Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez, who admits to being something of a nationalist, is worried. He´s worried that the recent trend of the United States owning regional power Mexico in the international arena will only going to become tougher to overturn as Los Yanquis get stronger. Major League Soccer is “getting better day by day and […]
Monthly Archives: March 2007
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Calderon: Ronaldo, Kaka Top Real Shopping List
Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon has confirmed that he will be going after the signatures of Manchester United´s Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan´s Kaka this summer, a pair of players who are very dear to their respective clubs. Both Man United and Milan have repeatedly stated that they have no intention of selling their prized […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Donovan Breaks into All-Time U.S. Performances
ESPN Soccernet´s Steve Davis says Landon Donovan’s hat trick against Ecuador was one of the top 10 all-time performances by an American player in a U.S. international. Had it been during a major competition, his performance probably would have broken into the top three. Davis points out that Donovan’s afternoon was “a biggie because everybody […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
More Praise for Donovan
There may be another international on Wednesday (USA-Guatemala, live, 9 pm EST, ESPN 2, Galavision), but press is still raving about Landon Donovan´s three-goal salvo against Ecuador on Sunday, and rightly so. As Paul Gardner points out, hat tricks don´t happen often in international soccer (or soccer, period), while natural hat tricks happen even less, […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
OFF THE POST: Throw celery, go to jail
By Mike Woitalla Chelsea has banned three fans, including two who were arrested during an FA Cup game with Tottenham Hotspur, for throwing celery stalks onto the field. The culprits had ignored a warning from the club to keep their celery at home. ''Anyone who attempts to bring celery into Stamford Bridge could be refused […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
U.S. U-20s: Freddy Adu and Co.'s Wednesday game vs. Haiti live online at ussoccer.com
The U.S. U-20 national team's game on Wednesday against Haiti will be broadcast live on U.S. Soccer's Web site at 6:15 p.m. ET at www.ussoccer.com/sights/liveStream.jsp.html. Coach Thomas Rongen's U-20 squad includes young pros Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Chris Seitz and Danny Szetela. On Monday, the U-20s beat SMU, 3-2, on two goals by Sampdoria (Italian […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
EURO '08: Support for England's 'Sven lite'
By Paul Kennedy A match against tiny Andorra Wednesday in Euro 2008 qualifying should put an end to England's scoring drought, but a big win will hardly lessen the pressure on embattled England coach Steve McClaren. The Football Association offered its support Tuesday to McClaren, who has taken the brunt of the criticism for England's […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS COUNTDOWN: Columbus has nowhere to go but up
By Ridge Mahoney The worst team in the league last year has a lot of ground to make up if it is to reach the playoffs after missing them in 2005 as well as 2006. In its first year with head coach Sigi Schmid, Columbus (8-15-9) had last place in the Eastern Conference all but […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
BRAZIL: Stars return for friendly wins in Sweden
Brazil swept a pair of friendly games played in Sweden, defeating Chile, 4-0, on Saturday in Gothenburg and Ghana, 1-0, on Tuesday in Stockholm. Ronaldinho scored twice against Chile, converting a controversial penalty and scoring direct from a free kick, for his first goals for Brazil in almost two years. Kaka and Juan scored the […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
USA-GUATEMALA: Last chance for Eddie Johnson?
By Ridge Mahoney Will this be the final, last, drop-dead chance that Eddie Johnson gets to get back on the beam for the national team? He has a good track record against Guatemala, against which he scored last year in a 4-0 rout as well as in a World Cup qualifier in 2005. The match […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS CONFIDENTIAL:Doubling Up NBDPs at RBNY?
The price of a NBDP – Non-Beckham Designated Player – could be increased by more than a factor of two, if RBNY – Red Bull New York – closes the deal on the player it is pursuing. According to a source with knowledge of the negotiations, MLS and English club Aston Villa have agreed on […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
7. U.S. U-20s: Freddy Adu and Co.’s Wednesday game vs. Haiti live online at ussoccer.com
The U.S. U-20 national team’s game on Wednesday against Haiti will be broadcast live on U.S. Soccer’s Web site at 6:15 p.m. ET at http://www.ussoccer.com/sights/liveStream.jsp.html. Coach Thomas Rongen‘s U-20 squad includes young pros Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Chris Seitz and Danny Szetela. On Monday, the U-20s beat SMU, 3-2, on two goals by Sampdoria (Italian […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. OFF THE POST: Throw celery, go to jail
By Mike Woitalla Chelsea has banned three fans, including two who were arrested during an FA Cup game with Tottenham Hotspur, for throwing celery stalks onto the field. The culprits had ignored a warning from the club to keep their celery at home. “Anyone who attempts to bring celery into Stamford Bridge could be refused […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. USA-GUATEMALA: Last chance for Eddie Johnson?
By Ridge Mahoney Will this be the final, last, drop-dead chance that Eddie Johnson gets to get back on the beam for the national team? He has a good track record against Guatemala, against which he scored last year in a 4-0 rout as well as in a World Cup qualifier in 2005. The match […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I went through a lot last year. The last thing I [needed was] getting e-mails from a coach that ‘you’re not starting anymore.’” — Veteran goalkeeper Tony Meola, who is not on an MLS roster but hasn’t announced his retirement yet, reveals his disappointment in how (via e-mail) New York Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
5. BRAZIL: Stars return for friendly wins in Sweden
Brazil swept a pair of friendly games played in Sweden, defeating Chile, 4-0, on Saturday in Gothenburg and Ghana, 1-0, on Tuesday in Stockholm. Ronaldinho scored twice against Chile, converting a controversial penalty and scoring direct from a free kick, for his first goals for Brazil in almost two years. Kaka and Juan scored the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. EURO ’08: Support for England’s ‘Sven lite’
By Paul Kennedy A match against tiny Andorra Wednesday in Euro 2008 qualifying should put an end to England’s scoring drought, but a big win will hardly lessen the pressure on embattled England coach Steve McClaren. The Football Association offered its support Tuesday to McClaren, who has taken the brunt of the criticism for England’s […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
6. MLS COUNTDOWN: Columbus has nowhere to go but up
By Ridge Mahoney The worst team in the league last year has a lot of ground to make up if it is to reach the playoffs after missing them in 2005 as well as 2006. In its first year with head coach Sigi Schmid, Columbus (8-15-9) had last place in the Eastern Conference all but […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Doubling Up NBDPs at RBNY?
The price of a NBDP – Non-Beckham Designated Player – could be increased by more than a factor of two, if RBNY – Red Bull New York – closes the deal on the player it is pursuing. According to a source with knowledge of the negotiations, MLS and English club Aston Villa have agreed on […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
6. MLS: Revs rookie displays scoring touch
By Ridge Mahoney Revs rookie forward Adam Cristman, a fourth-round draft pick out of the University of Virginia, is proving to be the scoring terror of MLS Preseason 2007. The 22-year-old played a role in all three New England Revolution goals as it downed Honduran club CD Olimpia, 3-1, Sunday at Tad Gormley Stadium in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We are not going to start thinking ‘we are not going to qualify.’ That’s no way to start thinking, no way to have the atmosphere in and around the squad, and I won’t let that happen. … But we are where we are in the table and if we don’t start winning, we are not […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
YOUTH: Ferrari scores twice for U-20s against SMU
Sampdoria forward Gabriel Ferrari scored two goals and Freddy Adu buried the game-winner in the 90th minute as the U.S. U-20 national team beat SMU, 3-2, on Monday afternoon in Dallas. Ferrari, 19, scored in both halves in his U.S. debut, but the Mustangs twice pulled even on goals by Dane Saintus and Scott Corbin. […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
EURO '08: Italy faces difficult test against Scots
World Cup champion Italy faces a must-win situation when it hosts Scotland Wednesday in Euro 2008 qualifying at Bari's San Nicola Stadium. With the Azzurri fourth in Group B — five points behind Scotland and France and two behind Ukraine — the pressure on on beleaguered coach Roberto Donadini. Donadoni lashed out at media critics, […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
GOLD CUP: U.S. opponents struggled in weekend friendlies
None of the USA's three Gold Cup opponents in Group B won in friendly games played iver the weekend. Guatemala played to a 0-0 tie at Barbados on Sunday before heading to Frsico, Texas, where it faces the USA in a friendly on Wednesday night. FC Dallas star Carlos Ruiz was with his MLS club […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. YOUTH: Ferrari scores twice for U-20s against SMU
Sampdoria forward Gabriel Ferrari scored two goals and Freddy Adu buried the game-winner in the 90th minute as the U.S. U-20 national team beat SMU, 3-2, on Monday afternoon in Dallas. Ferrari, 19, scored in both halves in his U.S. debut, but the Mustangs twice pulled even on goals by Dane Saintus and Scott Corbin. […]