Total Futbol

A quick breather

Loyal Total Futbol readers:

Blogging will be light this weekend, as I have the next three days off. Heading to Chicago, where I will (weather permitting) visit Wrigley Field Friday afternoon for Cubs-Marlins.

But let not your heart be troubled. There will be a Miami FC-Charleston Battery preview on Saturday, as well as a game story from the Blues' fourth match of the season.

I'll be back in the saddle Monday. Try not to miss me too much.

Notes from Wednesday's practice

The calendar may indicate it's the regular season, but it sure felt like training camp at Tropical Park Wednesday.

Three days after a brutal weekend, which included two games against quality opponents, Miami FC coach Zinho put the team through two full-speed practices, with temperatures in the 80s.

Encouraging signs for midfielder Leo Inacio Nunes, who missed the Rochester game with a hamstring injury. Zinho said he's 100 percent and will play Saturday against Charleston.

Less definite is Connally Edozien, who tweaked his quad in the first 30 seconds of the Rhinos game, although he played through it. The forward listed himself as "questionable," although Zinho was far more optimistic.

Another charity match coming to Miami-Dade

Less than two weeks after a sparsely attended "legends" soccer match for South Florida underprivileged youths was held at FIU Stadium, word comes of a similar event headed for Miami-Dade -- albeit with the promise of active players, not ones who peaked during the Clinton administration.

New World Sports, founded by former Haiti national team coach Wagneau Eloi, and Miami-Dade Commissioner Dorrin D. Rolle Wednesday announced the creation of "World Charity Soccer," which promises to "bring together soccer greats from around the globe right here in Miami-Dade County for one week."

The all-star match will include, presumably, recognized names from Europe and the Caribbean. No specific names of players that have confirmed to attend were in the press release, although even those are no sure thing. (See: The meager turnout for the Legends Invade Miami match a week ago Sunday, in which the biggest stars all bailed, save for Carlos Valderrama.)

The release did not include specific dates for the event, just that it would be held in June. When we know more, so will you.

Around Major League Soccer

The headlines:

MLS players to face Everton FC in All-Star game

Cuauhtémoc Blanco's old team coming to Toyota Park

Club America assures its players are symptom-free of the swine flu virus

Close calls are shaping D.C. United's identity

Quakes acquire Dallas defender

Nil-Nil halftime...

Barcelona nil-Chelsea nil at halftime!

'Kaka' named to USL-1 Team of the Week

 

We're hearing that Miami FC defender Cristiano "Kaka" Dias has been named to the USL-1 team of the week after the Blues split their two home matches over the weekend, beating Montreal Friday but losing to Rochester Sunday.

Dias, the 22-year-old Brazilian formerly of Sao Carlos Futebol Clube, et al., has helped limit opposition to four total goals in three matches thus far this year.

The Blues should be nearly at full-strength when they return to the pitch Saturday against Charleston, general manager Luiz Muzzi said Tuesday. Diego Serna will be back from his one-game red-card suspension, and Leo Inacio Nunes is expected to play after missing last Sunday's match with a hamstring injury.

Cuban defectors Pedro Faife and Reinier Alcantara are not expected to make their debut until Miami FC's May 16 match against first-place Carolina, Muzzi added.

Tuesday's Need To Know: Champs League Semis Edition

It's game-day, soccer fans. If you listen closely, you can hear the Champions League anthem being sung over and over again from Heineken ads all around the globe. Chelsea-Barca today, Arsenal-ManU manana. Who's ready?

The headlines:

Lionel Messi: A legend in the making

Hiddink confident Bosingwa can shackle Messi

Barcelona Front Line Can Destroy Anyone - Thierry Henry

Didier Drogba can make the difference at the Nou Camp

Who will reach the final in Rome?

CONCACAF cancels U-17 tourney over swine flu

Playing hooky...

Let's face it, your mind won't be on work Tuesday or Wednesday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. It will be across The Pond, where Barcelona plays Chelsea and Manchester United takes on EPL rival Arsenal in the Champions League semifinals. Looking for a place to sneak away to, where you can watch the matches with other like-minded soccer junkies? I have 2 suggestions: Churchill's in North Miami and Fritz and Franz in Coral Gables. Great soccer spots. Where will you be watching??

USL-1 Update

With six points through three games, Miami FC's fast start is one of the biggest surpises in USL-1 this season. But the Blues have nothing on the Carolina Railhawks, who are all alone atop the standings at 3-0-0. It's newfound success for the the Railhawks, who finished eighth and out of the playoffs in their first two seasons. Carolina comes to town on May 16.

The headlines:

RailHawks edge Minnesota 1-0

Aztex post first franchise win

Whitecaps edge rival Portland 1-0

Monday's Need To Know

Lots going on in the world of soccer. Miami FC splits its home games over the weekend against two of the league's better teams, beating Montreal but falling to Rochester. The Blues are back in action Saturday against Charleston at Lockhart Stadium. Champions League semifinals heat up on Tuesday. And a surreal scene in Mexico, with empty stadiums on gameday because of the swine flu outbreak. All that and more in Monday's NTK.

The headlines:

Miami FC falls to Rochester Rhinos

Diego Serna leads Miami FC past Montreal Impact Friday

Lots of twists for Champions League semifinals

Swine flu leaves Mexican soccer stadiums empty

Bayern Munich fires Jurgen Klinsman

U-17 team clinches top spot in Group A