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Today is a big day for soccer fans in New England. Not only will the New England Revolution play their final group game of the Desert Diamond Cup against Real Salt Lake tonight at 8 PM EST (once again, streaming live on mlssoccer.com), but the USA Men's National Team is facing off against Italy in Genoa at 2:45 PM EST. As such, we have a pretty wide variety of links to share with you guys in today's edition of Musket Rounds.
USA vs. Italy Previews/Links
TYAC’s USA-Italy Preview: Grand Test for USMNT in Genoa | The Yanks Are Coming
Jon Levy provides The Yanks Are Coming's preview of this afternoon's clash with Italy.
Bradley: Italy challenge "type of game US needs" | MLSsoccer.com
Michael Bradley is looking forward to tonight's friendly against Italy. As the USA's only Italian league representative, he has the inside scoop on many of the players the Yanks will face this evening.
Scouting Report: Italy - US Soccer Players
Clemente Lisi provides a detailed scouting report of the Italy squad set to face the USA on Wednesday night. Both teams will use this as a warm-up before bigger competitions: the US for CONCACAF WC Qualifying, and Italy for Euro 2012.
Klinsmann: USA can give Italy 'a real fight' 02/29/2012 - SoccerAmerica Daily
Ridge Mahoney previews this afternoon's Italy clash, with quotes from Klinsi.
Revolution Links
ESPNHS honors Revs' Fagundez - Boston New England Revolution Blog - ESPN Boston
ESPN Boston's Revolution Report blog highlights Diego Fagundez, who was recently honored by ESPNHS as one of its "18 under 18" superstars.
Mixing It Up - New England Soccer Today
Expect line-up changes against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. Among those who should feature will be Bjorn Runstrom, who extended his trial from Sunday through Thursday in an effort to earn a contract.
Introducing The Revolution’s Love Doctor " Soccer Soap Box
The Soccer Soap Box has a bone to pick with M. Willis and his recent article about the Revs and fan relations. Actually, he really doesn't, but he does a great job of expanding on Willis's concepts in this piece.
Core group to be rested against RSL | New England Revolution
Jay Heaps has announced that he's expecting to rest the core starters for Wednesday night's match against RSL. Kevin Alston, A.J. Soares, and Ryan Guy will return to action from their injury layoffs, however.
MLS ’12 Preview – New England Revolution - MLS Talk
A quick plug for our very own Abram Chamberlain, who previewed the Revs' upcoming MLS season for one of his other publications.
New England Soccer Links
Hydra FC Nets First Player - New England Soccer Today
PDL expansion club Worcester Hydra FC have announced their first signing, former Tottenham youth goalkeeper Michael Eade, Brian O'Connell reports.
Other Soccer Links
On Turkish Football - Run of Play
Asher Kohn contributes a stellar piece on the evolution of soccer in Turkey and its connection to the peculiar brand of Anatolian identity and nationalism through they years, as well as a driving need to be recognized as a relevant power in Europe.
MLS sanctions Dynamo supporters - Soccer By Ives
At least Fortgate wasn't THIS bad to Revs supporters...granted, the perceived transgressions of the Fort denizens pale in comparison to the conduct of the Houston traveling support last season. Still, this is definitely something Revs fans can relate to.
Is this the new USMNT away jersey? - Soccer By Ives
There have been a few "leaks" of the new USMNT kits, but this one carries extra weight, at least for the away shirt.