Monthly Archives: February 2007

When Germany won its first World Cup in 1954, adidas founder Adi Dassler was hailed for providing the team with revolutionary screw-in studs that helped the players cope with the water-logged field in Bern, site of their 3-2 win over Hungary. For another half-century, and two more World Cup victories, Germany wore the three stripes […]

Roberto Brown, a 29-year-old Panamanian forward, has signed with the Colorado Rapids. “El Bombardero” scored against the USA in a 1-1 tie during qualifying play for the 2006 World Cup. He arrives from Tacuarembo FC in the Uruguayan first division. “His addition to the offensive line will help solve the scoring drought issues from last […]

Brazil and Portugal meet for the first since 2003 when they face off in an international friendly Tuesday in London at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 3 pm ET). Luiz Felipe Scolari, Portugal’s Brazilian coach, has sat on the bench for two previous Brazil-Portugal friendlies — the first as Brazil coach in […]

New U.S. Under-20 women’s national team’s coach Jillian Ellis is conducting her first training camp of the new cycle, running Feb. 4-11 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The U-20s will be looking to play at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile. They will play their first international matches of […]

After being highly criticized for his method of protesting a referee’s call, the Portuguese coach of Egyptian champion Al Ahli has apologized. “After analyzing my reaction … I found out that it was inappropriate and I apologize to all fans in general and to Al Ahli’s fans in particular,” Manual Jose said. “I forgot at […]

The Cambodian soccer federation has banned clubs from using their foreign players in its 30-team cup competition because, “They’re taller, stronger and more experienced, so it’s unfair if we let them play,” explained Federation chairman Sao Sokha. The foreign contingent, comprised of North Korean, Nigerian and Brazilian imports, will be allowed back when the league […]

Four Americans took the field in an English Premier League game on Saturday punctuated by Brian McBride‘s gamewinning goal — a 73rd minute strike that gave Fulham a 2-1 win over Newcastle, for whom Oguchi Onyewu debuted four days after joining the team on loan from Belgium’s Standard Liege. Carlos Bocanegra, like McBride, started for […]

After deciding to suspend all soccer indefinitely following the death of a policeman in rioting at Friday’s Serie A derby match between Catania and Palermo in Sicily, Italian soccer officials were scheduled to meet with government officials on Monday to contemplate long-term measures to stem volence in the Italian game. Italian newspapers said the government […]

Real Madrid’s trouble continued as it lost to relegation candidate Levante, 1-0, at home on Sunday, and fans at the Bernabeu Stadium demanded the resignation of President Ramon Calderon and Coach Fabio Capello. Real Madrid fell behind on Salva Ballesta‘s 11th-minute penalty and rarely looked like it would equalize against Levante, 18th in the 20-team […]

U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley has called up 20 players — 16 from MLS and four from the EPL — for the friendly against Mexico on Feb. 7 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (TV: ESPN2 and Univision, 9 p.m. ET; kickoff at 9:25 pm ET). “After weeks of getting to […]

“If you look at it pound for pound, you can’t buy anyone who attacks the ball like he does and score goals like he does. For the amount of money we spent and the service he has given us, it has got to be the best £700,000 [$1.2 million] that anyone has ever spent. He […]