Bradley's Egyptian side falls in debut

Bob Bradley -- AP photo

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Former Chicago Fire head coach Bob Bradley, coaching for the first time since his tenure with the U.S. National Team, saw his Egyptian national team debut end in a 2-0 loss to Brazil on Monday in Doha, Qatar.

Brazilian forward Jonas netted goals in the 39th and 59th minutes to pace his side past Egypt.

Bradley last coached the U.S. to a 4-2 loss to Mexico in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final in front of 93,000-plus at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Bradley out; Fire trade Robinson

Bob Bradley -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Former Chicago Fire head coach Bob Bradley's tenure as the U.S. National Team head coach has ended. U.S. Soccer announced Thursday that he has been relieved of his duties for the national squad.

"I was shocked, just like you and most people were," Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said Thursday after the team's training. "I was on a flight back and someone told me at training. Obviously I have tremendous respect for Bob. He coached me here for two years -- very memorable years. And I was on the staff with him for a year. So to tell you the truth, I'm shocked."

Also on Thursday, the Fire traded defender Dasan Robinson to Toronto FC on Thursday in exchange for defender Dan Gargan and Toronto's 2012 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection.

"We had an opportunity to acquire another defender and provide depth for our club," Toronto head coach Aron Winter said on the team's official web site. "... Dasan brings us depth and versatility because he can play central defense or right back."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Beasley, Bocanegra join U.S. World Cup team

Former Chicago Fire and current U.S. Men's National team head coach Bob Bradley had some difficult decisions to make in piecing together his squad's 23-man roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

After surveying what seemed to be an endless list of potentials, Bradley named his World Cup squad on Wednesday. The grouping includes former Fire players Carlos Bocanegra and DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley joins midfielder Landon Donovan and defender Steve Cherundolo as the only U.S. players making a third World Cup appearance.

Last year, Beasley was not exactly on the radar to make this step. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native's form was sub-par, and it was only until a successful December stretch with Glasgow Rangers that people were taking notice of him again.

"He certainly had to prove himself," Bradley said. "DaMarcus obviously had fallen out of it a little bit, and he needed to make a renewed commitment to the team, a renewed commitment to doing things as a player that make his team better. We've seen that, and we feel good about the way he's worked to make that happen."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

SOCCER ROUNDUP

• Chicago Red Stars president and CEO Peter Wilt is joining the Milwaukee Wave of the National Indoor Soccer League in a similar capacity. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first posted the news Tuesday morning. The McHenry, Ill., native and former Chicago Fire general manager will be introduced at a press conference Wednesday, and official information will be available at ChicagoRedStars.com and MilwaukeeWave.com.

• Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco is going to help launch EA Sports' FIFA Soccer 10 on Monday, Oct. 19, at the Best Buy Hancock Center store, 875 N. Michigan Ave., in Chicago. Starting at 4 p.m., Blanco will be signing autographs as the popular video game begins its U.S. launch to the public on Tuesday, Oct. 20. But you don't have to wait till that date to get a chance to try the game out. The Oct. 19 launch event will include the opportunity to play the video game in an in-store Xbox 360 tournament. CLICK HERE for more information regarding the tournament registration.

• Former Chicago Fire head coach and current U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley spoke for his team after learning that forward Charlie Davies was seriously injured in a one-car fatal crash on the George Washington Parkway early Tuesday morning: "Obviously, as a team we were saddened to learn this news," Bradley said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family, as well as the people in the car and the families of the others involved. As a team, we are relying on each other in a moment that has for sure hit us all hard." The U.S. MNT, already qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, complete their qualifying round with a 7 p.m. (CST) match Wednesday against Costa Rica at RFK Stadium (game televised on ESPN2).

PREVIEW: FIRE AT L.A. GALAXY

The Chicago Fire can inch closer to a playoff berth Friday night when they take on the host Los Angeles Galaxy for a 10 p.m. (CST) match at The Home Depot Center (televised on ESPN2). Both teams are 10-6-11 with 41 points. If either team wins and D.C. United loses Saturday, they will join the Columbus Crew as the only postseason qualifiers to date.

CLICK HERE for my full Week 29 MLS Preview and predictions at Examiner.com.
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Other recent soccer links:
• World Cup qualifying: Former Chicago Fire head coach Bob Bradley named his 22-man U.S. Men's National Team roster on Thursday in preparation for the U.S.'s final two World Cup qualifiers. Also, will Bradley's MLS wins record fall this season? Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid will need a huge run to dethrone Bradley.
• CL's LePeilbet on U.S. WNT podcast: In case you missed it earlier in the week, check out a U.S. Soccer podcast featuring Crystal Lake native and Boston Breakers defender Amy LePeilbet, the WPS Defender of the Year for 2009.