Avram Grant reveals his inner strength

A stone has lifted. Beneath it we see the extraordinary personality whose mournful expression hides a considerable football man juggling with more human perspectives than is the norm in our blinkered, self-obsessed sporting intensity. How witless the Mr Average jibe now seems.

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U.S. Men Drawn into Group B with Netherlands, Nigeria and Japan

U.S. to Open Play on August 7 Against Japan Before Taking on Under-21 European Champion the Netherlands and 1996 Gold Medalist Nigeria

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11 Questions with Natasha Kai

Natasha Kai started her National Team career with a bang, scoring a bushel of big goals for the USA, but played just seven minutes in the 2007 Women’s World Cup and struggled with her fitness and form at the beginning of this year.

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U.S. women down Costa Rica for China ticket

A 3-0 win over Costa Rica in the semifinals of the Concacaf Olympic qualifying tournament sends the U.S. women's national team to the Summer Games in China, where it will defend its gold medal title of 2004. After the Ticas stifled the USA in the first half, Natasha Kai struck twice and Heather O'Reilly scored once. Canada defeated host Mexico, 1-0, to claim the region's other spot.

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What's in a (nick)name?

Commissioner Don Garber that the 2009 expansion team wouldn't carry the same nickname as a loved but departed NASL franchise as well as the current USL entry, at high noon Monday came word: Seattle Sounders FC, joining the MLS club of Football Clubs that already includes Dallas and Toronto

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U.S. Earns Comprehensive 3-0 Win Against Poland

on Goals from Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu and Eddie Lewis - Donovan Adds Two Assist to Increase Career Record to 30 - U.S. Pulls Even in Series Against Poland with Record of 7-2-2; Remain Unbeaten in 2008 - Victory Marks First Time the U.S. Has Won Consecutive Games on European Soil - Up Next for the U.S. is a Pair of Friendlies in Europe Against England and Spain

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Nicolas Anelka quick to reveal weakness in slow progress under Fabio Capello

At least David Beckham will always have Paris. Quite what the rest of us get to take from this is a mystery, but if we stay with the Casablanca theme for one second, at least playing it again is not an option.

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Michael Bradley's All-Around Rise

It seems natural for the son of a prominent coach to become a savvy player, but young Michael Bradley's achievements have proved truly remarkable.

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Picking Donovan is a chance lost

Of the 18 players named to the U.S. roster to face Poland Wednesday in Krakow, perhaps the most obvious selection is the one who should have been omitted: Landon Donovan.

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U.S. Under-23 MNT Fall to Honduras in Overtime in CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Final

- U.S. and Honduras Both Advanced to Olympic Games in Beijing With Semifinal Wins - U.S. Held Scoreless for the First Time in the Tournament Despite 23-9 Shot Advantage - Honduras' 103rd Minute Goal Broke 421 Minute U.S. Shutout Streak

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USA Headed To Beijing

-USA Advances to Final of 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament -Freddy Adu Scores Two Free-kick Strikes, Leads Tournament With Four Goals in as Many Games -U.S. Picks Up Third-Consecutive Shut Out in Victory Without Letting Up a Shot on Goal

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Manchester United in cheek and bravery, but Cristiano Ronaldo beats Geaorge Best for goals

Best has often been named as the greatest player the United Kingdom has produced, but his standing as United’s best winger may be under threat from Cristiano Ronaldo. By overtaking the Northern Irishman’s record season’s goals tally for a wide man at the club, the Portuguese has prompted comparisons with his famous predecessor beyond mere scoring statistics.

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David Beckham recalled to England squad

David Beckham has been recalled to the England squad for next week's friendly against France in Paris, putting the midfielder on track to win his 100th cap. Fabio Capello, the England head coach, has also recalled Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott, nearly two years after he won his one and only cap as England's youngest ever player, and handed David Wheater, the Middlesbrough defender, a first international call-up.

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It's not like watching Brazil

If the Barclays Premier League is the best in the world, as many, including Sir Alex Ferguson, have suggested, there remains a puzzling gap in its make-up, a void, the filling of which is surely the next step in the evolution of English football. Our elite clubs dominate Europe, the wealth generated by our domestic competition and its prominence throughout the world is unmatched: so where are the beautiful Brazilians?

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U.S. Women Advance To Sixth Algarve Cup Final With 4-0 Win Over Norway

The U.S. Women will advance to play Denmark in an unprecedented sixth Algarve Cup Final following a dominating second half which fueled a 4-0 victory over Norway on Wednesday afternoon.

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U.S. Team Faces Norway For Berth in Algarve Cup Championship Game

U.S. TEAM FACES NORWAY FOR BERTH IN ALGARVE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: With two excellent results so far at the 2008 Algarve Cup, the U.S. Women’s National Team has put itself in position to earn a spot in the championship game with a win or a tie against Norway in the final Group B game for both teams. The match will take place on March 10 at Restinga Stadium in Alvor, kicking off at 3 p.m. local / 11 a.m. ET. Fans can follow the match live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

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U.S. Women Defeat China, 4-0, To Open 2008 Algarve Cup

The U.S. Women’s National Team got goals from four different players in a suffocating 4-0 victory against China to open the 2008 Algarve Cup. The match marked the third time the USA has scored four times against China in 39 meetings between the two countries, but it was the first time it had beaten the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2008 Olympics hosts by four goals.

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Arsenal manager hails his San Siro heroes

Arsène Wenger boldly predicted last night that Arsenal can win the Champions League this season after a 2-0 win over AC Milan took them into the quarter-finals at the expense of the holders. Late goals from the outstanding Cesc Fàbregas and Emmanuel Adebayor ensured that the visiting team became the first English side to beat Milan at the San Siro.

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Arsene Wenger's appliance of science pays off

"Technical superiority can be measured,” Arsène Wenger claims in a fascinating interview. He does not mean by the number of goals that may separate Arsenal from AC Milan in the Champions League this evening. The Frenchman is talking about computer data that may, for example, tell him exactly when to drop Alexander Hleb or why Gilberto Silva deserves to start ahead of Abou Diaby in the San Siro. His disclosures amount to a revealing insight into how science underpins the beautiful art of the Wenger regime.

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11 Questions with Tobin Heath

Numerous young players who have ascended into the National Team before their 20th birthday have gone on to have important international careers. Now, 19-year-old Tobin Heath is looking to make her mark. Having earned her first caps at the Four Nations Tournament in China last January, she is looking for more at the 2008 Algarve Cup in Portugal. As a player on the U.S. U-16, U-17 and U-20 National Teams, Heath was an avid reader of ussoccer.com. Today, it’s still her home page, and now she gets her own Q&A. Ussoccer.com sat down on a sunny afternoon in the Algarve with the vivacious Heath to chat about her time with the U.S. U-20s, her unique dribbling style and if she’s ever met anyone else named Tobin.

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