By Tim Stannard

1) Time to embrace the Copa America craziness as USA faces Colombia

Call it a fine summer of soccer on our fine American shores, or a handy way for some CONMEBOL and CONCACAF members to get an enormous upgrade on their yachts. Either way, the Copa America Centenario is here so let’s face it with the same mindset as Mad Max: Fury Road and embrace the madness. After all, some of the best footie teams on the planet will be here. And Brazil.

The action gets going in Santa Clara and the home of the San Francisco 49’ers where there is a good chance that a largely Colombian support will be cheering on their players against the US of A. whilst Colombia are still easing their way back into reality after a rubbish Copa America last year. Los Cafeteros will also be boosted by the talismanic and reinvigorated James Rodriguez pretty much putting his feet up over the past three months at Real Madrid.

But who cares about them. It’s all about US says Michael Bradley who promises some good times ahead. “I think there's big determination within the team to make this a special few weeks,” promises the midfielder. beIN SPORTS is hoping to do the same with the special editions of the XTRA at LIVE at midnight ET every day. Half-an-hour of the best action, reaction and more than a little late night naughtiness. Oh yes.

2) More good news for Navas, as Neymar finds a Canadian that can play soccer  

Keylor Navas may be absent through injury from the Costa Rica side that is also in USA’s Group A, but the Real Madrid keeper has been boosted by the news that he may still be the number one between the posts next season. David de Gea has welcomed his new overlord, Jose Mourinho, to Old Trafford and says he intends staying at Manchester United. "I've got three more years on my contract with United and the desire to win more titles here,” announced the former Atletico Madrid man.

Away from Brazil duty at Copa America, Neymar is continuing his tour of the States. A couple of days ago, the Barcelona man was learning to play baseball. Now, it’s hanging with Justin Bieber, Pride of Canada. As you do.

Through the medium of social media – which will never catch on, by the way – Dani Alves has told Barcelona fans that he is not saying goodbye. But he is leaving.

3) Messi gets boost in tax evasion trial as PSG look to bring in Mooourinho  

The Trial of Leo Messi – as the movie will one day be called – continues in Barcelona, but there may be a smidgeon of hope for the fancy forward. The prosecutor in the tax evasion case against both Leo Messi and his father, Jorge, said on Friday that “"If there is any doubt, Lionel Messi should be acquitted." A decision from the judge is expected in the upcoming days.

PSG are going in a more bovine approach for the new season in the club’s post Zlatan world. The club’s president, Nasser Al Khelaifi, opines that Edinson Cavani is ready to put on the goal-scoring gauntlet of King Zlatan and that he is on the hunt for “players who eat the grass.” Perhaps the best manager for PSG might have been Jose Mooorinho after all.

4) Another fine Friday for FIFA as HQ raids confirmed

FIFA NEWS! It’s been a few weeks since the organization has offered up any juicy scandal, but the good times are back again with the announcement that Swiss authorities raided the organization’s Zurich HQ on Thursday as part of ongoing investigations into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The news follows another difficult day for the organization with the German press suggesting that Gianni Infantino already faces suspension over a reported decision to delete an audio recording of a FIFA Council meeting in Mexico City. FIFA announced that there were no formal proceedings against the newly installed president underway.

If you are on the hunt for some footie action to tease the palate before the USA kicks off tonight, then beIN SPORTS would like you to point you in the direction of some AFCON qualifiers. Live at 12.50PM ET it’s Mauritania against Cameroon followed by Libya vs Morocco at 3PM ET.

5) Serena reaches French Open finals in big semifinal frenzy

Momentum is being picked up at a still gloomy Roland Garros. It is semi-final day and one match-up has already been decided with Serena Williams moving through to Saturday’s final by beating Kiki Bertens where she will face Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, which won’t be easy at all. The men are up next with Novak Djokovic facing Dominic Thiem, with the winner facing the clash between Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray.

The Moto GP riders are in Barcelona and getting some track time ahead of Sunday’s GP. After Friday’s first practice the truly brilliantly-named Maverick Vinales is fastest. Remember to tune in at 7.55AM ET on Sunday for the race itself.

WHAT IS SPORTS BURST?

The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. SB is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.