Friday Freedom Kicks: DC United & Soccer Links for 11 July 2014

Today's Freedom Kicks offer a smorgasbord of now-published previews and prognostications for tonight's game.

If you haven't heard, the soccer gods have taken mercy on everyone hopped up with World Cup fever.  There'd be no soccer to watch today but for our beloved East Coast Leaders flying to the Bay Area and getting on t.v. for it.  Lots of people will be watching this game because it's the only thing to watch.  It's another one of those moments for MLS to snag new fans from the World Cup wave.

This is a major event.  So let's focus our attention there:

United face trap game in San Jose | Comcast SportsNet Washington:  "DC United knows it needs to play the role of villain."

MLS Preview: East leaders visit Bay Arena; West’s host Cascadia rivals | ProSoccerTalk:  "Consider this level of desperation: San Jose, a team that came into the season with playoff ambitions — one that had to be eliminated from CONCACAF Champions League on penalty kicks — is currently in last place in the Western Conference. They’re behind Chivas USA!"

Earthquakes vs. DC United preview: Wondolowski to the rescue?  | Soccerly:  "It sure would be nice for San Jose’s fans to see a flurry of chances in Friday’s game but unless Mark Watson and the team effects some radical change that verges on the miraculous, the reality is that it’s unlikely."

This Quakes Week: Wondo's Back! - Center Line Soccer:  "The good news is that a great deal of progress on the new stadium is visible on this aerial view of the new stadium."  Jealous!

Quakes face must-win against DC United :: SFBay:  "San Jose has suffered from being consistently mediocre, especially in the attacking third."

Comment on all your soccer issues below.