Good evening folks. After a day of sun, and the requisite nap that comes with sunning, I wanted to offer up some observations as well as news tidbits to keep the day going for those of you who have turned to SBI for your soccer fix.

Peru reduces suspensions, stars set to return

Reversing what was clearly a dumb decision a few months too late, the Peruvian Football Federation has reduced the suspensions of Jefferson Farfan, Claudio Pizarro and Santiago Acasiete.

You know that dream scenario? The one where the U.S. Olympic team shocks the world and wins the gold medal? Yes, that one. Well, Argentina called, and they said wake up.

Argentina named its Olympic team, and as expected, it is loaded.

Juan Riquelme, Javier Mascherano and Nicolas Burdisso are the overage players on a squad that was probably good enough with just the U-23 players.

In a two-game series that saw 10 goals scored you wouldn't expect a goalkeeper to be the hero, but Liga de Quito goalkeeper Jose Francisco Cevallos was just that for Liga. Cevallos made three penalty kick saves to help Liga de Quito beat Brazilian club Fluminense, 3-1, in penalty kicks to capture the Copa Libertadores title last night at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

The best team in South America just might come from......Ecuador.

Yes, you read that right. Liga Deportivo de Quito, a club most American soccer fans have never heard of, smoked Brazilian side Fluminense, 4-2, in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final on Thursday night. The second leg is set for next Wednesday at the Maracana.

Good morning everybody. I'm back from my weekend away and there is a bunch to discuss from the soccer world this Monday morning.

Let's start with several surprising World Cup qualiying results throughout the world.

Brazil, Argentina struggle before big clash

Paraguay moved into first place in South American World Cup qualifying with its 2-0 win against Brazil on Sunday.

Good morning folks. Apologies for the delay in getting the day started but a blackout in North Bergen, home of the SBI compound, last night and this morning was to blame.

Let's get to some news:

Altidore may stay with Villarreal

As we reported last night, Jozy Altidore is set to be introduced at Villarreal today and now comes word from Spanish daily Marca that Altidore may stay with the 'Yellow Submarine' a while.

Photo by ISI Photos

Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Julio Cruz headline the 21-man roster chosen by Argentina head coach Alfio Basile to take part in Argentina's upcoming friendlies against Mexico (June 4) and USA (June 8).

Good morning all. Today is the big day for Champions League fans as Manchester United faces Barcelona in a winner-take-all semifinal second leg today.

I will be writing about that match shortly. For now, here are some soccer news tidbits to get the day started:

Brazil to tour United States, play Canada in Seattle

The Brazilian national team will play matches against Canada and Venezuela in the United States this summer.

Guten Morgen SBI readers. You might think Thursday is a day to take it easy in terms of soccer news, but there is action today that will keep it from being all that quiet. You have UEFA Cup semifinals, the ESPN MLS game (New England at FC Dallas) and the build-up to this weekend's EPL title clash between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Good morning folks. Wednesday is here, which means today is the day of the Manchester United-Barcelona Champions League semifinal. It promises to be a match-up for the ages and will certainly have most of us glued to the TV this afternoon.

Since that is still several hours away, here are some soccer stories to tide you over this morning:

Vidic doubtful for semifinal

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is doubtful for today's Champions League semifinal vs.

If you are in the mood to watch a bunch of intense rivalries, this is your weekend.

As if the Old Firm clash at midweek wasn't enough to quench the thirst of fans who relish the chance to see arch-rivals do battle, this weekend brings us several good match-ups that can be considered must-see, even if they aren't necessarily between table-topping teams.

Twenty-eight games. That is how many soccer games you will be able to watch on TV this weekend if you are lucky enough to have Fox Soccer Channel, GolTV, Setanta Sports USA, Telefutura and HDNet. Now I'm sure there are plenty of matches I'm not listing, but ask your self, isn't 28 enough?

Hugo Sanchez has been fired as head coach of the Mexican national team.

The greatest player in Mexican soccer history lasted barely more than a year before three failed attempts to beat the United States and a disastrous Olympic Qualifying campaign did him in before he even had a chance to coach a World Cup qualifier.

It is going to be one of those holidays. You know the ones, where you have to find some very good excuses to score the necessary two to four hours of TV time to watch some marquee soccer action. Your family commitments are going to keep you busy but where there's a will, there's a way to still catch the can't-miss match (or matches).

It is going to be one of those holidays. You know the ones, where you have to find some very good excuses to score the necessary two to four hours of TV time to watch some marquee soccer action. Your family commitments are going to keep you busy but where there's a will, there's a way to still catch the can't-miss match (or matches).

Good morning all. Plenty of subjects to touch on today, particularly in the wake of the U.S. Under-23 team qualifying for the Olympics, but I will touch on that later. Here is a roundup of news stories that have surfaced over the past day or so:

Beckham a future MLS owner?

"What do you mean don't bother coming back?"

Hugo Sanchez is a Mexican soccer legend, having starred for the national team and Real Madrid, but his career as Mexican national team coach may end at the hands of none other than the Hatian Under-23 national team on Sunday.

"What do you mean don't bother coming back?"

Hugo Sanchez is a Mexican soccer legend, having starred for the national team and Real Madrid, but his career as Mexican national team coach may end at the hands of none other than the Hatian Under-23 national team on Sunday.

Just when you thought the U.S. Under-23 national team had problems with Olympic Qualifying comes the story of Mexico, which will now head into its third qualifying match with just one point from two matches.

Mexico's Under-23 team lost to Guatemala on Friday night, 2-1, at Home Depot Center.

Five Cuban players walked out of a Tampa hotel, hoping to find freedom, and for some, a chance for a better fate for their soccer playing careers. Two more players followed their lead a day later.

What will happen next? For team captain Yenier Bermudez and goalkeeper Jose Manuel Miranda, who were definitely impressive against the U.

Call it the calm before the storm.

The Champions League returns this week with some amazing match-ups. Unfortunately, the weekend before those match-ups is light on marquee fixtures. With the FA Cup in action this weekend you have one amazing match, Arsenal vs. Manchester United, but you'll need to see that at a bar or pub (or pay per view perhaps?

FIRST ON SBI

Photo by ISI Photos

The Los Angeles Galaxy is set to address its defensive woes by adding one of the league's best veteran defenders.

The Galaxy is set to acquire defender Greg Vanney from D.

FIRST ON SBI

Photo by ISI Photos

The Los Angeles Galaxy is set to address its defensive woes by adding one of the league's best veteran defenders.

The Galaxy is set to acquire defender Greg Vanney from D.

Good morning folks. As you can tell, it has been a pretty slow week as MLS clubs go through the paces in pre-season camps. There is always some news to go over. I have a few tidbits for you but before I get those I will address a rumor that has picked up way more steam than it needed to.

Stop of you've seen this scenario play out.

If you are a soccer fan in the United States you might not realize it but this is the time of year many American sports fans dread. The NFL season is over and baseball season is weeks away. The NBA and NHL are in the middle of rather meaningless regular seasons and only college hoops seems to produce decent games.