This Thanksgiving I would like to point out the things American soccer fans should be thankful for.  So here we go:

1. I'm thankful that America is the land of opportunity that caused so many people to immigrate to the United States and bring the beautiful game with them.

2. I'm thankful for the St. Louis Amatuer Football Association which was the first organized league in the country and laid the grass roots foundation for the sport in the U.S.

3. I'm thankful for FIFA granting the U.S. Football Association full membership on August 15, 1913

4. I'm thankful for the U.S. Open Cup which kept the competitive game alive when no professional leagues existed. 

5. I'm thankful for FIFA organizing the first World Cup in 1930 hosted in Uruguay creating what would become the most popular sporting event in the world.

6. I'm thankful for the 1950 U.S. World Cup team which upset England 1-0.

7. I'm thankful for NCAA soccer and the pioneering coaches who increased the sports popularity in the 1970's and 08's which played a direct role in increasing the talent pool for the U.S national team.

8. I'm thankful for the North American Soccer League which first exposed the U.S. to soccer greats like Pele, Cruyff, and Beckenbauer. 

9. I'm thankful for Paul Caliguri scoring the "goal heard round the world" in a 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago clinching the USA's first appearance in the World Cup since 1950. 

10. I'm thankful for the men and women who brough the 1994 World Cup to the United States.

11. I'm thankful for the visions of men like Lamar Hunt and Phil Anschutz who invested heavily in Major League Soccer bringing back the professional game in this country.

12. I'm thankful for Major League Soccer- the simply fact the U.S. even has its own professional league even if it's not the English Premier League, La Liga or Serie A.

13. I'm thankful for the American players who currently practice their trade abroad living what I am sure is a difficult lifestyle to become better players.

14. I'm thankful that ESPN has seen the value of soccer to their programming and their broadcasts of U.S. national team, MLS, UEFA Champions League, World Cup and Euro 2008 matches. 

15. I'm thankful for Fox Soccer Channel and the Fox Football Fone-In show allowing fans to have their voice. 

16. I'm thankful for the new CONCACAF Champions League. 

17. I'm thankful for all the volunteer coaches out there who take the time to coach and develop young players. 

18. I'm thankful for all the referees out there, because without them, the organized game could not exist. 

So that's what THIS American soccer fan is thankful for.

What are YOU thankful for?

The U.S. men's national team showed some signs of progress last night holding the 4th ranked team in the world scoreless for well over an hour. 

However Xavi Hernandez broke the goal drought in the 79th minute.  After hitting the wood work twice, Hernandez wove his way through four American defenders and slipped one just under Brad Guzan.

Unlike the Yanks last outing against England, the U.S. offense did show some signs of life despite not finding the back of the onion bag.  Forwards Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson created chances around goal.  In the 30th minute, Johnson found the net but was called off-side by the assistant referee.. 

Defensively, the American squad enter the match with a chip on their shoulders.  The players stayed organized and compact shutting down Spain's passing lanes.  Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu kept Xabi Alonso and Cesc Fabrergas in check while centerbacks Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu limited the chances of Liverpool's Fernando Torres. 

As the game wore, Spain proved why they are favorite to win the Euros sending wave after attack wave into the U.S. defensive third of the pitch.  Guzan made a handful more of clutch saves that kept his side in the game. 

Down a goal late in the match, the U.S. gave it all once last final effort to equalize.  They created two chances in added time starting with a header from Bradley off a cross from Frankie Hejduk.  Johnson made a last minute run into the box letting go a tight-angle shot that was easily picked off by Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Team USA returns home and will play #1 in the world Argentina at Giants Stadium this Sunday in one last final test before their first World Cup Qualifier against Barbados June 12 at the Home Depot Center.

Just last night, Argentina smoked Mexico 4-0 in San Diego, CA.   

-- U.S. Men's National Team Game Report -- Match-up: USA vs. Spain Date: June 4, 2008 Competition: International Friendly Venue: Estadio El Sardinero - Santander, Spain Kickoff: 10 p.m. local time Attendance: 14,232 Weather: 59 degrees, light rain Scoring Summary:            1   2   F USA   0   0   0 ESP   0   1   1 Scoring Summary: ESP - 8-Xavi Hernandez (10-Cesc Fabregas) 79th minute. Lineups: USA: 1-Tim Howard (18-Brad Guzan, 46); 6-Steve Cherundolo (5-Frankie Hejduk, 46), 22-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (Capt.), 12-Heath Pearce; 8-Clint Dempsey (25-Pablo Mastroeni, 86), 26-Maurice Edu, 4-Michael Bradley, 11-Eddie Lewis (16-Josh Wolff, 70); 9-Eddie Johnson, 19-Freddy Adu (7-DaMarcus Beasley, 46) Subs not used:, 2-Dan Califf, 23-Jay DeMerit Head Coach: Bob Bradley ESP: 1-Iker Casillas (capt.); 11-Joan Capdevila (3-Fernando Navarro, 53), 4-Carlos Marchena, 5-Carlos Puyol, 15-Sergio Ramos; 12-Santi Cazorla, 8-Xavi Hernandez, 14-Xabi Alonso (19-Marcos Senna, 46), 21-David Silva (22-Ruben De La Red, 58); 9-Fernando Torres (17-Daniel Güiza, 46), 10-Cesc Fabregas (18-Álvaro Arbeloa, 84) Subs not used: 23-Pepe Reina, 13-Andrés Palop; 2-Raúl Albiol, , 7-David Villa, 16-Sergio Garcia, , 20-Juanito Head Coach: Luis Aragones Stats Summary:  USA / ESP Shots                           8 / 15 Saves                           6 / 2 Corner Kicks               3 / 7 Fouls                          15 / 8 Offside                          2 / 1 Misconduct Summary: USA - Michael Bradley (caution)     77th minute. Officials: Referee: Sokol Jareci (ALB) First Asst.: Egin Doda (ALB) Second Asst.: Emilian Bicaku (ALB) Fourth Official: Alfonso Burrull (ESP) Sierra Mist Man of the Match: Oguchi Onyewu

It's about 6 hours to kick-off, here is the latest on the Yanks ...

Jonathon Spector is out 3-6 months will a hip injury that will require surgery.

U.S. Roster by position:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)  

FORWARDS (4): Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Nate Jaqua (out of contract), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff (out of contract)

USA vs. Spain Facts:

- The U.S. has played Spain just twice in its history, and holds an 0-2-0 record against the country from the Iberian Peninsula.

- The first meeting between the two countries came in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, with the U.S. going down 3-1 to the eventual fourth place finishers. The U.S. rebounded from the loss, and four days later would go on to beat England 1-0 in Belo Horizonte.

- Following Landon Donovan's withdrawal from the lineup against England, Ricardo Clark remains the only U.S. player to have appeared in all four U.S. games this year, though with Clark not on the squad against Spain, his streak of appearances will end after Wednesday.

- U.S. MNT Assistant Mike Sorber is a former member of the U.S. National Team who made 67 appearances for his country, and played the last time the U.S. traveled to Spain, lining up in Valladolid on March 11, 1992.

Spain Euro 2008 Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Andres Palop (Sevilla)  

DEFENDERS (8): Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Raul Albiol (Valencia), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Fernando Navarro (Real Mallorca), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Juanito (Real Betis)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Ruben de la Red (Getafe), Marcos Senna (Villarreal)

FORWARDS (4): David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Guiza (Real Mallorca), Sergio Garcia (Real Zaragoza), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Spain's last time out

Spain enters tonights match coming off a 2-1 victory over Peru last Saturday.  Villa shed first blood for Spain by tapping a ball from Xavi into the onion bag in the 37th minute.  According to sources at ussoccer. com, Spain continued kept up an intensive offense and continued to pile on chances to scored deep into the late stages of the second half.  Peru dug in and put 11 men behind the ball.  Peru finally got on the board in the 73rd minute when substitute Hernan Rengifo capitalized on a mix up between Casillas and Marchena.  Casillas looked to be coming out to claim the ball, but Marchena opted to deal with the danger himself and his attempted clearance went straight to Rengifo, who sent a looping header back over the stranded Casillas and into the net.  with time running out left-back Capdevila latched onto Cesc Fabregas' cross to send a thunderous right-footed volley into the roof of the net for the winning goal.

U.S. head coach Bob Bradley will keep the core of his squad that played against England intact for the match-up with Spain.

In fact, all 17 European-bases players traveled to Santander. Bradley will make the final decisions on the remaining seven roster slots this weekend. All eyes are focused on Landon Donovon who remains one cap shy of his 100th. Donovan will lead an MLS contingent that includes Maurice Edu, Frankie Hejduk, Brad Guzan and Pablo Mastroeni.

Under the leadership of manager Luis Aragones, Spain will use this match as a final tune-up for Euro 2008 where they will play in Group D of the tournament with Russia, Sweden and the 2004 champion Greece. Liverpool striker Fernando Torres who score 24 goals in the EPL will lead a Spanish side already loaded on talent and experience. Torres broke the EPL record for most goals scored by a foreigner in his debut season.

Spain and the U.S. are ranked 3rd and 21st in world respectively according to the FIFA World Rankings.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)

DEFENDERS (9): Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)

FORWARDS (5): Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Nate Jaqua (out of contract), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff (out of contract)

England manager Fabio Capello wanted to make a statement and that's exactly what he did when his side beat the Yanks 2-0 last night at New Wembley.

In the 38th minute captain John Terry exorcised his Champions League Final demons and converted a classic David Beckham set piece from 40 yards from goal on the right flank.  The L.A. Galaxy midfield swerved in a dipping cross and the England captain rose above the crowd near the penalty spot to nod one home past U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard into the right corner.

England doubled their lead in the 59th minute courtesy of Steve Gerrard.  Wes Brown passed the ball to Gareth Barry in the midfield who then played a ball splitting the U.S. backline and into the path of a perfectly timed run by Gerrard.  Gerrard kept the ball at his feet just long enough to draw U.S. substitute goalkeeper Brad Guzan off his line before slipping a shot across the goal into the lower left corner. 

“First, I would give credit to England,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley on ussoccer.com. “Overall, I thought that the first 30 minutes we dealt pretty well with the speed of the game. As we moved on in the half, certainly we hurt ourselves with giving away some fouls around the box to a dangerous team on set pieces, and they took advantage of that. In the second half there was an attempt to push a level up on our end, but we couldn't sustain enough pressure, and in that regard England on the night was quite good. The second goal for them was excellent passing movement and I give them credit."

The loss broke the American's five game unbeaten streak was their first loss of 2008.  It was also the USA's first loss in four away matches after setting a team record of three consecutive victories outside their borders.

The Yanks will now focus their efforts of fourth-ranked Spain who are preparing for the 2008 European Championships.  Bradley's squad travels to Santander today to prepare for their matchup on Wednesday June 4 at Estadio El Sardinero.

Match-up: USA vs. England
Date: May 28, 2008
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Wembley Stadium – London, England
Kickoff: 8 p.m. GMT
Attendance: 71,233
Weather: 57 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:
           1   2   F
USA   0   0   0
ENG  1   1   2

Scoring:
ENG – John Terry (David Beckham) 38th minute.
ENG – Steven Gerrard (Gareth Barry) 59.


Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard (18-Brad Guzan, 46); 6-Steve Cherundolo (27-Frankie Hejduk, 46), 22-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (Capt.), 12-Heath Pearce; 8-Clint Dempsey, 13-Ricardo Clark (26-Maurice Edu, 78), 4-Michael Bradley, 7-DaMarcus Beasley (11-Eddie Lewis, 68); 9-Eddie Johnson (14-Nate Jaqua, 89), 16-Josh Wolff (19-Freddy Adu, 68)

Subs not used 2-Dan Califf,

Head Coach: Bob Bradley

ENG: 1-David James; 2-Wes Brown (13-Glen Johnson, 58), 6-John Terry (capt.), 3-Ashley Cole (14-Wayne Bridge, 83), 5-Rio Ferdinand; 7-David Beckham (17-David Bentley, 46), 4-Owen Hargreaves, 8-Frank Lampard (21-Gareth Barry, 57), 10-Steven Gerrard; 9-Jermain Defoe (25-Peter Crouch, 68), 11-Wayne Rooney (22-Joe Cole, 79)

Subs not used: 12-Joe Hart, 15-Stephen Warnock, 16-Jonathan Woodgate, 18-Phil Jagielka, 19-David Wheater, 20-Tom Huddlestone, 23-Stewart Downing, 24-Ashley Young, , 26-Dean Ashton, 27-Theo Walcott, 28-Gabriel Agbonlahor, 29-Joe Lewis

Head Coach: Fabio Capello

Stats Summary:
      USA / ENG
Shots 9 / 16
Saves 3 / 2
Corner Kicks 5 / 4
Fouls 21 / 23
Offside 3 / 4

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Steve Cherundolo (caution) 44th minute.
USA – Heach Pearce (caution) 71.
ENG – Wayne Rooney (caution) 76.

Officials:
Referee: Kyros Vassaras (GRE)
First Asst.: Dimitrios Bozaizides (GRE)
Second Asst.: Dimitrios Saraidaris (GRE)
Fourth Official: Peter Walton (ENG)

Sierra Mist Man of the Match: Eddie Johnson 

Soccer fans know a match is highly anticipated when some bold headlines grace the media out there, and there have been plenty regarding the USA-England match tomorrow night at "football's" Mecca- Wembley Stadium.

At ESPN's soccernet.com a headline read: "England: Losing not an option" and mlsnet.com quoted U.S. head coach Bob Bradley saying "This is no exhibition."  However both sides' respective managers have much to prove against each other. 

England is well aware of the dishwasher from Haiti named Joe Gaetjens who scored the game winning goal to upset England in the 1950 World Cup and hopes to avoid the same embarassment.  The Three Lions are still suffering from their hangover of failing to qualify for the European Championship and boss Fabio Capello hopes to recover from his first defeat at the hands of France in March.

Bradley already has victories over Switzerland, Sweden and Poland so a result against England time would not be nearly as shocking as it was in 1950 or 1993, but 3-0 win over Poland on their turf gave the Yanks a big confidence boost. The American boss is treating this fixture with the utmost importance and has told the media his squad will treat this match like the Champions League final because they want a little ... 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. 

However, Capello's current pool of 31 players included eight who actually PLAYED in the Champions Leage Final, and even if those men do not take the pitch England is still capable of putting a tough squad on the pitch. 

Lastly, tomorrow's match provides a rare opporunity for Team USA to play in one of the cathredrals of the sport. Many consider Wembley the most revered ground in the world as the lhost of the annual F.A. Cup- the oldest cup competition in the world.  The team's only previous Wembley encounter came just after the 1994 World Cup, when two Alan Shearer goals condemned the Americans to a 2-0 defeat.

Jeff Carlisle, an MLS and U.S. national team beat writer for ESPN.com, put together a nice "Players to Watch List" that everyone should take a look at:

1. Steven Gerrard, M, England

With his club side, Liverpool, unencumbered by Champions League obligations, Gerrard is one of those players who has been able to get a bit of rest. That should come in handy on Wednesday, with his two-way game and ability to get forward a major worry for the Americans.

2. Carlos Bocanegra, D, U.S.

The part-time U.S. captain was just released by EPL side Fulham, and while his four and a half years in London have made Bocanegra a known commodity in Europe, a solid performance against England will only increase his chances of finding a new club. The Americans' prowess on set pieces is a major part of the U.S. attack, and as his goal against Poland showed, Bocanegra is a big contributor in this area.

3. John Terry, D, England

There isn't a distillery big enough to wash away Terry's Champions League nightmare. The Chelsea captain missed a potential game-winning attempt in the penalty shootout, opening the door for Manchester United to claim Europe's biggest prize. While there's a temptation to think Terry needs some rest after such a trauma, the English captaincy is still up for grabs, increasing the likelihood the defender will see the field.

4. DaMarcus Beasley, M, U.S.

The Rangers midfielder sustained a major knee injury during a Champions League game in November, but Beasley managed to recover in time to score in the Glasgow club's 3-2 Scottish Cup final victory over Queen of the South on May 17. The Americans have found the left midfield spot difficult to fill in his absence, and given the pace and stellar defensive work Beasley provides, the U.S. side will be eager to see him back in the lineup.

5. David Bentley, M, England

While most American eyes will be on Beckham, Bentley is his heir apparent on the right side of the midfield, with his crossing ability and nose for the goal making him an early favorite of Capello's. Bentley created a stir last summer when he refused to participate in the European U-21 Championships, citing fatigue. But his exploits at the club level with Blackburn Rovers have seen him get back into the national team frame.

Any thoughts?  Share them!