Étoile Carouge x Benfica

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Ao contrário das épocas anteriores, o Benfica abdicou à última hora do estágio de pré-temporada na Suíça, preferindo prosseguir a preparação dentro de portas, ou seja, no Caixa Futebol Campus, no Seixal. Ainda assim, as águias preservaram os três encontros particulares em solo helvético, a começar este sábado frente ao Étoile Carouge (19h30).

A mini digressão encarnada pela Suíça serve para Jorge Jesus avaliar pela primeira vez em competição os mecanismos trabalhados ao longo das últimas duas semanas em Portugal, com especial incidência nos reforços que chegaram para a nova época.

Lisandro López, Steven Vitória, Mitrovic, Sílvio, Bruno Cortez, Sulejmani, Djuricic e Lazar Markovic seguiram viagem com o restante grupo de trabalho e vão poder pela primeira vez exibir-se de águia ao peito.

Para lá das caras novas, Jesus integrou na comitiva outros nomes mais conhecidos mas que na pretérita temporada estiveram longe do Estádio da Luz. Rúben Amorim, Yannick Djaló e Michel têm trabalhado com o grupo no Seixal e passam por uma espécie de segunda vida no Benfica.

Se a presença de Rúben Amorim no plantel parece assegurada, já Yannick Djaló e Michel vão ter de provar ao técnico que há espaço para o seu futebol nos quadros encarnados; e a Suíça é um bom local para começar a prová-lo.

Do lado das ausências, nota para Carlos Martins. O médio português está de malas feitas para partir mas o clube ainda não encontrou um destinatário para o internacional português.

Por enquanto, Martins fica em Portugal, tal como Luisinho, Sidnei e Jara. Por sua vez, Garay, Cardozo e Rodrigo continuam de férias, sendo que o futuro do defesa argentino e do avançado paraguaio continua a flutuar no incerto.

USA vs Cuba July 13, 2013

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United States in their Gold Cup opener. The U.S. shouldn't face a truly difficult challenge until their last group stage game, but they'll face a bit more resistance than they did in their first match when they take on Cuba.

The Cubans stifled Costa Rica for periods of their first match, but were eventually outclassed. The Ticos were poor in the first half, but came out guns blazing in the second to score three times before the 77th minute. Things went much better for the United States in a 6-1 win, though they were probably less than pleased about conceding against Belize.

Expect Jurgen Klinsmann to keep his team mostly intact, though he could rotate in a few spots just to get a look at the different players in his squad.

Match date/time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT

USA vs Cuba in the Gold Cup 2013 soccer tournament takes place on Saturday afternoon with the United States looking to build on their confident blowout win against Belize in their opening game. The match will kick off at 3.30 p.m. ET and can be watched online through free live stream (details below).
The United States won their opening game against Belize 6-1, but today's opposition, Cuba, should put up more resistance and provide a tougher challenge for U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann's men.

At the moment in Group C, the United States are top after their large win, but they are just ahead of Costa Rica who beat Cuba 3-0 in their opening encounter. That should mean that the U.S. are hot favorites for another good win today. Costa Rica also will be big favorites to put a hatful past lowly Belize, and that should set up a USA vs Costa Rica game to close out the group to decide who will top Group C for the knock out rounds.

The United States are the tournament favorites in many people's minds, especially given how Mexico have been in very lukewarm form and have a relatively inexperienced squad with them in this Gold Cup tournament.

Jurgen Klinsmann will be pleased with his squad right now, even though many players could be labeled as second string to his regular starting 11, they have performed well and have played with fluency and conviction.

Cuba meanwhile know they have to pull off a shock today if they are to have any reasonable chance of progressing. If they lose here today they will basically be on the brink even before their final game of the group. They will probably more realistically be looking to claim one of the two third place qualifying positions to get through to the next round. So even if they can claim a draw today it would be a massive result for them.

Marseille FC Porto 13 juillet 2013

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L'Olympique de Marseille a été tenu en échec mardi soir 8 juillet par Sion 1-1 dans le cadre de la Valais Cup, tournoi amical de préparation d'avant-saison disputé disputé sur le terrain du club suisse qui a fini par s'imposer aux tirs aux buts, 4 à 3.

Le vice-champion de France faisait sa première mise en jambe, sans ses internationaux français et sa recrue vedette Dimitri Payet, qui rejoindront les troupes mercredi dans leur camp montagnard de Crans-Montana, à quelques kilomètres de là. Plus que le spectacle assez limité, cette rencontre a permis surtout à l'entraîneur Elie Baup de faire tourner son effectif, procédant au fil du match à 11 changements pour offrir du temps de jeu à des jeunes joueurs du centre de formation.

Les Marseillais doivent au défenseur de Sion André Marques leur premier but de la saison. Sur un corner de Morgan Amalfitano, repris de la tête par Lucas Mendes, le Portugais a dévié le ballon dans ses propres filets, permettant à l'OM de prendre l'avantage dès la 9e minute (1-0). Si le premier quart d'heure était animé, le rythme de la rencontre a vite décéléré. Sion, qui s'est bien offert quelques occasions de recoller au score, a manqué de réalisme, jusqu'à la 88e minute quand le jeune attaquant suisse Gaëtan Karlen a réveillé le stade de Tourbillon en trompant Bracigliano (1-1).

Comme le veut le règlement du tournoi, les deux équipes ont alors procédé à une séance de tirs au but, d'où l'OM est sortie perdante après deux tentatives ratés d'Anani et d'Azouni. Les équipes n'étaient pas au même niveau de préparation physique puisque Sion retrouvera le championnat suisse dès samedi, alors que Marseille ne reprend que dans un mois.

Ce samedi 12 juillet, le dernier match de cette Valais Cup entre l'OM et le FC Porto, deux clubs engagés en Ligue des Champions, s'annonce plus corsé.

Preston vs Liverpool July 13, 2013

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Kickoff at Deepdale, Saturday July 13 at 3 p.m. UK / 10 a.m. ET

Hello, football fans, and welcome to what is officially the first match of the new season!

It seems as though we've barely had any time away from the game at all with the raft of international tournaments taking place all summer, but the preseason campaign for 2013-14 is about to get up and running for Liverpool as they take on Preston North End in their first friendly match.

The Reds could have four new faces involved, while plenty of younger faces might also get game time as the players look for fitness and rhythm after their time off.

It might only be a friendly match, but the excitement of getting the new season started will be in place nonetheless, as will, presumably, one of Liverpool's new kits for the forthcoming season.

Make sure you join me from around an hour before kickoff for all the team news, buildup and in-game action as we chart the progress of the Reds at the start of Brendan Rodgers' second season in charge.

Liverpool get their preseason campaign up and running on Saturday as they take on Preston North End in their first friendly fixture of the summer.

The Reds are gearing up for their only preseason game on home soil before they head for the Southern Hemisphere and their tour of Australia and Thailand. Brendan Rodgers and his team have been back in training for close to two weeks, undertaking physical work mixed in with ball work, and this will be the first chance for the players to get back on the pitch after the summer off.

Liverpool ended last season placed in seventh in the Premier League, while Preston ended 14th in League One, the third tier of English football.

The two clubs have met a total of 69 times, with the last match coming in 2009, an FA Cup third round game which the Reds triumphed in, 2-0. Albert Riera and Fernando Torres scored for Liverpool. Just five of the Reds' players in that match-day squad remain at the club.


The winners of the friendly fixture will be awarded with the Bill Shankly trophy, a specially-commissioned trophy to mark the occasion. "Shanks" was a player for Preston, making over 300 appearances for them, before he later became perhaps the most famous Liverpool manager ever, taking the club from the Second Division to Champions of England.


Team News

Liverpool are without their Confederations Cup participants, who have not yet returned to training.

Seb Coates, Luis Suarez and Pepe Reina will therefore play no part in the friendly.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has intimated, via the official club website, that the four new signings—Kolo Toure, Iago Aspas, Simon Mignolet and Luis Alberto—may all play a part in the game.

There's every chance. All of the players are working here. If they are all well and fit then they will travel for the game on Saturday. Simon Mignolet will play, of course; Aspas, Luis Alberto and Kolo Toure - they will all get a run-out.



Preston have so far signed three players to permanent deals, including former Premier League striker Kevin Davies, and have loaned Norwich City goalkeeper Declan Rudd. All four players could also play a part for Preston against Liverpool.

Thailand Stars vs Manchester United July 13, 2013

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Manchester United begin their pre-season friendly in Asia when they kick off on a friendly match against Thailand all stars. After a warm and huge welcome at Thailand, they are now ready to kick off on a friendly match. For Manchester United, the world’s eye will be on David Moyes and how he handles his team for the first time live.

David Moyes has named 19 players in his Manchester United squad which jets off to Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday as part of the Tour 2013 presented by Aon.

Goalkeepers: Anders Lindegaard, Ben Amos

Defenders: Rafael, Phil Jones, Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, Alex Büttner, Fabio, Michael Keane

Midfielders: Michael Carrick, Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Ryan Giggs, Wilfried Zaha, Jesse Lingard, Adnan Januzaj

Strikers: Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck

However Rooney might not play because of Hamstring.

England vs Australia July 13, 2013

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England ended Day 3 on 326/6 to lead Australia by 261 runs. Bell (95*) and Broad (47*). Together with Broad, Bell has so far added an unbroken 108 for the seventh wicket. It was a potentially decisive partnership, with the most runs ever scored by a side in the fourth innings to win a Test at Trent Bridge the 284 for six England made against New Zealand at the Nottingham ground in 2004.

All Started with Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen slowly bringing England back into the game after Ashton Agar special on Day 2. Australia then fought back through Agar and Pattinson, before Bell and Broad got together to practically take the game away from Australia. Some fortunes did come England's way with Australia running out of Decision Reviews but the hosts will take that with open arms.

Pietersen hailed Ian Bell for wresting the initiative from Australia in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge and defended Broad from allegations of bad sportsmanship. 

Earlier, Australia were left fuming as England's Stuart Broad enjoyed a massive slice of luck on the third day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on Friday.

Broad, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, had made 37, with England then 297 for seven in their second innings, when he edged teenage debutant spinner Ashton Agar.

The ball clipped wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's gloves and then flew to Australia captain Michael Clarke at first slip.

Australia appealed for the catch but leading Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar ruled in the batsman's favour as Broad stood his ground.