Brek’s do seems to radiates through the MLS like a solar flare or something. Must have something to do with the militaryesque, ‘shot-back-and-sides, please’ culture of American soccer hair, in general. If it weren’t for Alexi Lalas, right now we’d be experiencing a culture shock equivalent to Elvis’s gyrating hips.

But we have reason to be enamored by Brekken’s hairstyle. It’s not often US players show their swagger through their scalp, like we see from some other flamboyant international players. And the fact Brek is really quite talented – not to mention white as a sheet, a goldilocks, left footed and weirdly, really shy – makes him a refreshingly exciting character amidst our vanillaness.

Brek’s choice to go with a black raspberry stripe for MLS First Kick was a good one. The corn rows were the best, and the multiple skunk looks were fun, but I’m over it. Just watched Girl With a Dragon Tattoo last night and I submit this challenge to Mr. Shea: Let’s see you’re best Lisbeth Salander. And not the blonde version. Need to go jet black for this one.

“Who the hell is number 11?”

That’s what I asked myself at half-time of last night’s U-23 Olympic Qualifying warm-up in Frisco, TX.

Playing opposite of Freddy Adu and next to Juan Agudelo, Joe Gyau was the unlikely first-half highlight for the US U-23 team. The 19 year-old Hoffenheim player was a constant pest on the left side. He destroyed any defender that came across him along the and never hesitated to take a player on, winning the corner that resulted in Agudelo’s blood-drawing goal. I’m not sure if it was more of a product of him being a real baller or Mexico’s rightback being really bad. At that level it can be hard to tell but one thing is for sure: I’m pretty excited to watch that kid again.

Which youngster impressed you last night? Comment below!

Also, check out this article on Gyau by Justin Rodriguez on ESPN from 2008. The lad gets some high praise from a former Manchester United Academy coach: “In my time at [Manchester United's] academy, he was as good as any player. Honestly.”

It was one of the biggest results that doesn’t really matter in the history of US Soccer. Win on European soil with a slew of injuries against a traditional powerhouse… in a friendly. It’s one of those, “oh, that’s neat” moments but hardly one of those, “phuck yeah, Landon! On to the next round!” moments.

Still, I’m pretty excited. So are Ross and Monica, those darn love birds. Hey, whatever happened to all the people in this show? Anyway, no one really cares about that so here are the five biggest talking points from last night’s ‘Murikan victory in Genoa.

Read More…

Clint Dempsey’s hotness is pretty much the equivalent of Kobe ‘The Black Mamba’ Bryant’s exploding basketball in this gem of a video. Nevermind that Milan isn’t Genoa and Wesley Sneijder isn’t on the Italian National Team, but Duece burned off over-groomed eyebrows across Italy with his winner yesterday.

Kudos to USMNT for getting a W on the board against Italy for the first time ever. That puts the Nats at 1-7-3 vs. the Azzurri and cut the goal differential down to -27 (32-5). We’re getting there.

This Nike video is almost inexplicable, so just watch it. What I can say is, Alberto Aquilani needs to make that upper lip a reality for March Mustache.

More after the jump…

Christ, they made us wait long enough with the teaser. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is finally out and just as we expected, USWNT star forward Alex Morgan looks pretty damn incredible. Just so everyone’s aware, if you start perusing the site at work, you won’t get anything done. Fair warning.

There’s really little else to say. Lots of good looking girls and one of them happens to score a lot of goals. Do we need any more reason to care? I think not.

Alex Morgan in bodypaint. It doesn’t get much better than this folks.

This is just a sneak peak of what we will see in the latest SI Swimsuit Issue that drops Tuesday, Feb. 14th. And I have to say, I’m digging the goods. There isn’t much to add. Why say anything, really. Just sit back and soak in the visual beauty.

[via Sports Illustrated Hot Clicks - interview with Alex Morgan regarding the shoot... and a probable Ryan Gosling crush... damn it Gosling, why do you have to be such a stud?]

Landon Donovan set up both goals for Everton as the Toffees came from behind to drop Duece’s Fulham out of the FA Cup.

Donovan, my man, I don’t know how to put this so I’m just gonna come out and sa-JUST F**KING STAY IN ENGLAND AND MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CAREER!! YOU’RE 29, IN YOUR PRIME, AND LOTS OF SCOUSE WOMEN WOULD ABSOLUTELY DO YOU!! NOT TO MENTION, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY IN THE ENGLISH F**KING PREMIER LEAGUE. AND YOU ARE! SO F**KING DO IT!!

Whoa. Apologies. It’s been a long week.

Clint Dempsey is so hot right now, but lest we forget, he’ll never be as hot as his missus, sweet Bethany.

Really love how the title of this Fox Soccer clip is simply: “Clint Dempsey is sensational.”

Indeed he is. Duece remained out of his gord today with his second hat trick in the last two weeks. This one makes him the first American to bag a trifecta in the Premier League in history. Onion eyes, you’re my hero.

If there’s any time for Dempsey to go chase that Champions League dream, it’s now or, more likely, this summer. As romantic as staying with Fulham is, Dempsey can only stretch his britches at Craven Cottage so long. It’s about time he flew the coup and I can hear Harry Redknapp scratching his gobble with temptation right now.

Excuse my bad manners if I start a rumor, but if Modric is out, is Dempsey a replacement?

Who’s this tiny kid who may or may not have braces staring up at you all like he’s Puss In Boots or something? It’s Villyan Bijev. Probably when he was about 15.

Bijev, now 18, not so tiny, braces free, just finished his first training camp with the US U-20 National Team in Florida and Brian Sciaretta of Yanks Abroad gives him a damn good pat down in this New York Times piece.

Read up and you’ll discover, Bijev is not just another Yank starlet. This summer, after scoring five goals in two matches while trialing with Liverpool’s U-18 team, he signed a three-year contract with the Merseyside club. Now, he’s currently serving a season-long loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2. Bundesliga. He’s Bulgarian born, but California raised. So he’s ours. (Here’s a clip of him coming on and scoring twice for Düsseldorf in a reserve match and getting some face time.) Anyway, I’ll leave the rest for Sciaretta to explain.

Bijev also did a Q&A with his hometown paper last week. In which, he’s asked about how easy it was for him to make friends when he got to Europe. His answer explains why the kid’s going places.

Off the field, everyone was extremely friendly. But, to an extent it’s hard to be friends with someone whose job you are trying to take.

Villyan? More like Villain. For the win.