London Guardian gives high marks to ESPN, and Andy Gray in particular, for Euro 2008 coverage.

The headline: “How America learned to love soccer

“ESPN’s savvy, Brit-inflected coverage of Euro 2008 did much to improve the sport’s image in the US”

That’s all real nice. But is it just me, or does anyone else find this treatment just a tad … tiresome? As if the underlying issue with every bit of coverage has to be about whether the game will ever catch on here?

And that we have to have guys with British (or Scottish

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OK, sorry for the dearth of posts. Don’s on vacation, so I’m minding the store. The real job is keeping me busy – what can I say?

Reffing all weekend at the Diadora Cup at Starfire, but caught the last 30 mins of the final there Sunday on the Mad Pizza big screens. Sensational Torres goal – now we see what all the fuss is about.

And isn’t it just like Lehmann to try to put his studs into El Nino’s, er, kids, after he realizes he’s beaten?

Sounders, meantime, thought

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Tide See Both Sides of a 5-1 Score in Canada

Tide 1 – 5 Vancouver / Tide 5 – 1 Abbotsford

The Tide split their two matches up in Canada June 28th and 29th. The scores keep them in first place in the Northwest Division, (STANDINGS) however they have played one more game than second place Yakima, and four more matches than third place Vancouver.

Vancouver Whitecaps 5 – 1 Tacoma Tide MATCH REPORT from WhitecapsFC.com

Abbotsford Rangers 1 – 5 Tacoma Tide MATCH STATS from USLsoccer.com

The Tide’s last

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Down to just one last game and then the fun will be all over. Some good stuff to last us ’til Sunday:

Reuters has a great blog post on the Flop XI of the tournament.

“Star” of the side would be Luca Toni, “someone for whom the term ‘lump’ could have been invented.

“Slow, immobile, clumsy and, when finally presented with some chances to show his ability in the air — poor in the air.”

Meantime the Guardian has a look at Germany’s track-record in big cup finals – it is astounding to see how

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Lots of good players to choose from, no doubt.

On my ballot:

&bull Cesc Fabregas, Spain. Absolutely no idea why he is not playing from the start.

&bull Michael Ballack, Germany.

&bull Wesley Sneijder, Holland. Sure, they got dumped but he was everywhere for them when they were flying.

&bull Lucas Podolski, Germany.

Discuss.

The Sounders did the business Tuesday night and dispensed with Hollywood FC (vanquishers of the Portland Timbers, wtf?). Sebastien Le Toux bagged four and Josh Gardner and Zach Scott scored one apiece as the Sounders stolled, 6-0, at Starfire.

The win moves the Sounders into a third-round U.S. Open Cup matchup with Chivas USA of Major League Socccer. Kickoff is 7 p.m. July 1 at Starfire. Tickets go on sale this morning, $17 in advance, $20 at the gate.

Andrea has a rundown of the other US Open Cup results.

The other 3rd-round ties, home

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OK, so yours truly goes from correctly predicting seven of the eight quarterfinalists – Portugal, Turkey, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia – to exactly zero of the four semifinalists.

You would have thought that to be a mathematical impossibility, but there you go.

Meantime, spare a thought for TNT sports copy editor John Wallingford, who outed himself Monday as a Euro 2008 fanatic. For a guy who works in there with a bunch of knuckle-draggers who still see soccer as “a commie sport,” or whatever, it was a brave admission. We’re here for you, John.

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The Seattle Sounders of the USL First DIvision meet Hollywood United of the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association and the Coast Soccer League in Los Angeles, at 8 tonight (Tuesday) at Starfire in second round action of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Details at www.seattlesounders.net.

The Sounders advanced to the second round with a 1-0 win over the Arizona Sahuaros (USASA) in extra time.

If the Sounders win, they will host Chivas USA of Major League Soccer at Starfire on July 1.