The Weekend: Goal line technology

In the aftermath of the Euro 2012 we enter the normal soccer summer schedule full of transfer talk, new kits, new rules, MLS fixtures, and new this summer: the Olympic Games. Follow isportsweb soccer for all the latest news as you enjoy a summer of drama on and off the pitch.

 

TRANSFERS: Keeping up with the transfers throughout different leagues may require you to lose sleep so I’ll keep you up to date on the most important moves and signings as the summer progresses.

-Midfielder Park Ji-Sung makes the move from Manchester United to Queens Park Rangers for upwards of 5 million pounds.

-Midfielder Luka Modric will finally be open to the sales market, front runners are Chelsea (who almost had him last summer) and Real Madrid. Tottenham wants 40 million pounds for him.

-Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and defender Steven Caulker are two youngsters from Swansea making the move to Tottenham. It looks like recently appointed manager AVB is going young and fast.

-If you haven’t heard yet Robin Van Perse has left Arsenal and is seeking new employment. Manchester City and Serie A’s Juventus are vying for the 23 year-olds heart.

-Ashley Cole is rumored to possibly be departingChelsea this summer, this is only a rumor and could be just speculation at this point.

-Jordi Alba finally signed with Barcelona after spending last season with Valencia. Obviously his performance for Spain in the Euro Cup sealed the deal for the 23 year-old.

-After a groundbreaking year with Chievo, midfielder Michael Bradley is headed to Roma. His style of play seems fit for Serie A and the signing with Roma will only launch the American’s career.

- At 36, former Italian National Team star Alessandro Nesta will look to help the Montreal Impact make the playoffs in MLS this year. Nesta was finally introduced for the Canadien club yet will not be described as a “designated player” for the Impact. Somebody has some extra cash laying around.

 

GOAL LINE TECHNOLOGY: FIFA and Sepp Blatter have finally decided to approve goal-line technology and will be implemented ASAP after further tests that will most likely incorporate laser technology and an extra referee. There has been no mystery of why and how goal-line will be used in international and club level football, the only stepping stone has been FIFA itself. And after multiple questionable goal-line calls in Euro 2012 there was no doubt that the approval was going to be immanent. It’s about time…

SUMMER SOCCER IN US: July in America means extra sunblock, and a slew of international clubs team shipping over to play friendlies in the growing soccer support in the states. Here is a list of some big-name clubs coming to a stadium NEAR YOU.

*Part of the Herbalife World Football Challenege

JULY 18th

-*Seattle Sounders vs Chelsea in Seattle @ 9:30pm on ESPN2

-Philadelphia Union vs Aston Villa in Philly @ 7:30pm

JULY 25th:

-AS Roma vs Liverpool in Boston @ 6:30pm (Owners of Red Sox also own Liverpool, teams will play at Fenway Park)

-MLS All-Star Game (MLS All-Stars vs Chelsea) in Philadelphia @ 8:30pm on ESPN

JULY 28th

-Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool @ 1pm in Baltimore

-*D.C. United vs Paris Saint-German in Washington DC @7:30pm (Replay shown on Fox Soccer at 10pm)

-*Chelsea FC vs AC Milan in Miami @ 6:00pm

-Orlando City vs Stoke City in Florida @ 7:30pm

JULY 31st

NY Red Bulls vs Tottenham Hotspur in NY @ 7pm

*Juventus vs Paris Saint-German in Montreal @ 8pm

AUGUST 1st

Sporting Kansas City vs Stoke City in Kansas City @ 7:30pm

AUGUST 2nd

-*LA Galaxy vs Real Madrid in LA @ 10:30pm

AUGUST 5th

-*Real Madrid vs Juventus in Las Vegas @ 11pm

AUGUST 8th

-*Real Madrid vs AC Milan in New York @8pm

AUGUST 11th

-*Real Madrid vs Celtic FC in Philadelphia @ 1:30pm

 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Saturday

Seattle vs Colorado Rapids 11pm on NBC Sports Network

Real Salt Lake vs Portland 9pm

Sunday 

Chicago Fire vs LA Galaxy 3pm on ESPN

IF YOUR FEELING DOWN