Hello all,

We hinted at this last week, but no need to continue asking you to read between the lines.

The coverage you are now getting at World Soccer Digest is going to be shifted to SBNation's main soccer page, where I will be writing from here forward.

You're still going to get the same type and tenor of coverage.  There will be more quick-hit-type of stuff.  The quantity of coverage is likely to go up, too.

There will be great integration with the other members of SBNation's ever-expanding family of soccer sites, most of which are more narrow in focus that this one.

But it's because the focus of this blog has tried to be global that, especially in this World Cup year, we at SBNation thought it natural to move the coverage to the main soccer page.

I hope everybody will follow me there, as we should be up-and-running within a couple of days.

Until then, thanks, and I will talk to you soon,

Richard

Greg Sica might be the best writer covering South American futbol, which is high praise considering the immortal (not in a Gremio way) Tim Vickery is still unflappable.  But over at SouthAmericanFutbol.com, the man's getting it done.

Today, Greg relays the idea of Riquelme at the Maracana:

Marco Braz, the vice-president of Flamengo, affirmed that he has already commenced negotiations with the agent of Boca Juniorsmidfielder Juan Roman Riquelme for the player’s transfer to Brazil’s most widely supported club. Riquelme was offered to Flamengo almost one month ago and since then Braz has been negotiating for a future transfer that could become reality.

Flamengo’s directors know that securing Riquelme’s rights won’t be easy, however, the fact that they are unlikely to hold onto highly-paid strikers Adriano and Vagner Love means it will leave the door open for Riquelme. With Adriano and Vagner Love out of the picture, Flamengo will count with sufficient finances to pay the Argentines salary.

Can't we just vote on this and make it happen?  On the one hand, it would suck for Argentine soccer to lose yet more talent, but Riquelme's nearing the end of his run.  Put him on a team that can do something in Copa, who are defending their title in the Brasileirao.

Please?

Howdy all!

I wanted to give everybody an update on World Soccer Digest, as you may have noticed the frequency of posts has been decreasing.

We are currently in the process of revving-up our World Cup coverage here at SBNation.com.  In the short term, that means taking a step back, getting refocused, and shifting gears away from the club game.

If you cover the international game to the depth I would like to think I do, you have to watch the club world closely, but SBNation has done a great job of expanding its soccer blog network, with the new outlets covering more-and-more of what used to be covered here (back in the tumbleweed-turning days when it was just me and Steve Davis, otherwise known as November).

I'll keep everybody abreast of the changes we'll be making, but for now, expect more World Cup news, and the coverage of the club game will be a little less in-depth.

It's be a bit of a challenge, over the last few months, driving a World Cup-centric blog when the focus is on the club world, but as we shift gears with national team call-ups in sight, the coverage will be more South Africa 2010-centric.

So just your friendly status update.

... will come early afternoon Pacific time.  Again, will be looking at Europe and the Americas, and if I have time I will add "five matches to watch" from Asia.

Give me your ideas or, at least, which matches are you going to be watching this weekend (and why).

I'll be here throughout the Manchester United-Milan, Real Madrid-Lyon matches.

Who are your picks?

After a long people of ambivalence, I've started a Facebook account and plan to be active.

You can find me at http://www.facebook.com/rffootball.

It's always good to know exactly how many friends you have.

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Interact here, and also discuss Everton-Sporting and, if you want, Stoke-Manchester City.

The matches are scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. EST in Milan and Lyon.

Picks?

I think I'm going to make it a regular thing.

I'm going to make my preview articles interactive, and time/life permitting, I will have a Europe on and an Americas one drafted throughout this evening (PST) and tomorrow morning.

Something you want discussed?

Let's get it going.  I'll try to follow your lead.

Reminder, all:  The second stage of Copa Lib - otherwise known as group stage - starts today.  That's right.  The first round isn't completely done, but over the next two days, group play will get started.

Be it Corinthians or Flamengo or even if you want to argue Inter - the Brazil clubs look like they'll be strong, IMO.