Monthly Archives: February 2007

Chances of the World Cup returning to the United States any time soon could depend on the outcome of a FIFA executive committee in November, on the eve of the 2010 World Cup qualifying draw in Durban, South Africa. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday that the rotation system, by which the World Cup […]

6. ARGENTINA: Basile recalls Veron

Argentina coach Alfio Basile has called up veteran midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who has not played for Argentina since November 2003, for a training camp of domestic-based players to continue preparations for the 2007 Copa America, where Argentina opens against the USA. Veron helped Estudiantes win the 2006 Torneo Apertura after returning home in the […]

5. ITALY: Inter’s winning streak snapped at 17 games

Inter Milan’s record 17-game Serie A winning streak ended Wednesday when it was held to a 1-1 tie by visiting Udinese. Udinese was the last team Inter failed to beat — they played to a 0-0 tie in late October — and took the lead in the return game on an early second-half goal by […]

2. AMERICANS ABROAD: Friedel & Blackburn down Arsenal; Cherundolo & Hannover ousted

Four days after losing in the English League Cup final against Chelsea, Arsenal was ousted from the FA Cup with a 1-0 fifth-round replay loss to Blackburn, whose goalkeeper, American Brad Friedel, denied Julio Baptista on a couple of second-half chances. Benni McCarthy’s rocket with three minutes left gave Rovers the win. On Tuesday, Reading […]

Soccer America Confidential, Story

Fowled up? Rogers Returns; Simon Says …

According to a source, negotiations with Robbie Fowler‘s representatives broke down when the player’s salary demands suddenly increased from $1 million to $3 million. An unidentified MLS club (not New England) was bidding to bring Fowler to MLS as a Designated Player at a salary of approximately $1 million. Fowler’s contract with Liverpool expires in […]

MLS CONFIDENTIAL: Fowled up? Rogers Returns; Simon Says …

According to a source, negotiations with Robbie Fowler's representatives broke down when the player's salary demands suddenly increased from $1 million to $3 million. An unidentified MLS club (not New England) was bidding to bring Fowler to MLS as a Designated Player at a salary of approximately $1 million. Fowler's contract with Liverpool expires in […]

OFF THE POST: Betting on Ronaldinho

Two decades since the southern Italian team of Napoli lured Diego Maradona into its ranks and won its first two Serie A championships, a supporters' group has come up with a plan to revive the club that now plays in Italy's second division. Napoli has no means to land a major international star, such as […]

FA Cup: United Survives Comeback Scare

The English Premier League may be a two-horse race, but the country’s cup competitions keep serving up classic after classic: on Tuesday, EPL leader Manchester United barely escaped with a 3-2 victory from its FA Cup fifth-round replay against Reading at the Madejski Stadium. After taking a shock 3-0 lead within the first six minutes, […]

FIFA Pares Down Compensation for Newcastle’s Owen

Newcastle striker Michael Owen is finally set to return from injury next month after enduring more than a year-and-a-half of injury setbacks. The latest, an ACL tear sustained while playing for England during last summer’s World Cup, infuriated Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder, who’s only seen the star striker play 11 times for the club since […]

Fowler’s Revolution Talks

Various reports in England are linking Liverpool’s out-of-favor striker, Robbie Fowler, with a move to MLS, possibly the New England Revolution. Revs Coach Steve Nicol says he’s definitely interested in the player, a former teammate at Anfield in the mid-1990s. “We’d be interested in Robbie,” Nicol told reporters. “But at the moment the first thing […]

Earthquake Resurrection? SJSU Seeks Stadium Partnership

Less than two years after the San Jose Earthquakes relocated to Houston, a new stadium deal may yet bring professional soccer back to Silicon Valley. San Jose State University President Don Kassing on Tuesday agreed to partner with developer Lew Wolff to create a multipurpose sports facility next to the university’s current Spartan Stadium. The […]

Who Needs to Impress South America?

In a column for Soccer365, Andrea Canales digs in to calls from certain corners of the press that the U.S. shift its focus to the Copa America in Venezuela instead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The theory espoused by many is that the U.S. needs to gain respect from the international community and that by […]

CORRECTION: From yesterday's Daily

U.S. under-16 girls national team player Mariah Nogueira and U.S. women's national team player Casey Nogueira are not sisters. Yael Averbuch played for the USA in the 2004 Under-19 Women's World Cup.

HALL OF FAME: Hamm and Foudy form first all-female class

U.S. women's soccer legends Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the Player Category for the class of 2007 — the first all-female class inducted in the Player Category. The 2007 induction ceremonies will be held on Aug. 26 at the National Soccer Hall of Fame […]

WOMEN: Investors commit to launch of new major league

Four years after the WUSA folded following three seasons, Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc., has announced the commitment of six investment groups to launch a new major pro women's soccer league in 2008. The six announced charter teams will be led by the following investors: AEG: Greater Los Angeles John Hendricks, Freedom Soccer LLC: Washington D.C. […]

MLS: Player injured by Stoitchkov in 2003 files lawsuit

Freddy Llerena, who suffered a broken leg while playing for American University in a 2003 scrimmage against D.C. United, has filed a lawsuit against D.C. United, its former investors (Anschutz Entertainment Group), MLS and Hristo Stoitchkov. The Washington Post reported that Llerena is seeking $5 million in compensatory damages from all parties and $5 million […]

5. OFF THE POST: Betting on Ronaldinho

Two decades since the southern Italian team of Napoli lured Diego Maradona into its ranks and won its first two Serie A championships, a supporters’ group has come up with a plan to revive the club that now plays in Italy’s second division. Napoli has no means to land a major international star, such as […]

4. WOMEN: Investors commit to launch of new major league

Four years after the WUSA folded following three seasons, Women’s Soccer Initiative, Inc., has announced the commitment of six investment groups to launch a new major pro women’s soccer league in 2008. The six announced charter teams will be led by the following investors: AEG: Greater Los Angeles John Hendricks, Freedom Soccer LLC: Washington D.C. […]

3. MLS: Player injured by Stoitchkov in 2003 files lawsuit

6. CORRECTION: From yesterday’s Daily

U.S. under-16 girls national team player Mariah Nogueira and U.S. women’s national team player Casey Nogueira are not sisters. Yael Averbuch played for the USA in the 2004 Under-19 Women’s World Cup.

2. HALL OF FAME: Hamm and Foudy form first all-female class

U.S. women’s soccer legends Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the Player Category for the class of 2007 — the first all-female class inducted in the Player Category. The 2007 induction ceremonies will be held on Aug. 26 at the National Soccer Hall of Fame […]

1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“If I was hiring the president of IBM he would be hired already. It doesn’t take that much time to hire a national team coach. … The program has not moved forward as much as it should because of that [delay], so that’s what I’m critical of. I invested eight years into that thing and, […]

Hiddink Guilty of Tax Fraud, Could Face Prison

Doesn’t matter who you are, you have to pay your taxes. Russia coach Guus Hiddink, a man widely regarded as one of the best coaches in soccer, has been handed a six-month suspended sentence and a fine worth $59,000 for evading almost $1.8 billion in Dutch taxes by claiming to be a resident of Belgium […]

Beckham’s Galaxy Salary: $5.5 Million per Season

Various reports are now paring down David Beckham’s MLS contract even further. An Associated Press report last Friday revealed that Beckham’s base salary with the L.A. Galaxy, to be paid by Philip Anschutz’s Anschutz Entertainment Group, will be $5.5 million-not the $10 million AEG would have us believe. However, Becks is projected to earn nearly […]

MLS Lacks Showmen