The European league season opens Saturday for most Americans in England, Germany and France.
The Community Shield again pits Manchester United against Arsenal. Last year, goalie Tim Howard first made headlines in leading United past Arsenal in a shoot-out in the Community Shield.
Howard is expected to start for United in the Community Shield Sunday at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. American teenager Jonathan Spector should also travel to Cardiff. United begins the season in bad shape due to injuries and Olympic commitments.
The Premier League kicks off Aug. 14, but the English Championship (former First) Division begins Saturday.
BOBBY CONVEY should make his English debut for Reading, which begins its push for promotion to the Premier League at home against Brighton. In goal for the Royals will be MARCUS HAHNEMANN.
EDDIE LEWIS is expected to be in the starting lineup when PRESTON opens at home against Watford.
Watford is looking to sign former University of Illinois-Chicago star JAY DEMERIT. The 24-year-old Demerit impressed Watford manager Ray Lewington in preseason at center back, in particular against Spanish Cup champion Real Zaragoza. Demerit has been playing for non-league Northwood.
In Germany, STEVE CHERUNDOLO should start for Hannover at Bayer Leverkusen. Teammate CLINT MATHIS is out with a leg muscle injury. CONOR CASEY could make his debut at Mainz, which won promotion to the First Division and opens Sunday at Stuttgart. Two Americans are on teams in the 2. Bundesliga: GREGG BERHALTER (currently sidelined at Energie Cottbus, which plays FC Cologne Saturday) and JOHN VAN BUSKIRK (Rot Weiss Erfurt, which opens Sunday at Saarbruecken)
GREG VANNEY is listed a probable starter for Bastia in its French First Division opener against Strasbourg at home on Saturday.
VEDAD IBISEVIC, the 2003 Soccer America College Freshman of the Year, was in the Paris St. Germain squad of 16 headed for Rennes for the opener Saturday.
The Bosnian striker, signed to a three-year deal out of Saint Louis University, was granted a five-month authorization to play in the French League.
In Belgium, OGUCHI ONYEWU should begin play on his third club in three years in Europe. The defender joined Standard Liege on loan from French club Metz. Standard plays Lierse Saturday. Former UCLA teammate Alex Yi is still at Antwerp, which was relegated to the Belgian Second Division.
Elsewhere in Europe, ROBBIE RUSSELL, injured last weekend sin Rosenborg's 1-1 tie at Viking, missed the second leg of Rosenborg's second preliminary round series against Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova Wednesday in the Champions League. Rosenborg won 2-0 away to advance 4-1 on aggregate and advance to the third preliminary round series Aug. 11 and 25 against Maccabi Haifa of Israel.