“Italians once referred to Serie A as ‘il campionato piu bello del mondo’, the most beautiful championship in the world, but this summer there threatens to be an exodus of top talent that could mark the end of an era for Italian football. The rise of the Premier League and La Liga has already impacted upon the standing of calcio in European football and the gap looks set to widen.” (ESPN)

Eto’o and Tevez Potentially Agree To Join Manchester City (EPL Talk)
“Well, two days are left until the transfer window opens again and Manchester City look like they’ve signed two strikers to help Mark Hughes drag them up the table. I suppose they need some good news down at Eastlands after the ground flooded on Saturday due to flash floods.”

Of course! The US beats Spain and an oil company helps analyze player performance! (Foot Smoke)
“In case you weren’t aware, the ever-prescient governing body of soccer has partnered with Castrol GTX to develop the “definitive system” to rate player performance. Not only does it rate performance, but it rates performance objectively! According to a clarifying explanation on the Fifa.com website, the infinitely complex system ‘tracks every move on the field and assesses whether it has a positive or negative impact on a team’s ability to score or concede a goal.'”

Brian Glanville: Shouldn’t Michael Owen gracefully retire? (World Soccer)
“SHOULDN’T Michael Owen gracefully retire? Once such a golden boy, an 18-year-old star of the 1998 World Cup finals, beyond doubt one of the finest, purist English talents of the last couple of decades. A shocking series of injuries has taken the edge off his speed and his game, he has lost his England place, despite somewhat fatuous attempts in certain quarters to propose his return.”

Breaking Bad … or Good? (That’s On Point)
“As explained in the quickee recap post, I needed to walk this one off. There was simply so much swirling after Brazil’s nearly epic 3-2 comeback over the U.S. at the 2009 Confederations Cup final that it was like watching a mindblowing ‘Lost’ episode. I needed to hit pause on the DVR, pick the melted ooze that was once my brain off the floor and collect myself.”