Jay DeMerit Journal: What it's like to be an MLS All-Star

DeMerit breaks down his whirlwind week around the All-Star game, which saw him play three games in six days.

The final whistle blows at BC Place, and our fans are going wild as the Vancouver Whitecaps have just seen out a victory against the league leaders San Jose Earthquakes. It was a great win for us, not only because San Jose is the top team, but in the previous weeks we had seen our leads diminish in the final minutes of our games against Toronto FC and LA Galaxy to end in disappointing results. But not this time! We stayed organized and put in a solid performance to come through 2-1 winners. 

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Martin Rogers: Japan's women's soccer team plays to intentional draw

The Japanese women ground out a draw in order to avoid 300 miles of travel, ensuring a tougher quarterfinal draw in the process.

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LONDON – The Olympics' match-fixing controversy spread to the soccer tournament on Wednesday after revelations that women's world champion Japan deliberately drew its final group game. Japan's head coach Norio Sasaki ordered his players to adopt a game plan focused entirely on defense against South Africa on Tuesday, despite its opponent being one of the weakest in the competition. 

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Everton completes Pienaar signing

The South African has completed a permanent move back to the Toffees after re-joining the club on loan in January following a disappointing year at Tottenham

 

Pienaar moved to Everton in July 2007 on loan from Bundesliga giant Borussia Dortmund before signing on a permanent basis the following year.

He moved to Spurs in Jan. 2011 but failed to establish himself under Harry Redknapp and subsequently rejoined the Toffees.

"I am happy to be here. It took a few weeks to sort out but I am delighted to be back and excited to play for Everton," he told evertontv.

"There was no doubt in my mind that I would be back here. At the end of the season I told the manager how I felt and I am happy now it is all done."

Everton boss David Moyes had revealed earlier in the summer that his main target for the summer was to complete a deal for Pienaar.

The Toffees kick off their Premier League campaign with a tricky home fixture against last season’s runner-up Manchester United.

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Clint Dempsey-Fulham FC Getty UPDATED: Tuesday, 11:11 a.m. ET Clint Dempsey is out of Fulham’s preseason training camp in Switzerland as he eyes a move to Liverpool, Goal.com has learned. Don't Miss Liverpool prepares Dempsey bid Dempsey was not on the plane that left London on Monday morning to take part in the week-long trip, leading to further speculation that a transfer to the Reds may be in the works. It was initially unclear if it was Dempsey's decision or coach Martin Jol's to keep the American off the trip, but a Fulham spokesperson confirmed that Dempsey stayed behind to work on his fitness. "Clint and Hugo Rodallega are both staying in London to work on their fitness at the training ground. Neither are scheduled to feature in the weekend friendly against Nice which is the reason neither have traveled," a Fulham spokesperson told Goal.com. Fulham will spend the week in Switzerland ahead of a friendly in neighboring France against Nice on Saturday before returning to the UK. The 29-year-old has made it clear to Jol and senior Fulham figures that he wants to quit the club for Liverpool, whose manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he has made enquiries about signing the player. As revealed by Goal.com earlier this month, the attacking midfielder, who scored 17 Premier League goals last season and 23 in all competitions, has rejected Fulham’s offer of a new three year-contract that includes an option for a fourth year. Dempsey, who moved to west London five-and-a-half years ago, believes that Liverpool’s interest could be the last opportunity he gets to play for one of the elite Premier League clubs. Nevertheless, he has vowed to remain professional while his future remains in doubt and trained with Fulham’s youth team at its Motspur Park base on Monday morning.

The talented shot-stopper is forcing himself to improve after missing out on the London Olympics with Team USA.

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After seeing his club team finish a disappointing seventh in the Eastern Conference during his first full season between the sticks, D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid thought things could get better from there.

One shocking elimination from CONCACAF's Olympic Qualifying tournament later, and the 21-year-old was left searching for answers.

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Those answers have come in the form of a rock-sold sophomore season with capital city club, one that has it in a not-so-distant fourth place in the table after just under two-thirds of the season.

“I feel like I let a lot of people down with that [the Olympic issue] and I wanted to show what I can do," Hamid told Goal.com about the ouster back in March. "That’s never something you can make up for, it’s the Olympics. All I can do at this point is work on my game hard, every single day and be the best teammate I can be. If I get that national team call-up again, I’m definitely going to represent my country the right way.”

Having started only 10 of the team's 20 matches so far this season due to injury and the aforementioned Olympic absence, Hamid has officially established himself as D.C.'s starting keeper since early May, a run that has seen the Black-and-Red lose only three matches. The Virginia-native credits a renewed sense of focus in the locker room, one that has been strong since the preseason.

“It’s been good, we’re doing extremely well," said Hamid of the season so far. "We’re towards the top of the East and that’s somewhere we haven’t been in a long time. We want to continue with that success and our goal right now is to make the playoffs. From there on, it’s in anyone’s hands. We’re happy our level of play so far as well. We feel like we’ve had a good standard of play and we brought back kind of that old style that D.C. United used to have and it’s gone really well.”

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Dempsey is left out of tour with Fulham as Liverpool rumors heat up

The American did not travel to Switzerland, leading to more speculation that the USA star could be on his way to Liverpool during the summer transfer window.

Dempsey was not on the plane that left London on Monday morning to take part in the week-long trip, leading to further speculation that a transfer to the Reds may be in the works.

It was initially unclear if it was Dempsey's decision or coach Martin Jol's to keep the American off the trip, but a Fulham spokesperson confirmed that Dempsey stayed behind to work on his fitness.

"Clint and Hugo Rodallega are both staying in London to work on their fitness at the training ground. Neither are scheduled to feature in the weekend friendly against Nice which is the reason neither have traveled," a Fulham spokesperson told Goal.com.

Fulham will spend the week in Switzerland ahead of a friendly in neighboring France against Nice on Saturday before returning to the UK.

The 29-year-old has made it clear to Jol and senior Fulham figures that he wants to quit the club for Liverpool, whose manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he has made enquiries about signing the player.

As revealed by Goal.com earlier this month, the attacking midfielder, who scored 17 Premier League goals last season and 23 in all competitions, has rejected Fulham’s offer of a new three year-contract that includes an option for a fourth year.

Dempsey, who moved to west London five-and-a-half years ago, believes that Liverpool’s interest could be the last opportunity he gets to play for one of the elite Premier League clubs.

Nevertheless, he has vowed to remain professional while his future remains in doubt and trained with Fulham’s youth team at its Motspur Park base on Monday morning. 

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Pepe considers Coentrao the best fullback in the world

Pepe has faith that his fellow Portuguese international will fully settle in Spain to become a mainstay for Real Madrid.

Fabio Coentrao, Pepe - Real Madrid

LOS ANGELES – Despite an uneasy start to his Real Madrid career, Fabio Coentrao will rebound and show his world-beating quality, according to teammate Pepe.

The left back made only 12 league starts in his first season in the Spanish capital, notching three assists. He split time with Marcelo, who is currently with Brazil competing in the Olympics, leaving Coentrao as first choice to begin preseason. 

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Mexico calls up Chicharito, Gio for friendly against United States

Jose Manuel de la Torre has called up six foreign-based players to do battle against the United States at the Estadio Azteca this August.

Giovanni dos Santos of Mexico, Jermaine Jones and MIchael Bradley of USA (Getty Images)

Mexico will be at full strength for its upcoming friendly against the United States on Aug. 15 at the Estadio Azteca.

Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos, Guillermo Ochoa, Hector Moreno, Francisco Rodriguez and Andres Guardado are the first six players selected by manager Jose Manuel de la Torre for El Tri's latest showdown with its oldest rival.

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QPR signs Junior Hoilett from Blackburn Rovers

The Canadian winger rejected a new deal at former club Blackburn Rovers and has joined the Hoops on a four-year-contract to become their seventh signing of the summer

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QPR has completed the signing of Junior Hoilett on a four-year deal from Blackburn Rovers.

Hoilett becomes Mark Hughes' seventh summer signing, as he follows Rob Green, Ryan Nelsen, Fabio Da Silva, Ji-Sung Park, Samba Diakite and Andy Johnson in joining the Loftus Road side.

The Canadian was a free agent after rejecting a new deal at Blackburn Rovers, following their relegation to the Championship, and has chosen the Hoops ahead of German heavyweight Borussia Monchengladbach.

The west London club may have to pay training compensation fees to Blackburn, which has so far reportedly turned down a straight payment of 4 million pounds and a further offer of 2 million pounds plus the out-of-favor Jamie Mackie.

Under FIFA rules, Rovers are entitled to compensation for the Canadian-born forward, who joined their academy at the age of 13.

 

Rovers boss Steve Kean recently pointed to Daniel Sturridge's transfer from Manchester City to Chelsea in 2009 for 6 million pounds as proof that his side should be compensated properly.

Kean said: "I don't know the process now. They might make us an offer for his registration but if not it might go to a tribunal."We feel we have played a large part in his development. We wish him all the best but it would have been nice if we had a call.
"I don't know what the figure was for Daniel Sturridge, but I know it was a chunky figure. We have had Junior a long time, we have put a lot of time and effort in him and I'm sure that will be reflected in the price."
QPR manager Hughes has stated he is delighted with the deal, and that Hoilett is a "top quality" addition to the ranks.
He told the club's official website: "He's shown he's a player of top quality and a player that can makes things happen, both on his own and as a team player.
"He's certainly a player that will enhance what we've got in the group and I am delighted he's chosen to come to us."
Hoilett also expressed his delight at sealing a deal with the club, stating that its ambition was a major factor in his decision to join.
He said: "QPR are a club that are certainly heading in the right direction. The ambition to take this club to the next level was something I really wanted to be part of.
"The manager and the owners have huge ambitions to achieve things here and this is the perfect place for me to further my career.
"I'm really happy to be here and can't wait to pull on the Rangers shirt."

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