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Everybody seems to be talking about the World Cup for some reason - I mean, it's till 17 days away, right? - so we'll go along with the trend in today's Freedom Kicks.
Armchair Analyst: Week 12 thoughts | MLSsoccer.com
But first, Matt Doyle has lots of smart things to say about Landon Donovan, as well as the week that was in MLS.
Michael Seaton goal vs. Serbia
Neither team is going to Brazil, but D.C. United homegrown and Jamaican international striker Michael Seaton got himself a goal yesterday up in New Jersey, pulling one back for the Reggae Boyz against Serbia with a perfectly placed header from the penalty spot.
It's Gettin' Hot in Here: America's Steam Team
Now to the World Cup and the USMNT: Yu've probably already seen this piece from our own touchline on the travel and heat and humidity waiting for the Yanks when they get down to Brazil, but if not, go read it this second.
Inside Jurgen Klinsmann's decision to cut Landon Donovan | ESPN FC
ESPN's Roger Bennett, he of the Men in Blazers and of directing Inside: U.S. Soccer's March to Brazil, seems to agree with our man touchline that the Brazilian climate and travel weighed against bringing Landon Donovan to his fourth World Cup.
Guessing the USMNT lineup based on training | Stars and Stripes FC
The Steam Team takes on Azerbaijan tonight in their first of three warm-up matches before hopping the plane to Brazil. That means we can finally stop talking about the 23-man roster and focus instead on the eleven men who will actually be on the field to start that first game against Ghana. Our old friend Ryan Rosenblatt looks at who's been training where to try and divine Jurgen Klinsmann's XI for tonight's affair in San Francisco.
Roster in place, Juergen Klinsmann plots course for Americans at World Cup | The Washington Post
Steve Goff takes his own look at each position in Klinsy's lineup tonight.
Awful howler in final sends Fleetwood Town into League 1 | SBNation.com
We close today with this, in which some bloke called Dean Lyness does his best, worst Iker Casillas in the Champions League Final impression, charging off his line only to change his mind at the worst possible moment. Actually, this one was probably worse than Casillas' for several reasons.
This is your open thread for today. Do with it what you will.