Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Fabio Alves, a 28 year old Brazilian left back who last played in Australia, tweeted and posted on Facebook word that he’d joined the Union. “Happy with my new club, Philadelphia Union! (MLS), looking fwd to playing soon..:)”

While both posts have since been removed, The Brotherly Game has screenshots. We’ll have more on this as it develops.

Philadelphia Union

On Saturday, the Union host FC Dallas before road games against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday and Houston Dynamo the following Saturday.

Brian Carroll said of Saturday’s opponent, “We can’t take any breaks or feel too good about ourselves. We need to be focused all the time or [not] think too highly of ourselves. We don’t have that luxury. We understand how good Dallas is. Everybody is grounded and focused on what we need to do. They are one of the best teams in the league. They are dangerous, experienced and have a lot of young talent. It’s going to take everything we have for us to get a good result here.”

Look for PSP’s preview later this morning. In the meanwhile, refresh your memory of how the Union have done against Dallas in the past with our quick reference.

Kevin Kinkead has a scouting report.

Goal.com predicts a Dallas win.

Here’s an interesting topic of discussion in Dallas ahead of Saturday’s game: Should the team have gone after Conor Casey rather than Eric Hassli?

John Hackworth said that, with Keon Daniel away on international duty, look for Michael Farfan to step things up. “I think everyone has the expectation that Michael is ready to have a breakout game…This is a really big opportunity for Michael Farfan to come back to a more natural position for him.”

Jurgen Klinsmann said of selecting McInerney for the Gold Cup roster, “There’s no pressure on him at all. There’s just a learning curve ahead of him and in partnership with his club to make sure we keep him with both feet on the ground and just every time developing him.”

Klinsmann continued, “He’s a hungry kid and he’s hungry for goals. He can score goals in many, many different ways. He’s providing assists and he’s there for his team. He’s chasing people down and he’s highly energetic. So we just want to open the door now, have him become part of our group and we would like to see him on a daily basis in training and possibly in the games as well. And therefore this is a first step for him into the senior program.”

Reports on Jack McInerney’s call-up to the USMNT from PSP, Philadelphia Union.com, Philly.com, Delco Times, CSN Philly, South Jersey Times, Delaware Online, Philly Soccer News, Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

ProSoccerTalk writes of the Gold Cup roster, “Most eyes will be on the young tandem of Mix Diskerud and Jack McInerney. If they get significant time, it will give the country a wonderful look at what’s to come in the next few years.”

At Union Tally, Matthew De George considers just how much McInerney can expect to play and how he might be deployed.

UK-based website Backpage Football says McInerney could make it in the Premier League.

If you happen to be by San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium on July 4, stop on by and say hello to Jack. The US will be having an open practice ahead of the Gold Cup warm-up game against Guatemala in San Diego on July 5.

The Sports Network has midseason grades for MLS teams and the Union’s B+ is second only to Montreal Impact’s A. The review concludes, “This team could be dangerous down the stretch if it can plug a few holes in the summer transfer window and step up its midfield play.”

Jeff Parke describes how, last year, West Coast teams looked at playing the Union as points to be had. Things have changed. “It is a totally different year and a different team, and guys are playing different roles and stepping up.” Nevertheless, Parke says there is still work to do. “I think we are doing well, but we are not quite where we want to be. As a competitor, I would love to be the top team and have teams chasing us.”

The Brotherly Game has a look at some positive numbers for the Union, 16 games into the season.

The Union players and coaching staff have been strong supporters of the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, led by Brian Carroll and Chris Albright, raising $28,000 to support the foundation, who will triple the amount donated. Garth Brooks said of the donation, “Every player, including the head coach?! Now that is a team of Teammates. The Union has been a dream to work with and they are helping a ton of kids in Philadelphia and beyond. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The Union’s youth partnership program apparently has some reach, now expanding as far as North Carolina’s Cape Fear Soccer Club.

Local

At Patriot-Times, Michael Bullock says a more efficient defensive effort will be the focus as Harrisburg City Islanders host VSI Phoenix Wolves tonight to conclude a five-game home stand (7pm, USL Live). Union loanee Greg Jordan remains out with a knee injury.

First place Reading United (20 points) host second place Jersey Express (18 points) on Sunday at 5pm in what is sure to be a Mid Atlantic conference thriller.

Third place Ocean City (16 points) will host eighth place Central Jersey Spartans (3 points) on Sunday at 7pm. The Nor’easters are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season.

Before the Nor’easter’s game, Ocean City’s Carey Stadium will be host to a W-League game between New York Magic and Washington Spirit on Sunday June 30 at 4pm.

La Salle University has announced six incoming freshmen for the men’s soccer team: Liam Boger (M: Warren, Pa./Warren Area); Sam Howard (GK: Takoma Park, Md./Burke School); David Keen (M: Annapolis, Md./Broadneck); Conor Nichols (F: Wall, N.J./Wall); Melvin Thomas II (M: Elkridge, Md./Mount St. Joseph); and Matt Robinson (M: Lansdale, Pa./North Penn).

Penn Live profiles Cumberland Valley High School teacher and coach Matt Billman and the nonprofit Soccer Outreach Services he founded with his wife. Billman will be in Sri Lanka this summer coaching former boy soldiers.

MLS

Looks like Graham Zusi has signed a new multi-year contract with Sporting Kansas City.

Dom Dwyer (15 goals in 13 games) has been called back from his loan to Orlando City by Kansas City.

Seattle Sounders have confirmed that Fredy Montero’s transfer to Sporting Clube de Portugal is being completed.

Toronto FC have placed Logan Emory on waivers.

New York Red Bulls have waived Rafhinha.

NWSL

The Trentonian looks at what has made first place Sky Blue FC successful.

Western New York Flash hosts Washington Spirit tonight (7pm, livesportsvideo.com).

US

The Gold Cup roster announcement sees Landon Donovan’s return to the USMNT. Donovan said, “This tournament historically has meant a lot to our team, it means a lot to me, and I want to win the tournament, and I want to be part of something special at the end of this month.”

Jurgen Klinsmann said that club obligations prevented Gold Cup call-ups for Carlos Bocanegra and Brek Shea.

At MLSsoccer.com, Charles Boehm says the Gold Cup roster “might just be the most attacking-minded group” of Klinsmann’s tenure.

At US Soccer.com, a look at how a good performance at the Gold Cup can lead to playing in the World Cup.

ASN looks at how the USMNT’s tactics have taken shape over the five games played in June.

Giuseppe Rossi says Jozy Altidore is ready for Serie A.

Steve Cherundolo will undergo knee surgery today after a collision during practice on Tuesday. Cherundolo had surgery on the same knee in February.

The MNT U-20s are eliminated from the U-20 World Cup in Turkey after losing 4-1 to US nemesis Ghana. The U-20s finished play in the “Group of Death” (which included Spain, France, and Ghana) with a 0-2-1 record and goal differential of -6.

U-20 head coach Tab Ramos said, “I’m disappointed that in three games we gave up nine goals. You certainly can’t move on in a World Cup giving up nine goals in three games. But overall, we came here to compete. I think the unfortunate part is in two of the games the results don’t show it. But I think our team showed up and competed in all three games and in a very difficult group against three very difficult teams.” It is unclear if Ramos was looking at the help wanted ads when he made the comment.

Soccer America has player ratings from the loss.

Elsewhere

Spain outlasted Italy through 120 minutes of scoreless soccer  to advance to Sunday’s Confederations Cup final against Brazil on penalty kicks (5:30pm; ESPN, Univision). Outside the stadium and around Brazil, protests against the cost of hosting the World Cup continued and confirmation came that a protestor had died in Belo Horizonte.

Meanwhile, FIFA announced the official champagne of the 2014 World Cup.

Goal.com looks at some of the problems the Gold Cup dress rehearsal for the World Cup has uncovered.

ESPN reports, “Lionel Messi’s lawyers have denied the claim of Catalan newspaper El Periodico that the Barcelona player and his father will pay €15 million to the Spanish taxman in order to avoid facing tax fraud charges in court.”

More on Nick Pugliese, the American playing pro soccer in Afghanistan.

Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for the week’s upcoming live games on TV and online.