World landscape is a different place than we left it

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We're back, Rankings fans. It's been more than two months since we last checked in, and the world's soccer landscape looks a whole lot different.

First, there's the implicit irony in Italy bringing home the World Cup while its own domestic champion gets torn limb from limb. Then there's the Mexican exodus: Four of El Tricolor's best players decided they were tired of international disappointment and took the leap to the European leagues.

As in any offseason (or two-month-long World Cup break), the name of the game is player movement. Who were the big winners? No. 1 shouldn't be a surprise, although I'm fully ready for your criticism.

Speaking of which, I received more than 200 responses to my "10 reasons to keep watching" column pitching the club season to the soccer-curious. All you soccer junkies may be surprised at how many newbies wanted to know how they could watch more footie, how to become actual fans and how the big leagues operate (that one's easy -- read this column on the Euro leagues by our own Arash Markazi).

I could tell you all about ESPN's Champions League schedule or Fox Soccer Channel's early-morning weekend broadcasts -- or my favorite way to watch fútbol: drinking beer before noon on a Saturday at a local soccer pub with a bunch of idiots much like myself. But you know what? I want to hear from footie nation. Here's your chance to educate people who actually want to know more about the game we love.

So tell us your strategies for being a true fan: where and when to watch, soccer meccas to visit and -- above all -- the easiest way to avoid paying $25 or more to watch big matches (like the FA Cup final) on pay-per-view. I'll post some of the best comments in our next Rankings on Aug. 10 (which, by the way, is two days before my personal post-World Cup highlight: Barça on American soil vs. the New York Red Bulls).

Let's get back to the business of Rankings, shall we?

Note: All rankings, records and statistics are through July 26.

World Soccer Power Rankings Rank Prev. Team 1 2 Chelsea Until the Blues again show they can't come up big in Europe or have trouble closing down the stretch, Roman Abramovich's free-spending has made Chelsea the team to beat again. Unbelievable that a guy like Michael Essien has to fight for a spot in the starting XI. Key acquisitions: Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel; key losses: Damien Duff, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Asier del Horno. 2 1 FC Barcelona The defending European champs are going to be a tough lot again, as under-fire chief Joan Laporta added reinforcements from Juventus' fire sale, as well as a handful of impact players. And how about the new day-glow orange road kit? Barça has gone from one shade of Gatorade-inspired to another. Key acquisitions: Gianluca Zambrotta, Lilian Thuram, Gudjohnsen, Javier Saviola; key losses: Henrik Larsson, Gabri. 3 3 Olympique Lyon A sixth-straight Ligue 1 title is nice, but OL's main goal this season should be to go for the gold in Champions League. And the fans know it. Les Lyonnais are banking on their future with excellent youth prospects, including a double-Jérémy punch of French Under-21 stars (midfielder Toulalan and defender Berthod). Key acquisitions: Patrick Müller, Kim Källström, Toulalan; key losses: none -- yet (Mahamadou Diarra, we're looking in your direction). 4 5 Arsenal It's the beginning of a new era as the Gunners break in Emirates Stadium. The biggest victory this offseason was keeping Thierry Henry in an Arsenal uniform. With Czech midfield maestro Tomas Rosicky now in the fold, and yet even more youth projects hand-picked by Arsène Wenger, Gooners should be thrilled about their club's future. Key acquisition: Rosicky; key losses: Sol Campbell, Robert Pirès. 5 4 Liverpool Skipper Steven Gerrard has almost as much to prove on the Merseyside this season as Ronaldinho does at the Camp Nou. Stevie G's lackluster World Cup was a disappointment by any standard, and he'll be looking to remind everyone why many believe he's the best player in England. Key acquisitions: Craig Bellamy, Gabriel Paletta, Mark González, Jermaine Pennant; key losses: Djibril Cissé, Fernando Morientes, Dietmar Hamann. 6 10 São Paulo Every time we put the defending world champs here, I keep looking for other players to mention besides Rogério Ceni. But it just doesn't work. Brazil's third option in goal was again the hero for his club, holding Chivas scoreless in Wednesday night's Libertadores semi first leg, and nailing the winner on a penalty kick. Key acquisitions: Ricardo Oliveira, Ilsinho, Alex Silva; key loss: Fabio Santo. 7 6 Bayern Munich The long-awaited transfer of World Cup star Lukas Podolski makes it a productive offseason in Bavaria, which tempers the loss of Ballack -- a little. Bayern still needs another scorer, but stepping back on Man Utd's asking price on Ruud van Nistelrooy was the right call. Key acquisitions: Podolski, Daniel van Buyten; key losses: Ballack, Zé Roberto, Bixente Lizarazu. 8 9 Internacional de Porto Alegre Is the third time the charm? O Colorado has put its best foot forward in three straight tournaments now -- last season's Brazilian championship, the Copa Sudamericana and now, the Copa Libertadores. Inter fell just short in the first two, but Abel Braga's men have their shot at redemption in the granddaddy of them all. It would be their first major title in 14 years. Key acquisition: Wellington; key loss: Chiquinho. 9 -- Inter Milan From one Inter to another. Maybe this isn't the most glorious way to win your first Scudetto in 17 years. But if the Nerazzurri want to bag another one outright, they have no excuses now. Perennial bugaboo Juve is out of Serie A this season, so Inter had better knock the stuffing out of Roma and penalized Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio while it has the chance. Key acquisitions: Fabio Grosso, César, Olivier Dacourt; key losses: Juan Sebastián Verón, Kily Gonzalez. 10 -- Chivas de Guadalajara The Goats get a spot for now despite the crusher against São Paulo. They didn't really look like a broken team until Ceni hit the game-winner with five minutes to go. The true test will be the return leg in São Paulo's cavernous Morumbi. (By the way, isn't it weird how it seems as if exactly one superstar from each Mexican power club has left for Europe in the past few weeks? It's like they all got together and plotted a takeover.) Key acquisitions: Juan Pablo Rodríguez, Antonio Olvera; key loss: Carlos Salcido. Honorable mentions: Real Madrid, Libertad, Valencia, Atlético Madrid, FC Porto, Werder Bremen, PSV Eindhoven, D.C. United (yes, D.C. United) Dropped off: FC Porto, Boca Juniors

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