With July 4th around the corner, you have to think about the people away from home right now. You see a lot of pictures of troops handing out soccer balls to kids, but I really love this picture of a soldier from New York smoking a cigarette after a “friendly” soccer match with the Iraqi traffic police in Baghdad, Iraq. They just lost 7-1. He doesn’t look happy with it, either.
Back from Deployment

Euro-mania Spread to the Animal Kingdom.

The Park Ji-Sung Story, or How I Drank Frog Juice and Made It to ManU!

Barack Obama, Soccer Dad. (But has he been to Toyota Park?)

BBQ, Ravioli, Gyros (!!!) and more in KC. Another reason to roadtrip there.

Bejing’s Birds Nest Stadium is Complete, and Rocks.

Can Soccer Fly at this Height? Playing at infamous La Paz.

“Soccer is a Divine Gift”, and I couldn’t agree more.

Image via Viewimage

Could Cuauhtemoc Blanco actually be a good guy?

I bet William Conde doesn’t think so.

FC Uptown

image via Chron

Has America Finally Fallen In Love With Soccer The Way ESPN Has?

ESPN’s Marc Stein And His Role In Steve Nash’s Charity Game

US Embassy Warns Tourists In Europe Over 2008 Euro Soccer Hooliganism

FC Uptown

image via SoCal

The best buy in football last year led Spain to a 1-nil win over Germany in the 2008 Euro Championship Final.

Liverpool’s Fernando Torres ended Spain’s 44 year quest for a major trophy after skipping past Bayern Munich outside back Philipp Lahm in the 33rd minute and cheekily chipping the ball up and over on onrushing Jens Lehmann with the inside of his right foot at the Ernst Happel Stadium.

This after out jumping German centerback Per Mertsacker in the 22nd minute and heading off the post, a header that had looked to beat the slow reacting Lehmann.

During the knockout stages keeper Iker Casillas, along with the back four of Sergio Ramos, Carlos Puyol, Carlos Marchena and Joan Capdevila held the fort tight, not allowing a goal scored against since their 2-1 win over Greece in the last match of Group D play.

FC Uptown & Dunny

images via Sun-Sentinal

Number 11.  The Swedish Wives

A couple of surprises on the list.

FC Uptown

image via Setanta

 Update- Word around the campfire is Lampard and Inter have agreed personal terms, and a transfer value of around £7m has been agreed between Inter and Chelsea. Looks like Lamps and the Special One will be reuniting in Milan.

You’ve got to give it to Jose Mourinho.  The guy knows how to wiggle.

“I cannot forget Deco, Lampard and Drogba. These are players who I could never say no to. I would love to work with them again in the future, but I am not too obsessed with this idea. I don’t know which of these three will leave their clubs but we will see.”

FC Uptown

image via DailyMail

Not sure you have interest in this kind of stuff but I love hearing about outposts of soccer fans and where they gather to watch games.

I met several Turkish fans at the Mandalay Bay Sport Book on Wednesday who were incredulous that Americans seemed to be getting interested in Euro 2008.

It got me wondering about all the other cities in the world and where they’re watching.

Memphis

Richmond

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Owner John Bayliss has been doing it right since 1995 with The George & Dragon Pub in Seattle.

It’s easy to see what all the fuss is about and why you should be there for the big matches.

FC Uptown

image via GeorgeandDragonPub