Is World Cup fever disrupting business in the U.S.? What are they doing about it? At large New York-based companies in particular, which employ people from across the globe, the World Cup has indeed proven disruptive; employees who don’t smoke are faking cigarette breaks, stealing outside to watch games in bars, many more are keeping […]
Monthly Archives: June 2006
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Dream Continues for Hiddink’s Socceroos
The beauty of The World Cup is encapsulated in moments like those produced by Australia yesterday in its great-escape 3-1 victory over Japan. The Socceroos found themselves trailing the Japanese thanks to some poor officiating, in which a harmlessly flighted ball over the top of the defense found its way into the back of the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ghana Fails to Finish, Deposed by Italy
The Financial Times wasn’t particularly impressed by Italy’s 2-0 victory over the Ghanaians yesterday. The world-renowned business journal said Ghana made Italy work hard for their dinner and came close to beating Gianluigi Buffon on several occasions. Michael Essien, Africa’s most expensive player, was particularly busy, causing all kinds of trouble for the Italians in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
For Smaller Countries, a Silver Lining in U.S. Loss
So the U.S. were outplayed and outcoached yesterday in the 3-0 drubbing it received at the hands of Tomas Rosicky and the Czech Republic. The headline from Soccernet said it all: “Class Dismissed.” Even so, for many in the American press, the progress made by the United States team in the last 16 years has […]
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WORLD CUP: A good whuppin'
FEEDBACK: Let us know what you thought of USA-Czech Republic. What went wrong? Who's to blame? How does the USA get it right against Italy? Send us your comments (with full name and hometown) to: letters@socceramerica.com USA-CZECH REPUBLIC ANALYSIS By Ridge Mahoney in Gelsenkirchen Finding fault for the 3-0 thrashing in Gelsenkirchen starts on […]
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RATING GAME: How the Azzurri were judged
Italy, the USA's next opponent at the World Cup, opened Group E play with a 2-0 win over Ghana on Monday. Here's how La Stampa rated Marcello Lippi's Azzurri (1=low; 10=high): Starters: Gianluigi Buffon (6.0) Cristian Zaccardo (6.5) Alessandro Nesta (6.5) Fabio Cannavaro (6.5) Fabio Grosso (6.0) Simone Perrotta (7.0) Andrea Pirlo (7.5) Daniele De […]
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YOUTH: U.S. U-17 boys take expanded roster to HDC
The U.S. under-17 boys national team is at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for an 11-day training camp that began June 11 and runs through June 22. U.S. U-17 coach John Hackworth took 38 players into camp, including 18 who are not members of U.S. Soccer's Residency Program. U.S. U-17 Roster: GOALKEEPERS: Phil […]
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YOUTH: U.S. U-18 boys tie three, lose one in Europe
The U.S. under-18 boys national team traveled to Spain, where it tied, 3-3, with the Real Madrid juniors before heading to Portugal for the Lisbon International Tournament, at which the Americans earned two ties before losing to host Portugal. For U.S. results: U.S. Results Date Opponent Result U.S. Goalscorers June 5 Real Madrid Juniors 3-3 […]
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REACTION: Arena and Reyna after USA-Czech Republic
U.S. Coach Bruce Arena ôI donÆt think we ever positioned ourselves to win this game, giving up a goal as early as we did. The Czech Republic took advantage of every play we offered them today, in terms of the attacking end of the field and had a pretty good success rate in getting three […]
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WORLD CUP: USA-Czech Republic Report Card
Czech Mate By Ridge Mahoney in Gelsenkirchen Only with a strong, collective effort could the USA have beaten an excellent Czech Republic team. Instead, the disjointed, hesitant Americans were overpowered, 3-0. The Czechs played with determination, strength and speed of thought. The USA had no answer to the brilliance of Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky. […]
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WORLD CUP: Mexico-Iran is most watched sports event in Univision history
Highlighting the extraordinary devotion of Hispanic soccer fans in this country, SundayÆs match-up between Mexico and Iran, which resulted in a Mexican victory, was viewed by an impressive 5.4 million average audience of persons 2 and older, making it the most-watched sporting event in Spanish-language television history, beating even previous World Cup final matches. With […]
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WORLD CUP: Group H Preview
Young Spaniards could surprise By Paul Kennedy Mananging Editor Soccer America SPAIN Odds: 16-1 (8/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: t5 (t5/32). Previous appearances: 11. Podium finishes: -. With a long history of underachieving, Spain isnÆt often mentioned as a 2006 World Cup contender. The Spaniards have one of the best young teams in the tournament but […]
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World Cup 2006
By Paul KennedyManaging Editor, Soccer America Magazine 7 England bets The English love to bet. Gamblers place wagers on just about everything: soccer, horses, even royalty and politics. (More than $10 million was gambled on the outcome of the 2004 U.S. presidential race.) If you have a hunch, you'll probably be able to find an […]
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WORLD CUP: Weekend ABC Ratings
ABC's broadcast of three matches in the 2006 FIFA World Cup opening weekend from Germany delivered an average 2.8 rating based on overnight ratings in the metered markets. This is 65% higher than the 1.7 average rating for the network's two matches in the opening weekend of the 2002 World Cup. Saturday's 9 a.m. ET […]
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USA-CZECH REPUBLIC: Minute by Minute
88 YELLOW CARD (Czech) Grygera booked for ungentlemanly conduct 86 SUBSTITUTION (Czech) Rosicky replaced by Jiri Stajner 82 SUBSTITUTION (Czech) Poborsky replaced by Jan Polak 81 ACTION (U.S.) Johnson sends delicate chip narrowly over 81 YELLOW CARD (Czech) Rosicky booked for wasting time 76 SUBSTITUTION (U.S.) Josh Wolff replaces Brian McBride 76 GOAL — U.S. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Making the World Cup Stick Online
Thanks to Yahoo, the 2006 FIFA World Cup has been outfitted with more interactive bells and whistles than any previous tournament: blogs, chats, contests, photos, interactive city guides, news and commentary, as well as live animated MatchCasts and three-to five-minute video highlights of each game as they conclude. Fans attending the games in Germany will […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
What The World Cup Means to Africa
Perhaps the World Cup has no greater impact on any other continent than Africa. Many of its countries have unstable governments and economies and the World Cup, in some cases, is the first and only event to bring these nations together. There are four African countries playing in the tournament this year for the first […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Expectations Have Changed, but the American Are Still Strangers at the World Cup
The Americans have been well-received in Germany, a nation that remembers all too well how lucky it was to get passed the United States in the quarterfinals in 2002. Four years and a No. 5 FIFA world ranking later, the foreign press and the other nations competing in the tournament are curious to see the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Dutch Man-of-the-Match Sparks Dissent After Win
Dutch winger Aarjen Robben produced the kind of individual performance you dream about during the Netherlands’ 1-0 victory over Serbia & Montenegro yesterday. Not only did he score the only goal of the game, but he set the tempo throughout with his speedy play down the left flank, causing all kinds of problems for the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Two Nations Breathe Relief After Mexico Victory
After 75 scrappy minutes, Group D favorites Mexico produced two goals in quick succession, taking advantage of some poor defending to sink unfancied Iran 3-1. Mexico’s goals came thanks to the introduction of Zinha, the naturalized Brazilian midfielder who came off the bench to set-up the first and then score the second, a beautiful header […]
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WORLD CUP: Ghastly in Gelsenkirchen
By Mike Woitalla in Gelsenkirchen When the U.S. team bus arrived at the Arena AufSchalke, Bruce Arena stepped off looking concerned and serious as he led his team to the locker room. His counterpart, Czech coach Karel Brueckner, a 66-year-old who slightly resembles Eddie Albert of ''Green Acres,'' wore a friendly smile and waved to […]
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SOCCER ON TV: Special-Your World Cup Party Guide
SPECIAL: Your World Cup Party Guide Who says Americans haven't joined the World Cup party? The 2006 World Cup has seen an precedented outpouring of interest in the world's most popular sport across the United States. The first full week of the World Cup begins on Monday. If you want to sneak away from work […]
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USL: Results (June 5-11)
In the USL First Division, Rochester remains the lone unbeaten (5-0-4) while VancouverÆs Joey Gjertsen, SeattleÆs Cam Weaver and MiamiÆs Romario are tied for the league lead in goals with five. Richmond won a top-of-table clash with second-place Charlotte 2-0 with Robert Ssejjemba scoring his league-leading seventh goal in the USL Second Division. USL First […]
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MLS: Summaries (June 8-11)
June 8 in Carson, Calif. Los Angeles 1 Chivas USA 2.Goals: Gomez 27; Razov (Mendoza) 15, Razov (Kljestan, Palencia) 21. Los Angeles — Hartman, Sturgis, Ihemelu, Marshall, Dunivant, Gardner (Kirk, 68), Nagamura, Saragosa, Martino, Wolyniec (Gordon, 63), Gomez. Chivas USA — Burpo, Vaughn, Hernandez, Regan, Bornstein, Garcfa, Kljestan, Marsch (Perez, 77), Mendoza, Palencia, Razov. Yellow […]
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WORLD CUP: Goals shine bright
As the Americans left Hamburg for their first game, the harbor city welcomed contingents from Africa and South America. By Mike Woitalla in Hamburg At 11 p.m. each night, green laser beams blaze through the Hamburg sky, aiming at 170 goals built with luminescent blue pipes. The goals stand on rooftops, in parks and span […]