Soccer birthdays: Thomas Sorenson, who would be with the Danes for their Euro 2012 adventure, turns 36 today. The Stock City No. 1 was recently ruled out due to back injury.
Big Important Story of the Day: Remember that Tampa cake walk the American soccer team enjoyed Friday to commence World Cup qualifying? Well, tonight will be nothing of the sort. Jurgen Klinsmann’s men will be smack up against tonight when they meet Guatemala at the Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores in Guatemala City.
Ahead on the blog today*: Lots on the U.S.-Guatemala match, on the men involved and the silly politics of the TV situation. (The game is available only on pay-per-view; I mean, what is this, boxing?). Plus lots more from the EUFA European Championship in Poland and Ukraine. But if you’ve been watching the blog over the last few days, you knew that, didn’t you?
What we should all be watching on TV:
Greece-Czech Republic, noon ET, ESPN
Poland-Russia, 2:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
El Salvador-Mexico, 9:30 p.m., Telemundo
Guatemala-United States, 10 p.m., pay-per-view
RASNoD: Amy Rodriguez
Twitter daps: L.A. Galaxy center back A.J. DeLaGarza (@AJD_20), who is excited about his town’s sporty success: “2009- LA Lakers 2010- LA Lakers 2011- LA Galaxy 2012- LA Kings #ChampionsLiveInLA ...more to follow...”
Broadcaster and special U.S. Soccer assistant Allen Hopkins (@AllenAHopkins): “Time flies. #USMNT summer tour comes to end tomorrow. 6 cities, 5 matches, 3 countries, 30 days. 3 points is best way to close trip. #WCQ”