Looking back at the last four years there have been quite a few highlights, here are some of the memorable moments:

• U.S. qualifies for the World Cup by defeating Honduras in San Pedro Sula:

• U.S. starts the Final Round of World Cup qualifying with a victory against Mexico:

• U.S. beats Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
• Benny Feilhaber's wonder goal defeats Mexico in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final.

• Clint Dempsey's goal against England as the USA battles to a 1-1 draw.

• MNT defeats Algeria with Landon Donovan's last minute strike. You may remember this one:

U.S. Soccer has agreed to a contract extension with U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley.  The agreement with Bradley, who guided the U.S. team to numerous achievements including finishing in first place in their group at the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 80 years, will keep him at the helm through the end of 2014.
 

The 52-year-old Bradley has compiled a record of 38-20-8 in four years in charge of the U.S. team.  After winning the 2007 Gold Cup, the regional championship of CONCACAF, he led the United States to their first final of a major FIFA tournament, reaching the championship match of the 2009 Confederations Cup after a 2-0 victory against No. 1-ranked and current World Cup champions Spain in the semifinal. 

 

Prior to the team’s run in South Africa, Bradley marshaled the U.S. to a first place finish in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup ahead of regional rivals Mexico.

 

Since the start of the four-year cycle, the U.S.:

• Won its group at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1930 (that's 80 years ago), and for the first time ever in a four-team group.
• Earned the first point and win for the U.S. in the third group game at the World Cup in eight tries by defeating Algeria.
• Went unbeaten in group play during a World Cup for the first time ever, earning a 1-0-2 record.
• Produced the best finish ever at a FIFA tournament, finishing second at the FIFA Confederations Cup.
  Posted 1-1-1 record against No. 1-ranked teams, including a semifinal upset of Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup, ending a 35 match unbeaten run for the Spaniards
• Only one of two teams to beat Spain since November of 2006
• Won the CONCACAF Gold Cup title in 2007 to qualify for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
• Finished in first place in CONCACAF qualifying, collecting the most road wins of any team in the region during the campaign while going unbeaten at home in nine matches.
• Scored the most goals (42) of any team in the world in 2010 World Cup qualifying
• Won six straight FIFA World Cup qualifiers in a row in 2008, a new team record (June 15-Oct. 15).
• Posted the team’s best scoring and defending marks in a year with more than 10 games, scoring a record 2.14 goals per 90 minutes while allowing just .57 goals per 90 minutes in 2008
• Won by the largest margin of victory in U.S. World Cup qualifying history (8-0 vs. Barbados on June 15, 2008).
• Won three straight matches on the road for the first time in team history (Oct. 17, 2007 @ Switzerland, Nov. 17, 2007 @ South Africa and March 26, 2008 @ Poland).
• Played seven matches against four teams ranked in the top five in the world at the time they stepped on the field against them (Argentina, Brazil-3, Italy, Spain-2).

 

U.S. Mens' National Team midfielder DaMarcus Beasley has signed with Hannover 96 of the German Bundesliga. The three-time World Cup veteran will join Steve Cherundolo at the club. Beasley will now play for his fourth club in Europe, after PSV, Manchester City and Rangers.

The European leagues got in a full slate of action before taking a break for Euro qualifiers:

• Michael Bradley played the full 90 minutes of Borussia Mönchengladbach's impressive 6-3 win against Bayer Leverkusen. HIGHLIGHTS
• Jermaine Jones was on the scoresheet but Steve Cherundolo and Hannover were 2-1 winners in a Bundesliga encounter. HIGHLIGHTS
• In England, Fulham continued their unbeaten start to the Premier League season. Clint Dempsey was a substitute in an eventful second half as the Cottagers drew 2-2 with Blackpool.
• Who's that in fifth place in the Premier League? OH HAI, it's Bolton Wanderers with a win and two draws. Stuart Holden and Bolton battled back from a man down and two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw with Birmingham. So far an excellent start to the season for Owen Coyle's team. BRIEF HIGHLIGHTS
• Former MNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel came out on top of a U.S. 'keeper battle on Sunday, with Aston Villa defeating Tim Howard and Everton 1-0. 
• Benny Feilhaber got an assist in AGF Aarhus' 3-1 win against FC Vestsjælland. Feilhaber crossed for hat-trick hero David Devdariani's third goal. HIGHLIGHTS
• Things are a bit topsy-turvy in the French league this year. Glance at the table and you won't see names who occupied those top spots in recent years. Carlos Bocanegra's St. Etienne is in fifth place after a 3-1 win this past weekend.
• The European leagues take an international break now, with qualifiers for Euro 2010 commencing next weekend.

After two opening losses, West Ham released the pressure valve ever-so-slightly with a midweek win against Oxford Utd. in the league cup. Things are about to get tougher with the Hammers traveling north to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. It's a return to the Red Devils for Jonathan Spector, who signed for the club in 2003. Spector featured at left-back during the win on Wednesday. The game can be seen live on Fox Soccer Channel at 12:30 ET on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Clint Dempsey and Fulham travel to Blackpool for the first top-flight match at Bloomfield Road in 39 years. Fulham hammered Port Vale in the League Cup this week, with Dempsey grabbing a goal in the rout.

On Sunday, Tim Howard and Everton travel to Villa Park to meet Aston Villa while Stuart Holden and Bolton play host to Birmingham.

In Germany the season is picking up speed: Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt meet Hamburg,  Steve Cherundolo and Hannover face Jermaine Jones and Schalke. You can see that match live on ESPN3.com from 9:30 ET. On Sunday, Michael Bradley and Borussia Mönchengladbach host Bayer Leverkusen.

Other Fixtures:
- Serie A commences this weekend, with Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan hosting Lecce on Sunday.
- Carlos Bocanegra and St. Etienne meet Lens on Saturday - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=295026&cc=5901
- Sacha Kljestan and Anderlecht face Zulte Waregem on Saturday
- José Torres and Herculez Gomez could feature as Pachuca take on Puebla on Sunday.

• Germany's Bundesliga got underway this weekend. Michael Bradley played 90 minutes in Borussia Mönchengladbach's 1-1 draw with Nurnburg. Steve Cherundolo captained Hannover to a 2-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt while Jermaine Jones featured in Schalke's 2-1 loss to Hamburg.
• Sacha Kljestan scored the first goal in Anderlecht's 3-0 win against Lokeren:
• In England, Clint Dempsey started Fulham's 2-2 draw with Manchester Utd (HIGHLIGHTS), Stuart Holden played the full game in Bolton's 3-1 win against West Ham Utd., and Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann battled to a stalemate as Everton drew 1-1 with Wolves.
• José Torres and Herculez Gomez played in Pachuca's 2-2 draw with Monterrey:
• Maurice Edu helped Rangers continue their unbeaten start to the season by playing 90 minutes in the 3-0 victory against Hibernian.

Things are picking up in Europe, here are some highlights from across the Atlantic:

• Michael Bradley scored in Borussia Mönchengladbach's cup win this weekend. Bradley grabbed the first goal of a 3-1 victory against lower division side FC Erzgebirge Aue.

• Stuart Holden played 90 minutes in Bolton's 0-0 draw with Fulham. Clint Dempsey came on as a late sub in the first game of the Premier League season for both teams (HIGHLIGHTS). Tim Howard was also in action as Everton fell 1-0 to Blackburn.
• Rangers began their title defense in Scotland with a 2-1 victory against Kilmarnock. Maurice Edu played the full 90 minutes in the win.