By Mike Woitalla in Munich Even the Germans who would never admit to reading the Bild newspaper can't escape its giant headlines. They jump out from the newsstands and can be easily spotted if someone's reading the tabloid at the far end of a subway car. When German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was anointed head of […]
Monthly Archives: July 2006
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Handover Ceremony Highlights Africa’s Hope
With just two games remaining, the World Cup handover ceremony took place in Germany on Friday. Franz Beckenbauer handed the baton off to South African Thabo Mbeki. World Cup 2010 organizers said they viewed the first African World Cup as a chance to transform the world’s perception of the whole continent. South Africa President Mbeki […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
As Good as it Gets for the U.S.?
Ever since the demise of the North American Soccer League, many of us have been patiently waiting for the resurgence of soccer in the United States. However, such a resurgence would require a great deal of winning on the part of the national team, particularly at the World Cup, a feat that continues to elude […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Bans Greek Teams from International Play
Two years after the Greek national team stunned the world by beating the likes of France, the Czech Republic and Portugal (twice) en route to its Euro 2004 triumph, Greek soccer is in disgrace due to its government’s insistence on running the national soccer federation (HFF). The Greeks are now likely to be denied the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Once Upon a Time in America
There was a time, many of us forget (others were too young to remember), when soccer in the U.S. was the chic thing, the metropolitan thing, attracting many of the world’s stars to U.S. soil. Once upon a time, 77,691 people packed into Giants Stadium to watch the likes of Pele and Franz Beckenbauer play […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Man of the People
“France is on fire again,” writes The Australian, “but this time it is not angry youths rioting and torching cars in protest against an out-of-touch political elite.” No, this time, it’s Zinedine Zidane, the most gifted player the world has seen since Argentina’s Diego Maradona, who’s lifted the nation out of social, economic and spiritual […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Section 1: Seven Italy players picked to World Cup All-Star Team
Seven Italians and four Frenchmen head the 23-man MasterCard All-Star Team, as selected by FIFA’s Technical Study Group. World Cup semifinalists Germany and Portugal also had four players apiece on the all-star game. Argentina had two, and Brazil and England one apiece. The MasterCard All-Star Team: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Jens Lehmann (Germany), Ricardo (Portugal). […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
9. SOCCER ON TV: Your World Cup Viewing Guide
For all the week’s World Cup action and MLS games: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137380
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
8. U.S. U-16 GIRLS: Tambi calls up two U-15s for camp
Coach Kazbek Tambi will bring 24 players to the U.S. under-16 girls national team training camp at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., July 10-16. Tambi called up two U-15s: defender Amber Brooks and midfielder Kristen Mewis. For the U.S. U-16 girls roster: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137392
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
7. U.S. U-17 GIRLS: Walsh takes 24 players to Northwest
Coach Erica Walsh brings 24 U.S. U-17 girls national team players for a camp July 7-17 in Seattle and Canada. The U.S. U-17s will play the W-League’s Seattle Sounders Saints (July 12) and Vancouver Whitecaps Women (July 14 and 16). Of the 24 players, Walsh is giving first looks to several players, including goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
6. U.S. U-21 WOMEN: Ellis names Nordic Cup roster
U.S. U-21 women’s national team head coach Jillian Ellis has named the 18-player squad that will travel to Norway for the 16th Nordic Cup being held July 16-22 . The Nordic Cup is the top competition in the world for U-21 women and the focus of the USA’s oldest youth national team. The USA has […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
5. U.S. U-20 MEN: Four MLS players out for Canada series
Four MLS players — forward Quavas Kirk, midfielder Dax McCarty and defenders Nathan Sturgis and Tim Ward — were removed from the U.S. roster for games against Canada July 7 at Toronto’s SkyDome and July 9 in Kingston, Ont. Kirk and Sturgis were recalled by the L.A. Galaxy. The Columbus Crew requested Ward. McCarty was unable to […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. USL: Montreal to build complex
USL-1 club Montreal announced plans for a $15-million soccer stadium and training complex to be built near Olympic Stadium. The site became available when the Olympic Installations Board, the agency that runs Olympic Park, offered free land in the park near Olympic Stadium. Saputo Stadium, which could be ready to open by fall 2007, will […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. BY THE NUMBERS: World Cup TV Average Ratings
Tuesday’s Germany-Italy semifinal delivered a 4.1 rating, making it the highest-rated non-U.S. game ever on ESPN and the third highest-rated World Cup game ever on the network. The Portugal-France semifinal on Wednesday garnered a 2.6 rating. Here’s a look at the average ratings on the three Disney networks ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 through 62 games. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“SUM helped launch us into an entirely different level of respect and credibility. It’s raised the commercial value of the sport in this country. MLS is one of the boats in a rising tide.” — MLS Commissioner Don Garber on MLS’s marketing affiliate Soccer United Marketing that has had the U.S. English-language TV rights to […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1. FEEDBACK: Our readers speak out on …
The World Cup, Bruce Arena and his players, tactics, refereeing and more. https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137386
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
SOCCER ON TV: TSE û Soccer isnÆt an obscure product
Dear Editors of Soccer America: After reading the July 6 column by USA Today Sports TV columnist Michael Hiestand, in which he referred to soccer diehards as ''special,'' I have the following response. There is one HUGE difference between soccer and ''Olympic'' sports such as bobsled or badminton: There are 4 US TV channels which […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD CUP: France ends Scolari's run
By Ridge Mahoney in Munich To stop a most remarkable streak required a gritty team on a great run of its own led by a flickering star not yet willing to be dimmed. France, mired in self-doubts in the run-up to the World Cup and a surprise runner-up finisher in group play behind Switzerland, knocked […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
U.S. U-16 GIRLS: Tambi calls up two U-15s for camp
Coach Kazbek Tambi brings 24 players to the U.S. under-16 girls national team training camp at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., July 10-16. Tambi called up two U-15s: defender Amber Brooks and midfielder Kristen Mewis. For the U.S. U-16 girls roster: GOALKEEPERS (3): Jillian Mastroianni (Durham, Conn.), Cody Miles (Salem, Ore.), Shane Millheiser (San Juan […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
U.S. U-17 GIRLS: Walsh takes 24 players to Northwest
Coach Erica Walsh brings 24 U.S. U-17 girls national team players for a camp July 7-17 in Seattle and Canada. The U.S. U-17s will play the W-League's Seattle Sounders Saints (July 12) and Vancouver Whitecaps Women (July 14 and 16). The U.S. team will be in Seattle from July 7-12 before departing for Canada for the […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
U.S. U-20 MEN: Four MLS players out for Canada series
Four MLS players — forward Quavas Kirk, midfielder Dax McCarty and defenders Nathan Sturgis and Tim Ward — were removed from the U.S. roster for games against Canada July 7 at Toronto's SkyDome and July in Kingston, Ont. Kirk and Sturgis were recalled by the L.A. Galaxy. The Columbus Crew also requested Ward. McCarty was unable […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
U.S. UNDER-21 WOMEN: Ellis names Nordic Cup roster
U.S. U-21 women’s national team head coach Jillian Ellis has named the 18-player squad that will travel to Norway for the 16th Annual Nordic Cup being held July 16-22 . The Nordic Cup is the top competition in the world for U-21 women and the focus of the USA’s oldest youth national team. The USA […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
WOITALLA: A Tabloid Trip
By Mike Woitalla in Munich Even the Germans who would never admit to reading the Bild newspaper can’t escape its giant headlines. They jump out from the newsstands and can be easily spotted if someone’s reading the tabloid at the far end of a subway car. When German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was anointed head of […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. SOCCER ON TV: Your World Cup Viewing Guide
For all the week’s World Cup action and MLS games: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137380
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. U.S. YOUTH SOCCER: Dallas Texans take six Region III titles
The Dallas Texans won six titles and finished second in three other age groups at the U.S. Youth Soccer’s Region III Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. The Dallas Texans Reds U-18 boys will defend title at the National Championships later this month in Des Moines, Iowa, after crushing Atlanta powerhouse Concorde Fire Elite, 4-0, in the final. […]