It may be European soccer’s silly season, but it still provides one of the most exciting moments of the summer for any fan: the release of next season’s kits. Every year, each of the Premier League teams changes at least one of their shirts, alternating between home and away. (They also usually change the third shirt, but seldom wear it in competition.)

So if you’re looking for a handy directory of the new jerseys you’ll be seeing all over the Premier League next season, here it is. The 2009-2010 line has thrown up some interesting results, to say the least, beginning with Chelsea’s new away kit: a dark-and-darker blue striped affair with a fluorescent yellow trim. Read more...

The Premier League transfer mill is still churning as the teams return to preseason training to begin another marathon campaign. Of course, the defending champions Manchester United are already a changed side with the losses of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez and the arrival of Michael Owen, Luis Antonio Valencia, and Gabriel Obertan.

But the latest noise from Old Trafford brings news of one more intriguing transfer. According to the British press, United is prepared to shell out around $11 million for an 18 year-old Brazilian who does not even have 20 senior games under his belt for his current club, Gremio. The new alleged wunderkind’s name is Douglas Costa. Read more...

Any book about David Beckham’s tumultuous time in the United States was always going to generate some headlines. But when the first excerpt of a book that featured direct criticism from one of his most visible teammates came out this month, it practically generated an entire news cycle. All this just a week before Beckham makes his return to the Galaxy, in New Jersey on July 16 against the New York Red Bulls.

In their July 6 issue, Sports Illustrated reprinted a juicy excerpt from soccer writer Grant Wahl’s book, The Beckham Experiment, in which Landon Donovan openly vented his frustration with Beckham’s impact on him and the L.A. Galaxy. Specifically, he targeted Beckham’s aloofness with respect to his teammates and his lack of commitment. Read more...

Some of the biggest news around the English Premier League this summer had nothing to do with players, or even outrageous transfer fees. It was the changing balance of power among the league's broadcasters.

In close succession, ESPN made an aggressive play for a package of Premier League rights and Irish outfit Setanta Sports collapsed, leaving ESPN as Sky's lone remaining competition. But how will ESPN present it? Though ESPN has had experience showing soccer in much of the rest of the world, an interesting story in today's New York Times asks, "So is it time for British soccer fans to prepare for “soccertainment” when the new season begins in mid-August?" Read more...

It’s been just over a week since the United States’ improbable run to the final of the Confederations Cup came to an end at the hands of Brazil, but any excitement around the team has faded with the arrival of the Gold Cup. At least for now.

The biggest reason, of course, is that the U.S. roster has been nearly completely turned over for the Gold Cup, with Bob Bradley giving his regulars a rest and packing the squad with youth. It’s an interesting decision, and an understandable one. Give your best team a chance to play the best in the Confederations Cup. And when your group stage opposition is more Haiti and Honduras than Brazil and Italy, give the youngsters a run out. Read more...

Their pockets heavy from the $131 million sale of Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United seemed in prime position to sign anyone they trained their sights on. And, with holes in the side left by both Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, it seemed like just a matter of time before United pulled a coup or two of their own.

But more and more, the big names on the European transfer market are setting their own sights elsewhere. Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery — both potential United targets — have both said that they wanted to play for Real Madrid.

So on Friday, United took an unexpected course of action. They signed the free agent England forward Michael Owen to a two-year contract. Read more...

Even if the tournament means very little in the grand scheme of things, the Confederations Cup has provided an entertaining two weeks of soccer in the middle of June — which was certainly a pleasant distraction from transfer rumors and the soccer-free boredom of early summer. And, if nothing else, it did certain players and teams a world of good. But a few others may look back and feel they were better off staying home. Here are some of the Cup's winners and losers. Read more...

It was always to be expected, the classy Brazilians shifting up the gears and finding the moments of inspiration to blow past the gritty Americans. (In case you missed it, Brazil won 3-2.) The storyline was practically written before the game.

Except for one half of soccer that nearly set the United States up for the greatest victory in its history. Read more...

Watch on ESPN and ESPN360.com. Kick-off is at 2:30 p.m. eastern.

You would have to be brave to pick anything but a Brazil victory in this one. Still, the US might have a sliver of a chance. It all depends which teams show up.

Will we see the Brazil side that made Italy look positively hapless or the team that took until the 87th minute to beat South Africa 1-0 in the semifinal? (Although, in all fairness to South Africa, they've looked much better in the latter stages of the tournament and it took an extra-time winner from Spain to win 3-2 in yesterday's third-place match.)

Will we see a US team like the woeful one we saw play in the group game when they lost 3-0 against Brazil? Or can the Americans produce another stout display like in their upset of Spain just a few days ago? Read more...

The United States may not have deserved to be in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, but after Wednesday night, they certainly deserve to be in the final.

For the past two days or so, I had been pondering a post about what is wrong with the current incarnation of the U.S. national team. But after watching them take down mighty Spain, 2-0, that will have to go on the back burner. For a night at least, the U.S. is a team of world-beaters. Read more...