Major Link Soccer: Can Juventus get Gianluigi Buffon that elusive Champions League Trophy?

Seattle

Three young Sounders were invited to the US Soccer Boys National Team Futures Camp, which just concluded in Carlsbad, California. The camp is held for players born in the second half of their birth year who may have been missed for being a little underdeveloped during earlier camps. Ray Serrano, Peter Carriker and Charlie Holmes got a chance to impress the US staff.

The Sounders U23s had a great weekend, winning two games, one home and one away. Today they return to action away at Lane United, then head to Olympia on Sunday to take on the Portland Timbers U23s.

Major League Soccer

The All-Star ballot is now available, which means it’s time to talk about who should have been on it but isn’t, and maybe even who doesn’t really deserve a spot. We think you’ll be surprised by a certain Sounder on the list.

NYCFC now has an eSports team (of one, so far), and FourFourTwo predicts that more MLS teams will be following that lead. The demographics line up very well, and many young people are getting their first taste of soccer fandom by playing FIFA anyway.

Young Dallas FC goalkeeper Jess Gonzalez has signed a new two-year deal with the Texas team. Gonzalez is just 22, is eligible for the USA and Mexico, and has reported interest from several Liga MX clubs. But the Dallas homegrown player has elected to stay put for now.

RSL Soapbox is back with the Power Ranking Averages, and Toronto FC have solidified their number one spot over FC Dallas. Meanwhile, after a dramatic dip, the Sounders have returned to their middling spot.

The president of the Colorado Rapids is leaving his spot to become the president of USA Swimming, effective July 1. Tim Hinchey was the 2016 MLS Executive of the Year and has been with the Rapids since 2010.

Other North American Leagues

Francesco Totti may be considering making a retirement tour playing in the US with the NY Cosmos, if reports are to be believed. He could lunch with Andrea Pirlo and jet down to Miami to see Alessandro Nesta (not to mention play against his team), so who knows, maybe that’s enough to lure him from Rome.

Promotion and relegation in North America. It’s finally coming. The Canadian Premier League intends to set up a first and second division with pro/rel as soon as they hit 16 teams, according to sources within the nascent league. I know what you’re thinking: “There are going to be 16 professional teams in Canada?” Well, that’s what Waking the Red are thinking too.

US Soccer

The U20s are headed to the World Cup quarterfinal after shellacking New Zealand 6-0. Check the link for a Jeremy Ebobisse goal with shades of a certain Obafemi Martins move. Next up is Venezuela on Sunday.

World

UEFA is taking a new approach to marketing women’s soccer, not just as a selling a current product but as an effort to bring more girls at younger ages into the sport. Another change is that UEFA women’s competition coverage rights will now be sold separately from the men’s products, ensuring they are going to outlets that actively want them and plan to showcase them appropriately.

First interim manager Neil McCann left Dundee FC to pursue a TV career, then a few days later changed his mind and took on the long-term position with the Scottish club.

Gianluigi Buffon is 39 and a goalkeeping legend, but he still has a Champions-League-trophy-shaped hole in his personal case. He has an opportunity to change that with Juventus, and the New York Times has a feature on the Italian’s career.

Former Manchester City and Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini is headed to Zenit St. Petersburg next to try to get the Russian team back into the Champion’s League.

Soccer to watch today

12:00 PM - Int’l Friendly - France vs. Paraguay - ESPN 3, ESPN Deportes

5:30 PM - Int’l Friendly - Chile vs. Burkina Faso - BeIN Sports

8:00 PM - MLS - Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes - Unimás, Univision Deportes