Leagues

The New Standard

Youth soccer in America finding an identity with the MLS academy system as Goal.com's J.R. Eskilson says in the latest version of "En Route." Plus, as part of Goal.com's Know Your Rivals World Cup feature Noah Davis has a chat with USa defender Jonathan Bornstein.

Salvador Spotlight

An all-MLS call-in list for the USA's friendly match versus El Salvador gives domestic players a final chance to impress. Yet for one American hopeful, a World Cup opportunity seems more unlikely - Juan Francisco Torres has suffered a hamstring injury at a bad time.

Another Man Down

Pachuca midfielder Jose Francisco Torres is out for a pair of weeks with a slight tear in his hamstring, club manager Guillermo Rivarola said. Torres is just the latest in a number of USA internationals who have suffered injury knocks over the last few months.

On The Fast Track

When Charlie Davies was first injured in a car wreck ahead of the USA's final qualifying match, it seemed as though his World Cup, and possibly even his career, were very much in doubt. Three months on and the striker says that the World Cup is not only a possibility, but a likelihood.

Smorgasbord

Things remain a bit of a smorgasbord for U.S. soccer. For the Americans plying their trade in the United Kingdom, it was a mixed bag of results over the weekend as the FA Cup ties dominated the schedule. Back Stateside, a cluster of international hopefuls lost to Honduras.

USA 1-3 Honduras

The USA National Team lost its first January friendly match in Carson when Honduras defeated the Americans, 3-2. It was a bad night for defender Jimmy Conrad, who was sent off and gave up the opening goal on by commiting a penalty foul in the early going of the game.

No Need To Cut

Clint Dempsey's knee scan came up showing minor damage, but Fulham have said that their star midfielder will not have to go under the knife to fix the problem. U.S. fans will certainly breath a sigh of relief after initial reports said that Dempsey's injury could put his World Cup place in doubt.