Ever wonder if maybe nations should solve their problems without war, but with some sort of sporting contest? Well, they'd pick the one game that unites the world, and Brazil would be the world's only superpower.

This blog is about soccer, mainly the international variety, the kind that pits nation vs. nation on 110 yards of grass.

A few notes about my predilictions: I like the international game best. Yes, I know that the superclubs are eclipsing national teams as the top level of quality soccer in the world. I still prefer the romance of Brazil vs. Argentina to the money-driven superstar accumulation that results in Chelsea vs. Milan.

Which is not to say I don't follow the club game. I watch the Champions League and I pay some attention to MLS and La Liga -- back in the '90s, when I lived in Texas, I was a Dallas Burn season ticket holder, and I've seen Barcelona play on two continents (and North America isn't one of them). I don't pay much attention to the Premiership or the Mexican league, but I invite comments about them.

There is a pair of international matchdays coming up, and there are some pretty good matches on TV -- all of which are friendlies. The action starts today with Brazil v. England. Saturday is USA v. China and Mexico v. Iran, both at 5 p.m. I'm a USA fan, but there's no question Mexico's game is going to be the better match, so I'm torn. If either was on FSC I could rely on the endless reruns, but it's ESPN2 and Telemundo, so maybe I'll just channel-flip.

For my money, the best game of the week will be Tuesday's Brazil-Turkey friendly. The two games these teams played in the 2002 World Cup, and then their game in the 2003 Confederations Cup, were all fantastic.

I'll post later on the week's Euro 2008 qualifiers, none of which are on TV in Bakersfield but which could be interesting to follow anyway.