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New England Coach Steve Nichol believed his team deserved to win, Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit said L.A. deserved at least a draw tonight.

Coaches always say stuff like that of course, but who do you believe?

Gullit said midfield was the biggest problem for the Galaxy tonight:

"People panic under a little bit of pressure and give the ball away to the opposition," he said. "That is the main problem at the moment for this team. It's not that we don't defend. It's just that at vital moments on the pitch we do something unnecesary."

Defense is not the problem? Is he noticing how Abel Xavier plays?

Well, Gullit wasn't about to single Xavier out for criticism:

"It was his man who scored the goal on the corner kick," was about as far as Gullit would be drawn. "He knows that it's his responsibility."

New England's Adam Cristman summed up Xavier's play (or lack thereof) on the second goal:

"I was trying to keep on the other side of Abel and keep him turned around so he didn't know where I was," he said "I guess he lost me."

I guess. Xavier lost me a long time ago.

Here's David Beckham on the effect Landon Donovan had on the game:

"When he did come on he changed the game. ... It put us on the front foot and gave us more space to create chances."

Edson Buddle agreed:

"In the second half we were able to possess the ball and Landon is a good runner with the ball. With the pace that he had he was able to break them down and free up - everyone."

Donovan's influence was all the more remarkable considering his rather nasty sounding bout with the flu meant he couldn't train for two or three days this week.

Gullit was asked straight out whether Carlos Ruiz, who made a perfunctory appearance in the 84th minute will be traded. Reading between the lines, the answer was, yes, considering the 10 goals in 11 games Buddle has scored:

"Every week (Edson) shows how good he is and how important he is to the team. He holds the ball and creates chances. So for Carlos it will be very hard (to start) for those reasons also."

In other words, as Gullit has complained previously, Ruiz doesn't hold the ball or create many chances.

He won't be going to the Columbus Crew in a trade for Frankie Hejduk, though. Gullit said has no idea who the national team defender is. Really. As one colleague observed, he didn't notice Frankie when the Galaxy played the Crew a couple of weeks back?

By the way, Donovan has no idea whether he will be called up as one of three over-age players into the Olympic team and has not talked with U.S. Coach Peter Nowak.

"If asked I'd love to go and if not I'd love to be here," he said. "That's the simplest way to put it."

Quote of the Day goes to the always genial Mike Randolph, who tried to downplay the fact his two chances from Beckham crosses in the first half (that both went wide) constituted virtually the entirety of the Galaxy's offense at that stage of the game: "I have no attacking skills whatsoever," he said.

That's OK, Mike, neither do some of your teammates.

Game story is here.

Highlights

As readers of this blog learned Wednesday from beat writer Scott Wolf, neither David Beckham (sore hamstring) or Landon Donovan (flu) practiced with the team yesterday and could miss tonight's game against the New England Revolution, who will have Taylor Twellman on the bench.

So possibly no stars for the Galaxy, but there will be fireworks after the game. It's live on Prime at 7:30 p.m.

Chivas USA plays Saturday at Home Depot Center (and yeah, they have fireworks, too) against San Jose. The Earthquakes are the lowest-scoring team in MLS so naturally they are bidding to sign a - 37-year-old Brazilian midfielder.

In other unexpected player news, former Galaxy player Joseph Ngwenya is trying out for former Galaxy Assistant Coach Martin Zuniga and his boss Jurgen Klinsmann at Bayern Munich.

From the interminable award department: Becks and Donovan as well as Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Luciano Emilio (D.C. United) and Matt Reis (New England Revolution) are up for the MLS Best Player of the Year Award at the 16th annual ESPY's. Donovan has won the last two years.

Fans can vote through July 12 at www.espys.tv The show airs at 6 p.m. July 20 on ESPN.

Not to be outdone Univision has their own set of awards for Latino athletes such as Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Omar Bravo (CD Guadalajara) and Guillermo Ochoa (Club América) who are up for North American Soccer Player of the Year. (I nominate Univision for the Creatively Named Category Award, by the way).

There are 10 categories in the "Tecate Premios Deportes" awards airing July 20.

Other nominees: Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Juan Pablo Angel, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Claudio Suarez - and Jonathan Bornstein (?).

Details here.

In the W-League Thursday, the Seattle Sounders beat the Ventura County Fusion 3-0.

In the PDL tonight, the San Fernando Valley Quakes play at the Lancaster Rattlers in a 7 p.m. game at Pete Knight High.

Enjoy the holiday and break away from the bar-b-que occasionally to check back here on the Galaxy's progess tonight where I'll blog the game highlights.

David Beckham celebrates his ninth wedding anniversary on the Fourth of July.

``It's a special day for America and for me,'' he said Thursday.

Galaxy midfielder David Beckham missed training with a sore hamstring and said he was ``hopeful'' he would play Friday but was ``not sure.''

Beckham said he woke up with a tightness in his left hamstring.

``I'll have to see how it feels in the morning,'' Beckham said. ``At the moment, it's just tightness.''

The obligatory David Beckham update that passes for a Galaxy preview. Game begins at 9 a.m. on ABC.

Galaxy odds and ends.

The finale of Euro 2008 follows with Spain against Germany for whom Michael Ballack is a doubt.

Here are the essentials for tonight's Chivas USA-New York Red Bulls game at Home Depot Center:

*NYRB are without Claudio Reyna, Juan Pablo Angel (both injured) and, of course, one Senor Altidore (sunning himself in Spain).

*Fear not. Chivas USA has Justin Braun.

*The Red Bulls are playing their fifth game in 15 days tonight, which could help Chivas USA avoid losing twice to New York in one season.

*Oh, and Mickey Mouse will perform the coin toss before the game.

Want more? Here's a longer preview.

And while we're at it here's a Galaxy-D.C. United preview (it's a nice try at a different sort of advance, but turns out to be a bit of a stretch since United's Marcelo Gallardo decided not to play ball). This may be the only preview posted here since the game kicks off on ABC at 9 a.m. and it's highly unlikely I will crawl out of bed early on a Sunday morning to actually blog. And don't forget the Euro 2008 final between Spain and Germany follows immediately after on the same channel.

Friday scores:
Fort Collins Force 4 Ventura County Fusion 1 (W-League).
San Jose Frogs 3 Los Angeles Legends 3 (PDL).

Finally (and for no other reason than I could do with a laugh this morning) take five seconds out of your day and watch this contender (that appears to be from a league game in Russia) for the worst penalty kick ever.

Back this evening with more from the Chivas USA game.

Landon Donovan was named MLS Player of the Week for the third time this season after his two-goal performance in the 3-3 draw with Columbus Saturday that gave him a league-best 11 goals in 10 games.

Donovan's second goal was the 75th of his MLS career, making the 26-year-old the youngest player to reach that milestone.

Also on the awards front, Edson Buddle has been nominated for MLS Goal of the Week for the second consecutive week.

The Galaxy Rios Under-20 demolished the Bakersfield Brigade 8-0 in a USL Super-20 game last weekend. The 3-1-1 Rios are currently tied for first place in the league with the Ventura County Fusion, who they meet 5 p.m. Sunday at Home Depot Center. Admission is free.

Finally, the studliest pen commercial you'll ever see:

So the Galaxy still haven't beaten a team with a winning record this season.

But at least they didn't lose after blowing a lead as Coach Ruud Gullit noted has already happened this season:

"At the beginning of the season we lost these games in the last couple of minutes."

Still, as Gullit and several players observed, it was a draw that felt like a loss:

"We gave the goals away," he said. "You have to win these games. It's two points thrown away."

Crew Coach Sigi Schmid was none too impressed with how Donovan snatched the first Galaxy goal with his challenge on goalkeeper Will Hesmer:

"That was an obvious push. ... Landon obviously pushed Hesmer. ... He gets a way with a great shove in his lower back."

Here's David Beckham thinking like a referee on the penalty he drew:

"He grabbed me around the waist. I felt that was enough contact for a penalty."

Landon Donovan, well, wasn't so sure - but wasn't complaining either:

"I wasn't sure David really got fouled, but whatever. It's the referee's decision to make.

Donovan believes the team isn't doing enough to protect the defense:

The issue is (opponents) are able to get from their defensive end into our attack in sometimes two or three passes and easily. It's not always just the back four that's struggling."

Here's Schmid on South Bay product Robbie Rogers:

"Sometimes Robbie dropped too deep at times. He's been too honest defensively. Now he's got to that point of learning how to cheat (going forward) and when to cheat and get forward at the right time. But still he's an important player for us and he had an impact on the game for us."

By the way, Beckham insisted he was 100 percent, but then conceded a left foot injury was bothering him in the first half until he got treatment at half time:

"I got a kick on it a couple of days ago in training and it was still playing up slightly."

The game story is here.

Finally, just to end things on the right (wrong?) foot, here's Beckham on his blazing miss that could have sealed the game for the Galaxy:

"I'm disappointed not to finish the game off there. I felt personally the ground gave way, the grass gave way as I hit the ball. ... When you get an opportunity like that in the last couple of minutes, it's disappointing not to score."

The grass gave way?

I dunno. He sure looks like he knows he screwed that up.

I'm on Barbados time, so late blogging this morning.

The Galaxy face the Crew at steamy Home Depot Center (7:30 p.m. live on Prime) later today. Game previews are here and here.

The U.S. women (narrowly) won the Peace Cup overnight.

On the men's side, CONCACAF World Cup qualifying resumes this weekend. The U.S. is in Barbados for the second leg where the weather is typically tropical.

Back with more tonight from Carson.

Beat writer Scott Wolf will contribute to the 100 Percent Soccer blog while yours truly is otherwise engaged.

Here's David Beckham after today's Galaxy practice:

On the return of Landon Donovan: ``It's always great to have all of your teammates back. It's important to carry on this run.''

On being able to score goals in Donovan's absence: ``That was one of the worries, but not from the players or the team. As long as we have confidence in each other, there's a good chance of us scoring goals.''

On Euro 2008: ``I haven't seen much of it. The time difference is tough. It's still something I don't enjoy (watching without England). I've seen the majority of Spain because I have friends playing.''

So my wife is taking the day off work to watch the Portugal-Germany Euro 2008 quarterfinal (11:30 a.m. ESPN).

I'm going to work in part because of tonight's Chivas USA-Chicago Fire game at Home Depot Center (7 o'clock ESPN2).

What's wrong with this picture?

A preview of the MLS game tonight is here.

Meanwhile, as U.S. Coach Bob Bradley tries mightily to persuade MLS clubs to release players for the largely pointless second leg of the World Cup qualifier Sunday against Barbados, names are filtering out although the complete squad apparently won't be released until Friday.

There have already been Chris Seitz and Danny Szetela sightings at the U.S. camp in Florida and the Chicago Tribune's Luis Arroyave is now reporting on his blog that a trio of Fire players including John Thorrington (Chadwick School) and Chad Barrett (UCLA) will join the team after the Chivas USA game.

Over in Galaxyland there have been sightings in Carson of the mercurial Clint Mathis, former Dutch international Edgar Davids and um, Brian Perk. More at the official Galaxy blog.

Meanwhile, I had hoped to ignore this one (much as I did the baseless rumors about a certain Brazilian joining the team - I'll let you guess the name).

The only problem with the story?

Galaxy officials told me Wednesday they don't have a player with a Brit wife. Except David Beckham. And he's too busy selling underwear to go to mighty Scunthorpe.

Lastly, as expected, the U.S. women beat Italy 2-0 overnight in Korea and advances to Saturday's Peace Cup final against Canada. More here.

Chivas USA learned its group opponents in the CONCACAF Champions League today (providing it gets by Panama's Tauro FC first).

From the (edited) Chivas USA press release:

The winner of the Chivas USA vs. Tauro F.C. pairing will play Santos Laguna of Mexico, either Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa of Guatemala, and the winner of the preliminary round matchup between LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica and the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL First Division in Group D.

Chivas USA also learned today it will travel to Panama City for the first leg of the home-and-home series against FC Tauro Aug. 26 and then will host Tauro one week later, on Sept. 2, at a Los Angeles location to be determined.

Full details here.

Over in Galaxyland, backup goalkeeper Josh Wicks, who has yet to start an MLS game, went under the knife today in Santa Monica for left knee surgery. The San Bernadino native is out 4-6 weeks. Vito Higgens will deputize.

Edson Buddle was named MLS Player of the Week today for his three goals Saturday against San Jose.

Meanwhile, David Beckham was in Long Beach Sunday for a special event.

The U.S. women face Brazil in the second game of the Peace Cup in Korea tonight, which kicks off at 10 o'clock our time.

The U.S. beat Australia 2-1 in the first game, which began at 10 p.m. Saturday our time.

Three teams from Southern California are participating in the U.S. Youth Soccer 2008 Region IV Championships, which started today in Hawaii.

Local teams playing are the Real So Cal (Calabasas) Under-14 and Under-17 girls, Under-16 L.A. Rampage Blue Premier (Granada Hills) and the DMS11 (pasadena) Under-18 Boys.

From the U.S. Youth Soccer Press Release:

The teams will be among the more than 248 top boys and girls U.S. Youth Soccer teams from 14 (Western) state associations competing for the regional title.

A little weekend catch-up with results from the PDL Saturday:
San Fernando Valley Quakes 2 San Francisco Seals 1
Fresno Fuego 3 Orange County Blue Star 0
Ventura County Fusion 0 Bakersfield Brigade 2

On Sunday:
San Fernando Valley Quakes 2 San Jose Frogs 0
Southern California Seahorses 0 San Francisco Seals 0

In the W-League Sunday:
Vancouver Whitecaps 0 Pali Blues 4

In the WPSL Saturday:
Ajax America Women 3 San Diego WFC SeaLions 1
Los Angeles Rampage 0 West Coast FC 2

On Sunday:
Ajax America Women 3 Claremont Stars 0
Los Angeles Rampage 1 SD United 2

Finally, trivia time: U.S. Soccer unveiled a memorial this weekend at Home Depot Center to which former U.S. Soccer president?

Answer Tuesday morning.

It starts here.

Did that get you in the mood for today's U.S.-Barbados qualifier at Home Depot Center?

The game begins at 2 p.m. live on ESPN2 and Galavision.

Here's a game preview from the U.S. perspective and another from the view of Barbados wherein we learn the name of Barbados' playmaker: Norm.

Here's an update on the rest of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers this weekend, including four goals by Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz for Guatemala against St. Lucia.

Meanwhile, Galaxy striker Edson Buddle was similarly pumping in the goals - but for L.A. in Oakland Saturday against the Earthquakes.

Well taken goals, too, judging by the highlights.

Of course, the largest crowd ever to see an Earthquakes game in the Bay Area didn't come to see Buddle - or San Jose for that matter.

Game story here.

Happy Father's Day.

I'll rejoin you later from Victoria Street.

Distracted as I am with Euro 2008 and this morning's compelling Spain-Sweden game, there's plenty of soccer to watch this Father's Day weekend and the difficult part will be taking it all in.

Let's try.

The Galaxy are on the road in San Jose where the Earthquakes will actually play at the Oakland Coliseum, which is much larger than Buck Shaw Stadium.

A large contingent of Galaxy fans took a bus up to the Bay Area, but hopefully won't spend the game playing spot the striker.

Fans who didn't make the bus will meet at Grunions Sports Bar in Manhattan Beach at at 7 p.m. to watch the game.

Meanwhile, on a decidedly more sober (literally) note former Galaxy midfielder Santino Quaranta details the excruciating depths he plumbed while in L.A. (and elsewhere) in this bare-all account.

Sadly, it's clear the pill popping and boozing (which was suspected by most of us in the press box) accounted for his erratic form while with the Galaxy. At least he's alive.

Chivas USA is similarly challenged with its starting line-up, but at least they're facing a team in Real Salt Lake that have a woeful record at Home Depot Center. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan will suit up for two games in two days though, while Jonathan Bornstein returns.

Incidentally, a special Kid's Pack is available that starts at just $14. For each adult ticket purchased, one child aged (16 or under) gets into the match free.

Coverage begins at 7 p.m. on FSN.

Sacha Kljestan is among the missing for Chivas USA, since he is on national team duty and gave this interview to the MNT blog.

What with the Lakers, the U.S. Open, Father's Day and Trucks Cool City Customs 200 (ahem) going on this weekend, an embarrassingly low crowd is expected for Sunday's U.S.-Barbados match at the HDC so let's pander to the huge expat Barbados population locally: here's your team, lads. Meanwhile, Barbados is as short on depth judging by this help wanted ad as the U.S. is on fans.

In women's soccer news, the international class of Tiffeny Milbrett showed Friday night as she pulled out all the offensive stops for the Vancouver Whitecaps in their W-League victory over the Ventura County Fusion.

In the PDL Friday, the Southern California Seahorses lost 2-0 to the San Jose Frogs.

Thought that headline would get your attention.

But before we get to that revelation, a second female U.S. soccer player has gone down with a serious injury and will miss the Olympics. Find out who here.

OK, onwards with the trivial journalism of the day including this "report" from Forbes Magazine, (whose major contributions to journalism these days seems to consist of pumping out lists) which names David Beckham as the world's fifth most powerful celebrity.

The only other soccer player on the list is Ronaldinho at No. 38, for those who can't be bothered to sift through the entire list.

And here, as promised, is Beckham's take on English cuisine from The Jimmy Kimmel Show earlier this week. (Warning: complete time waster). And thanks Becks, for perpetuating the myths about weird English cuisine.

Finally, this is trivial too, but at least it's for a good cause: if you're in Carson or close by this afternoon a team of Galaxy players will take on a team of Avengers (that's an arena football team for the pigskin impaired) players in a race around a local supermarket grabbing food for a local food bank.

More here from the (edited) Galaxy press release:

"Dash for the Hungry" - a race where players from the LA Galaxy and the Los Angeles Avengers "dash" around Albertsons pushing grocery carts and collecting food to feed the hungry will be held at 3 p.m. today at a store at 200 E. Sepulveda Blvd. (at the intersection of Main Street) in Carson. With only five minutes on the clock, the goal is to collect as much product as possible and raise plenty of money to benefit families and residents who rely on the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank for assistance.

Galaxy players set to race: forward Edson Buddle, goalkeeper Steve Cronin, forward Alan Gordon and defender Julian Valentin.