A few things...

[Photo: NBC]

I am extremely, extremely disappointed in your behavior, Michael Gary Scott. Very, very disappointed indeed...

#1 - Delayed from yesterday by another publisher malfunction, my capsule preview for the Under-20 World Cup is now up. Hosts Egypt opened the proceedings last night with a thorough 4-1 rout of CONCACAF's Trinidad & Tobago.

And later today, in addition to an On tap: USA v Germany, I will do something extremely foolish by posting my predictions for the entire tourney in a separate post. Yes, I truly am an idiot.

By the way, I'm pretty sure you stateside folks can watch all the action with a great picture and English commentary on FIFA.com. Right now, I have Italy v Paraguay (my pick for the best opening match-up) going on my computer.

#2 - I also caught up with Rangers midfielder Mo Edu yesterday for a recovery update.

And as shocking (!) as this is, I will give it some pub because it's for charity. Ladies and gentleman, Maurice Edu rocks Blue Steel shirtless.

#3 - Speaking of silly contests for charity, head over to Stuart Holden's blog post about the still-developing details of his hair wager with Houston Dynamo teammate Bobby Boswell.

They will compete in some sort of decathlon with the bet being: either Holden gets a buzzcut or Boswell frosts his head (a la Holden).

#4 - Courtesy of Jared Montz's Blog, we have a podcast plus with Revs keeper Matt Reis.

By the way, that's some nice Face-In-Hole work done on the big netminder. Ugh, The Distracter has made about 20 of those with my pics. I'll just have to hope she doesn't find the "Luis Fangoso" template.

#5 - It seems as though the USMNT may play a World Cup tune-up against the Netherlands in Eindhoven next March.

De. Luxe. For me. And, of course by content extension, for you. I'm quite certain The Distracter will even want come along and shoot the match with her monster camera (though she seems to prefer reaction shots to action shots).

#6 - Meanwhile, amid talk the next World Cup qualifier could be moved from Honduras, Landon Donovan tells Big Apple Soccer that he doesn't care where it is - just bring it on.

#7 - Steve Davis. MLS sandblasting. Enjoy.

#8 - Du Nord guest poster Carl Carpenter brings us some flavor with a couple interviews conducted at the most recent Steve Nash court soccer event in New York. His gets? Claudio Reyna and Salomon Kalou.

#9 - Hmm. So Ghana star Steven Appiah needed knee surgery. Is that why he's waited so long to sign for a club? Has he finally made his mind up? Bologna is the best team after him?

#10 - You simply must know how much I hate share this, but... F-word defender Ron Vlaar lobbed the keeper from his own end in last night's early round Dutch Cup win over an amateur side.




- Greg Seltzer