It's the best day of the year (at least for some soccer fans).
Today marks the start of the English Premier League season, the first real sign that European soccer is back in full swing, and American soccer fans will have plenty of juicy match-ups to make this special day enjoyable.
Clint Dempsey and Fulham begin their campaign by playing host to Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa, while Stuart Holden's Bolton welcomes Queens Park Rangers to the Premier League. Revamped Liverpool is also in action today against Sunderland. These are just some of the EPL match-ups on tap.
The EPL isn't the only league kicking off today. France brings us Ligue 1 action, with revamped Paris St. Germain taking the field, while the Under-20 World Cup knockout rounds bring us the juicy Portugal-Argentina and Mexico-Colombia battles.
And then there's MLS, where the Philadelphia Union plays host to FC Dallas in a match that was already a headliner BEFORE it was slated to be Freddy Adu's debut for the Union.
If you will be watching today's action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today's TV Schedule is after the jump):
TODAY'S SOCCER ON TV
9:30 a.m. - GOLTV - Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich
10 a.m. - Fox Soccer Channel/FoxSoccer.tv - Liverpool vs. Sunderland
10 a.m. - ESPN2/ESPN3.com/FoxSoccer.tv - Fulham vs. Aston Villa
10 a.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - Queens Park Rangers vs. Bolton
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Blackburn vs. Wolverhampton
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Wigan Athletic vs. Norwich City
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Birmingham City vs. Coventry City
12:30 p.m. - Fox Soccer Channel/FoxSoccer.tv - Newcastle vs. Arsenal
12:30 p.m. - ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes - Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Stuttgart
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Toulouse vs. Dijon
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Lyon vs. Ajaccio
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Lorient vs. Bordeaux
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Stade Rennes vs. Paris-St. Germain
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - St. Etienne vs. Nancy
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Sochaux vs. Caen
3 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Valenciennes vs. Brest
4 p.m. - MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live - Seattle Sounders vs. Chivas USA
5:30 p.m. - GOLTV - Sao Paulo vs. Atletico Paranaense
6 p.m. - ESPNU/ESPN3.com/Galavision - Portugal vs. Argentina (U-20 World Cup)
6 p.m. - Telefutura - San Luis vs. Monterrey
7 p.m. - MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live - Toronto FC vs. Real Salt Lake
7:30 p.m. - MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live - New York Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire
7:30 p.m. - MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live - Philadelphia Union vs. FC Dallas
7:30 p.m. - MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live - D.C. United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
7:30 p.m. - MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live - Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution
8 p.m. - Azteca America/ESPN Deportes - Jaguares vs. Cruz Azul
8 p.m. - Telemundo - Tigres UANL vs. America
8 p.m. - Telefutura - Pachuca vs. Toluca
9 p.m. - ESPNU/ESPN3.com - Mexico vs. Colombia (U-20 World Cup)
9:45 p.m. - Galavision - Atlas vs. Estudiantes Tecos
10 p.m. - Telefutura - Atlante vs. Queretaro
10:30 p.m. - MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live - San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids
He can’t even get a visa to enter the United States. Newcastle were here just a few weeks ago, remember? Barton was denied a visa.
HAHA! Gotta love those generic questions @ the end of a post.
Onyewu didn’t even make the bench for sporting, shessh
It’s Detroit. They had it coming.
Also, silverware keeps your hands clean while eating.
The barter system makes me feel like a trader.
Haha, nice 🙂
That’s not fair for Artest. He has actually been pretty well behaved since he tried to beat up all of Detroit. That was five years ago.
YESSSS look at my above post!
Again Agreed! What the hell is a running commentary? I thought the point of the site was to do a running commentary all day of various games and help keep us updated. kind of disappointed. I mean I come to the site to read a more ‘expert’ view not just the average idiotic ramble, if I wanted that I’d be satisfied with watching Alexi Lalas on ESPN
Gervinho actually had his foot hit, he embellished but at least from what I saw he was touched. No reason to debate with you though if you think it’s ok to haul another player off the ground by your jersey.
Agreed.
He’s only 28. Wait 4 more years.
Whitbread has long streaky-blond hair…That’s a big problem as it’s likely to distract Tim Howard!
Welcome to the PL, QPR…4-0 to a Holden-less Bolton.
Barton to MLS!!!
I wish the EPL Fantasy website would do real-time game updates like they used to. The switch to EA’s interface really sucks. Slower, less efficient in design, and now they don’t do real-time game updates!?!?! F#@& EA SPORTS!! I hope this is just them being lazy and un-prepared the first weekend. If not, then EA sucks for sucking up a the perfectly fine EPL Fantasy Football interface.
lol. I actually agree, but well played, nonetheless.
What do you think of Joaqim’s post? Should there be more commentary from the SBI crew? Is occasional commentary enough? What about actual observations and insights?
Share you thoughts below.
That game is on right now (1:30pm CT)Whitbread appears to be center-left back.
Yep. Drives me crazy. I always blame my cable company because it gets choppy and sometimes my picture freezes and once I change channels the problem fixes itself and I change back to fox and everything is fine again. F-You Time Warner!!
I really wish there was some more commentary from the SBI crew on game days… not just the occasional running commentary posts and recaps, but actual observations and insights on the games…
me too, pretty low quality games too, not exciting 0-0 draws
I’m totally OK with the red for Gervinho and yellow for Barton. Gervinho flopped, Barton was angry and tried to get him up. Aggressively, yes, which is why he got the yellow. But Gervinho’s hands to the face made his red automatic. Grabbing someone’s shirt is never a red. If you could get a yellow for flopping during a scrum maybe Barton would have been sent off too, but that’s not the rule, so as much of a loser he may be for going down there, the result was correct all around.
Thanks for that really useful and helpful info.
Also, silverware really designed for food is advantageous for eaters because it provides more control and maneuverability to the eater. That is why it is really important to invest on a silverware that will really be useful in the cuisines you are in.
Ban this spammer!
Barton is much bigger disgrace than Artest.
should have watched Bolton I guess 😉
meh, the two games I decided to watch today both 0-0…
After all the complaining about draws in MLS this year, I was looking forward to the EPL today so we could see some wins. So much for that …
You pass today’s sarcasm test!
Thing to remember about Barton… He’s really good.
Good one 🙂
Well, since it is the first time Joey ever got into trouble, I can see why he gets a second chance.
I don’t understand how the assistant couldn’t see it – he visibly dragged him up and got up in his face. You can’t get so upset just because you think someone went down too easy. Definitely should’ve been a red for Barton.
Joey Barton is a disgrace…the Ron Artest of the EPL. Literally, this guy should be booked every game and sent off every other. Refs need to keep an eye on him at all times.
Both of them should be off, you can’t pick a player up by his jersey then scream in his face. Also he had his arms very high on Gervinho. Gervinho tapped him on the head which is technically red but Barton is a little b***h and everyone knows it. Him and Ge Jong belong in a certain circle of football players
Lovenkrands for Cabaye, I would’ve taken off Barton just to save him from himself at this point. Decent odds he could get himself sent off.
Barton…wow.
Joey Barton, unbelievavle. Someone is getting sent off, probably.
Gervinho sent off, Barton only gets a yellow. Really need to see this again, he started the whole thing and I’m not sure what exactly went on.
*edit*
Gervinho should’ve been sent off by letter of law, put his hand to Barton’s face. Don’t agree with it, though. At the very least both should probably go, and Song should’ve been sent off earlier.
Joey Barton is a joke…an absolute joke.
Hughes doesn’t need to be replaced…he needs to be put back into central defense.
Song should’ve been sent off for stomping on Barton’s leg, though Barton did bait him, kind of like last year getting Diaby sent off.
eurosnob
I didn’t watch it, but Skysports has him rated below average at ‘5’ – noted he was caught out a few times. Was subbed with 20 minutes left.
Bocanegra not starting or on bench for ASSE today.
How did Whitbred (sp?) look for Norwich?
Was i the only one that totally missed John Arne Riise getting picked up by Fulham? Wasnt aware he left Roma.
Anyone’s TV feed from FSC very choppy? It’s been that way for a month or so now. Not happy!
Aalborg at or very near the top spot in the Danish Superliga after this win. I didn’t realize that league is ranked 12 in UEFA – just below turkey/Greece/Nederlands.
A shoe really designed for soccer is advantageous for players because it provides more control and stability to the athlete. That is why it is really important to invest on a footwear that will really be useful in the sports you are in.