Beckham would be part of the England squad in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012.

Capello laughed and said, “Thank you for helping me during the World Cup, but probably (he) is a little bit old.”

Later, after England’s 2-1 victory over Hungary in a friendly at Wembley, Capello said: “I
hope he can play one more friendly game to say bye bye.”

“I won’t be picking him for any more competitive matches,” Capello added. “David is a
fantastic player, he was really important, but we have to see the new players for the future because the age is important for a lot of people, not only for David.”
Capello spoke while Beckham was in the United States training with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

“Did I phone him before I went on television?” Capello said. “No. I think I will speak with
him. We tried to speak with him. But I think David knows he has no future with the
international team because we have to change. We tried to speak with him.”

There was no immediate comment from Beckham, who was training with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

But a statement issued by his spokesman, Simon Oliveira, said: “There has been no discussion of retirement. He will always be available for his country, when fit and if needed he will be there.”

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Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Carson before Capello’s comments, Beckham said: “I’ve always said that I won’t retire from playing for my country, whether I never get picked again, play one more game or 10 more games. “There are a lot of good young players coming through. We’ll see.”

The Galaxy said there would be no response Wednesday to Capello’s comments.

Current England captain Steven Gerrard expects Beckham to bounce back as he did after being initially dropped following the 2006 World Cup.

“I’m sure that if he hears that news, it’ll drive him on and he’ll try to prove people wrong
and try to get back in the set-up because I know he loves playing for England,” Gerrard said.

“He’s had some fantastic performances, some fantastic goals, memories. He was a fantastic captain. I’ve learnt a lot from David and it’s been a pleasure to play alongside him.

“If he has played his last game, he’ll certainly be missed because, both on and off the pitch, he’s a great guy.”

Beckham missed out on a fourth World Cup after tearing an Achilles’ tendon in March while on loan to AC Milan from the Galaxy to stay in shape for England during the Major League Soccer offseason. He resumed training Wednesday.

Beckham didn’t scrimmage with the Galaxy but he participated in conditioning drills with
training staff.

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“The focus is on the team and preparing my tendon,” Beckham said. “I’ve been hitting it so hard for the last two years, every month that it’s obviously tough on my body. It’s about getting back this season as soon as possible, playing the rest of the season and then taking the time to get the rest in, prepare my body and be ready for next season.”

Beckham is on the disabled list and would not be eligible to play for the Galaxy again until Sept. 4 in Chicago at the earliest.

Beckham, who began his career at Manchester United in 1992, made his England debut against Moldova in September 1996.

The low point of his international career came at his first World Cup, in 1998, when he was sent off for petulantly kicking out at Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone. England lost the round-of-16 match and some England fans hung effigies of Beckham.

Beckham managed to bounce back and captained the team at the 2002 World Cup under coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Beckham tearfully relinquished the England captaincy after the 2006 tournament, when England reached the quarterfinals for the second successive time. He was then initially dropped by coach Steve McClaren, but was restored as England’s qualifying campaign for the 2008 European Championship faltered.

McClaren was fired in November 2008 after England failed to reach Euro 2008.

Despite initially falling out of favor under Capello before being restored to the team when both were at Real Madrid, Beckham’s international career survived when the Italian coach took over from McClaren.

Beckham often only appeared as a late substitute but played a role in 16 of the 21 matches under Capello before he was injured three months before the World Cup in South Africa.

But such was his enduring influence in the camp that Beckham was taken to the World Cup in a non-playing role by Capello. He wasn’t there in an official coaching role despite often appearing on the training pitch.

i-ebf0ba54721bec55b07083f989477423-beckhamstretch.jpg

Updated

And Beckham understands if he re-tears his Achilles, his career is done. Phil Collin has more in this story for Thursday’s dead tree edition.

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Fox Soccer Channel goes HD on DirecTV Wednesday

It’s about time.

El Segundo-based DirecTV recently previously added GolTV in HD and as of Wednesday will add Fox Soccer Channel in HD to air an “unprecedented” number of games in HD this season, just in time for the cranking up of the European season.

Highlights include:
*320 live games including up to “28 exclusive European matches a week.”

*Every match from the UEFA Champions League and all 153 Europa League games, including eight at a time on the soccer mix channel.

*114 La Liga games (at least three per week).

ESPN, of course, already airs the EPL and MLS in HD. And now FSC will, too. The big game this opening weekend: Liverpool vs. Arsenal at 8 a.m. Sunday.

It’s been galling to see FSC advertise the channel is “available on HD” except not see it in that format on DirecTV.

The circle is complete.

I may never leave the house.

Updated Wednesday

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ESPN has sublicensed U.S. rights to up to 74 Premier League games in each of the next three seasons from Fox Soccer Channel.

Under the deal announced Wednesday, ESPN can televise matches in the United States on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.

Last season, ESPN televised 46 Premier League matches under a sublicense from Fox, which has been broadcasting the EPL in the U.S. since 1998.

ESPN’s U.S. coverage begins at 4:45 a.m. Saturday with the Premier League opener, Manchester City at Tottenham.

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Final: U.S.-Brazil

U.S. 0 Brazil 2

i-1743c8083bf1c7f4d1dde8c80dd299a8-neymar.jpgAlejandro Bedoya and the U.S. could do little to challenge Brazil and the supremely talented Neymar, all of 18 years old, on his national team debut (AP Photo).

It was a game between (as color commentator John Harkes inelegantly, but accurately put it) a team with “flamboyant flair” and a team, um, bereft of it.

Both teams had a goal disallowed, but it was Brazil rather than U.S. that was unfortunate not to score more after twice hitting the post.

The Brazilians attacked in the first half with the most success down the left hand side, apparently targeting the inexperienced and attack-minded Alejandro Bedoya, who didn’t give full back Jonathan Spector behind him much protection.

But the midfield in general gave Brazil way too much time and space, with predictable results. Brazil had the bulk of the possession, while the U.S. was reduced to largely ineffective counter attacks (not that starter Edson Buddle was given much support) when they weren’t sitting back admiring the opposition.

It was sub Herculez Gomez who had the best U.S. chance six minutes from time, just sending a Spector cross wide with a header.

Bedoya failed to deal with the threat on the left wing on the first goal, Jonathan Bornstein was adrift in the box and the talented Neymar, who was a joy to watch, had a free header for the 28th minute opener.

Pato added the second in first half stoppage time, the Brazilians easily splitting the middle of the U.S. defense.

Positives?

The Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez had a largely competent debut given that he was playing against Brazil in his first ever international, Landon Donovan was, as usual, the best U.S. player on the field and thank heavens the U.S. has two excellent goalkeepers in Tim Howard and Brad Guzan, who each played a half.

In sum, it looked like a Bob Bradley coached team. Have we seen the last of him on the U.S. bench?

Updated

Game story

Quotable:

“I think their movement off the ball is something that I personally admire a lot,” said Herculez Gomez. “They’re very quick with their speed of play and the way they move off the ball. The guy playing the ball is always two to three plays ahead. He’s not looking for the next ball but the one after that. Let’s be honest, Brazil is a good national team and they are very deep and they showed it tonight.”

Here’s Bob Bradley on the debut of Omar Gonzalez:

“It’s not an easy first game, let’s face it. I talked yesterday about picking the right time for players and making sure, you time things well and put them in a situation where you feel like it’s the right first opportunity. I think if you have watched Omar throughout the year, he is still young. Physically, there are some great starting points. He’s made progress with the Galaxy and Bruce has done a great job. He has some plays now where there are things going on around him and it’s not that easy for him to keep track of all these things. Hopefully he’s a player that with more of these kinds of experiences can continue to grow.”

i-aed3798727bb175036c39f7edf84c6a0-arenahall.jpgHall of Famer: Bruce Arena (AP Photo)

Here’s Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena on being inducted in the National Soccer Hall of Fame before the game:

“I’m very appreciative of the recognition. It’s a diverse class for sure. Kyle Rote and I are about the same age and we grew up actually with similar backgrounds. We started in the game so late and then you have Preki and (Thomas) Dooley who obviously learned their trade in other countries and have come here to help build the game. So it’s really a diverse and unique class and a class I’m proud to be a part of.”

Arena boasts five NCAA titles, two MLS championships with D.C. United and coached the U.S. to its best World Cup finish in the modern era in 2002.

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Chivas USA striker Galindo joins Division 2 FC Tampa Bay on loan

But the door apparently remains open for Maykel Galindo, who has one goal in six games this season, to return to the club, Chivas USA announced today.

“This move allows Maykel to get first team matches as he works toward regaining his form,” said Chivas USA Coach Martn Vsquez. “The opportunity exists for him to return to our team this season or next.”

From the Chivas USA press release:

Since joining Chivas USA in 2007 from then-USL side Seattle Sounders, Galindo has played in 67 matches (48 starts), with 18 goals and 9 assists. The native of Villa Clara, Cuba, had a stellar 2007 campaign for the Red-and-White, in which he scored 12 goals in 28 games (24 starts), but has had three up-and-down seasons since, often due to injuries.

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Brazil-U.S. Preview

i-5cef7b169ede4cc6d0b1bc166078a998-bradleystretch.jpgIs it a stretch to believe the U.S. can beat a young Brazil team tonight in New York? U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley stretches Monday during training (AP Photos).

The game kicks off at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 and Univision. Here’s a look at what to expect from Associated Press writer Ronald Blum:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Less than one month after the World Cup, players from all corners of the globe gather tonight for a high-profile exhibition game between the United States and Brazil.

A dozen Americans returned home from European clubs for Tuesday night’s match at the gleaming New Meadowlands Stadium. Jozy Altidore, below, was training less than 2 hours after arriving from Spain, where he played on Sunday.

i-1f0705781dfa65e8af71f2c6bcb6c523-altidoreheads.jpg

Brazil’s Daniel Alves flew Sunday to New York from Beijing, where he was with Barcelona on a preseason tour. Seven of his Barca teammates from world champion Spain headed to Mexico for an exhibition Wednesday, their first match since the final on July 11.

“Us as players sometimes get pulled around quite a bit,'” Landon Donovan said. “Personally I believe there should be a little closer attention paid to how many games players are playing. I think Kaka’s a perfect example. Players are not machines, and there’s only so much you can do. That being said, I don’t think there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind that this is the type of game players love to play in.

“But too many high-intensity games like this, and players are going to break down. That’s normal — especially with all the travel that goes on nowadays.”

Brazil’s Kaka, the 2007 FIFA player of the year, had left knee surgery last week in Belgium after he reported to Real Madrid’s preseason tour in California and was diagnosed as playing through the World Cup with a torn meniscus. The Netherlands’ Arjen Robben arrived at Bayern Munich’s preseason with a torn left hamstring after leading his nation to the World Cup final.

Brazil had just two training sessions ahead of the match, its start of preparations for
hosting the 2014 tournament. The U.S. had one practice.

Alves said his flight from China went well. He doesn’t think all the constant movement causes problems.

“I think we’re all very well prepared,” he said through a translator. “I don’t believe we’ll
have injuries because of that. If you have injuries, it’s just because of the normal
circumstances of soccer.”

More than 65,000 tickets had been sold for the match in the new $1.6 billion home of the NFL’s Giants and Jets, where listed capacity of 82,500 includes more than 200 luxury suites and 10,000 club seats. Brazilian great Pele was expected to attend and see a new-look Selecao roster meet an old-look U.S. team that set U.S. television ratings records during the World Cup.

Mano Menezes replaced the fired Dunga as Brazil’s coach after the quarterfinal loss to the Dutch and selected just four of Brazilians who were on the roster in South Africa: defenders Alves and Thiago Silva, midfielder Ramires and forward Robinho, below right, training with Daniel Alves Monday.

i-4ea5d816d4c469699cf651c25d25dc2e-alvesrobinho.jpg

Hoping to restore “Jogo Bonito (Beautiful Game)” and jettison Dunga’s defensive approach, Menezes chose 11 with no national team experience.

While the Selecao is missing Maicon, Lucio and Julio Cesar, its impressive roster includes AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato, Santos scoring sensation Neymar, Santos midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso, Manchester United defender Rafael da Silva, Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva and Real Madrid defender Marcelo.

“Tough trips and long flights, but of course when we are playing for the national team we must be focused,” Lucas said. “It’s a new start for everyone. I think after the World Cup, of course the pressure will be higher, especially now that the next World Cup will be in Brazil. So the people are really excited — and waiting for the national team to win the World Cup.”

Paulo Henrique Ganso said Brazil’s young group may be better in some aspects that the
veterans.

“In technical quality, possibly even higher than the previous one,” he said through an
interpreter.

Brazil has won 14 of 15 meetings, outscoring the U.S. 29-10. The lone American victory was 1-0 in 1998 at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Los Angeles, when Preki scored in the 65th minute and goalkeeper Kasey Keller had 10 saves.

Last year, the U.S. took a two-goal halftime lead in the final of the Confederations Cup as Clint Dempsey and Donovan scored, but Brazil rallied for a 3-2 victory on two goals by Luis Fabiano and one by Lucio.

“The opportunity to play against Brazil at any point is special,” Donovan said. “I think
people are savvy enough to know the difference between playing in a World Cup game and playing in tomorrow’s game. That being said, we’re at a point now where we expect to compete with these teams in a real way and not a shot in the dark, hope we can beat Brazil.”

The U.S. roster includes 15 World Cup holdovers, with midfielders Dempsey, Stuart Holden and DaMarcus Beasley, and defender Jay DeMerit among the missing.

Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, who brought his surfboard to training, is the lone member of the U.S. roster with no international experience.

“I know that the game is that much more faster, so I have to be ready for it,” he said.

i-bd0ad256b351e54df6e220ad8b7de73b-mano.jpg

Menezes, right, plans an attack-minded formation that will start Robinho, Pato and Neymar, a repudiation of Dunga’s choices. He wants players who are fast and agile from midfield forward.

“It’s important to make clear to us and to all that Brazilian soccer always had this kind of
talent. We’re not inventing anything new,” he said through a translator.

In Brazil, winning is a must at all times.

“The results, I’m aware, it’s always important,” he said. “With no results, projects cannot
survive, and you can generate more doubts than certainties. And I know that I want to work here with certainties.”

In other news surrounding the game, apparently ex-Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan is no longer “bored” now he’s in Belgium:

Sacha Kljestan had quickly settled in at Anderlecht, becoming a regular starter for the Belgian club.

Selected for the preliminary 30-man World Cup roster, Kljestan was cut when coach Bob Bradley trimmed it to the final 23. Two days before the U.S. played its World Cup opener against England, Kljestan transferred from Major League Soccer’s Chivas USA to Anderlecht.

He scored in his European Champions League debut, a seventh-minute goal that started Anderlecht to a 3-1 win over Wales’ The New Saints July 27 in the first leg of the third qualifying round. Anderlecht plays Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade in the playoff round of qualifying, going on the road for the first leg Aug. 18 and finishing at home six days later. The winner advances to the lucrative group phase.

“It was a good start not only for me personally, but for the team, as well,” Kljestan said.
“It was of great importance to me personally just because I had been at Chivas and I think it was time to move on. I was excited that a club like Anderlecht came forward and wanted to sign me and really put a lot into signing me. I think we’re both very happy it happened.

“I just want to grow as a player, obviously, and explore Europe, just kind of further my life over there. You get kind of used to doing the same thing every day, especially living in California for a long time. I got a little bored. I’m ready to become a better player, be a
bigger part of the national team. Obviously, the big goal is making the next World Cup
team.”

And:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — American midfielder Benny Feilhaber hopes to move on from Denmark’s AGF Aarhus before the European transfer window closes Aug. 31.

The 25-year-old player signed with Aarhus before the 2008-09 season following stints with Hamburg (2005-07) and Derby (2007-08).

“I’ve got another year in Aarhus. The intent is there to sell me. They want to try to get some money for me,” Feilhaber said Monday, a day before the U.S. played Brazil in the teams’ first post-World Cup exhibition. “For me, as well, I’d like to go somewhere so I could play on a first-division team. Obviously, we were relegated last season,” Feilhaber said. “All in all, me and the team both want to try to get something done, but as of now there hasn’t been any official offer yet. There’s been interest from teams and I’ve just really got to wait it out, I guess, and see if something is going to happen toward the end of the month.”

Feilhaber is aware of several possible destinations.

“I’ve heard there’s a team in Spain and maybe a couple teams in Germany, maybe even a team in Denmark,” he said. “I could potentially stay in Denmark. But I’m not 100 percent sure on any of those. Those are all really rumors to me.”

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Tuesday’s column: the Ronaldinho roundabout (& more)

i-fe9f97beb2c1c36708d083675cc80fbe-ronaldinhonew.jpgRonaldinho: Galaxy target? (AP Photo).

Ronaldinho is coming! Ronaldinho is coming! Ronaldinho is coming!

Or not. (Where he stops, nobody knows).

Today’s column looks at the Galaxy’s recent roster moves and summarizes the recent speculation around AC Milan’s Ronaldinho coming to LA as the club “entertains” the idea of signing a third designated player before the closure of the international trade window next week. Oh, and Becks returns to training with the Galaxy today Wednesday, Galaxy officials said today, correcting what I was told Monday.

In other news today:

*Continuing with the theme of speculation, England’s tabloid Daily Mirror notes the resignation Monday of Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill and immediately concludes without any attribution whatsoever that U.S. Coach Bob Bradley is the favorite to succeed him (because Villa’s owner is American) and that he will bring son Michael Bradley and the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan to the club if he takes the job. Quite a leap.

*Bradley will be at the helm of the U.S. team against Brazil at 5 p.m. tonight in New York (live on ESPN2 and Univision) where Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez could make his international debut.

There are eight Californians on the roster including Anderlecht’s Sacha Kljestan, Galasgow Rangers’ Maurice Edu and Pachuca’s Herculez Gomez.

*Other local players involved in internationals this week include Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, called into Jamaica’s camp for the Wednesday game against Trinidad & Tobago, while Pasadena City College product Yura Movsisyan looks likely to make his debut for Armenia Wednesday against Iran. Chivas USA’s Michael Umana also plays for Costa Rica Wednesday against Paraguay.

*Not to be left out, Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena and former Chivas USA coach Preki will be inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame before the U.S.-Brazil game.

*Finally, Rolling Hills Estates’ Whitney Engen, a rookie defender with the Chicago Red Stars of WPS added the ACC Women’s Athlete of the Year award last week to her burgeoning trophy cabinet, after previously being named the top female college soccer player in the nation by winning the 2010 Honda Sports Award.

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Final: Galaxy-Real Madrid

Galaxy 2 Real Madrid 3

i-5acd1968e4306c57a209e5c6fb7dbe2c-ronaldorun.jpgThe crowd buzzed whenever Cristiano Ronaldo, seen here sprinting away from Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant, touched the ball with his eye-catching cleats in the second half (AP Photo).

Five goals, 89,134 in attendance and hundreds of popping flash bulbs every time Cristiano Ronaldo touched the ball, his feet shimmying.

As if to drive home that last point, a Ronaldo rocket hit the side netting in stoppage time.

i-4c20797082361f646da2b36e534c1bcf-Realcrunch.jpgReal crunch: Real’s Royston Ricky Drenthe (surely one of the best names in football) lays into Juninho in the first half (AP Photo).

Quite a show.

Real quite simply took over offensively in the second half with some mesmerizing moves – back heels, inch-perfect passes into the box. The sight of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain in sync must be scaring the hell out of La Liga defenders right now.

The crowd roared its appreciation at the final whistle.

And yeah, the crowd filled in.

Notable: Real Madrid had a dozen shots in the second half as they turned on the style, the Galaxy could manage just one.

Post-game quotes:

“It was a big day for me,” said now-retired Galaxy midfielder Clint Mathis. “It was a great opportunity for me to end my career with the same team in the same stadium where I started it.”

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs in my career, but none that I would ever regret,” Mathis said.

“Certainly, the exhibition put on by (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Gonzalo) Higuain in the second half was something special,” Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said. “One thing I learned is that Real Madrid probably have a better team than we do.”

Updated

*Game story here.

i-a48a536d66e66f40781ecaa7a94ceb13-realbecks.jpgPushing too hard (again)? David Beckham, seen here at the Galaxy game against his old club Sunday, reckons he will be ready to return next month; his doctors say October is more realistic (AP Photo).

*David Beckham plots Galaxy comeback.

*Game, night and career over for Clint Mathis.

All three of Real Madrid’s goals get better every time you see them.

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