Weekend action kicks off with a USL-1 clash between Portland and California. The USA faces Austria in the U-20 World Cup on Saturday, which also features four MLS games. The World Cup-bound U.S. women face Norway in a friendly on Saturday. Sunday’s highlight: the Brazil-Argentina Copa America final.
Monthly Archives: July 2007
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
French players go for big money
[TRANSFER TALK] A year after the 2006 World Cup, at which France finished second, three Bleus starters have been sold by French clubs for big money. Indeed, French players continue to command a premium on the transfer market. The top seven transfers of French players from French clubs to foreign clubs have commanded fees of almost $150 million. For a rundown on the French stars moving abroad …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS WEEKEND: New York faces Revolution threat
[TV PREVIEWS] Can Red Bull New York hold onto first place with the Revs in town? Will defender Adrian Serioux solidify the FC Dallas back line as it takes on D.C. United? Can Kansas City break its five-game winless skid at home against Real Salt Lake? Will anyone in Beckham-obsessed LA take notice that Chivas USA and Columbus meet at Home Depot with both teams above .500? Will Houston break the league’s all-time shutout streak by blanking Toronto? Ridge Mahoney previews this weekend’s MLS action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA aims for U-20 World Cup semifinals
One win stands between the U.S. under-20 national team and only the second semifinal appearance by an American team in the 30-year history of this world championship. The USA meets Austria in Toronto Saturday at 2:15 pm ET (ESPNU, Galavision) and that last semifinal appearance might as well be ancient history. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller helped the USA to a fourth-place finish in 1989, the same year the youngest members of the current squad were born.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Beckham has Landed
David Beckham, his wife, Victoria, and their three young children landed at Los Angeles International Airport just after 8 p.m. on Thursday to begin their life in the USA. The introduction of Beckham by the Los Angeles Galaxy at a Home Depot Center press conference on Friday at 1 pm ET will be telecast live on ESPNEWS channel and on MLSnet.com. The Los Angeles Galaxy has reported that it has already received orders for 250,000 replica jerseys. Beckham’s arrival has already been greeted with an avalanche of media coverage, including a Sports Illustrated cover and a risqué photo shoot of David and Victoria in W Magazine.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
With new coach, Chicago thumped by Houston
Teams change coaches, and coaches trade players, and still Houston rolls over all comers. Juan Carlos Osorio debuted as Chicago’s head coach Thursday night on national television and fortunately has more than a week to shrug off a 4-0 thumping inflicted by the defending champion before his team plays again. Houston’s rout include a brilliant goal by Joseph Ngwenya (video HERE). By the time Scottish club Glasgow Celtic lines up for a friendly July 22, Osorio will have Cuauhtemoc Blanco in uniform and perhaps a few answers to the harsh lessons taught by Houston. He might also have observed how a team that won the league title last year has further strengthened itself by intelligent tweaking.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Under-20 World Cup TV Schedule
Play at the Under-20 World Cup continues with four quarterfinal games over the weekend, including the USA-Austria quarterfinal. For the complete Under-20 World Cup schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico and Argentina set to meet after wins at Under-20 World Cup
Mexico and Argentina meet again. Four days after Argentina’s 3-0 win in the semifinals of the Copa America, Argentina and Mexico will meet at the U-20 level. Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria and Chile advanced to the quarterfinals of the Under-20 World Cup with victories on Thursday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“To the extent that he creates so much curiosity from soccer moms and casual fans and can help generate some interest in MLS, it will work. However, the quality of play had better be up to their expectations, and the level of customer service had better be high. He’s going to drive them to the turnstile, but then it’s going to be up to MLS and its franchises to keep them coming back.”
— David Carter, the executive director of the USC Sports Business Institute on David Beckham, who arrived in the USA on Thursday. (Sports Illustrated)
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A meaningful version of ‘Soccer Dad’
The expression “Soccer Mom” has become a cliché. Sadly, some moms can be obnoxious spectators, too. Often, they learn that behavior observing men. Imagine the good that would come from being a highly visible and meaningful version of “Soccer Dad?”
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Argentina Humbles Mexico
For the second game in a row, the coach of the opposing team bested by Argentina has been forced to admit: “We tried but the opponents were superior.” So said Mexico’s Hugo Sanchez Wednesday after his men were handily beaten 3-0 in the Copa America semifinal. And there can be little doubt that this Argentina, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
An Impressive, if Ugly U.S. Victory
As Coach Thomas Rongen said, it took “grandes, grandes cojones,” for the U.S. U-20s to beat Uruguay, 2-1, in their second-round match Wednesday night (extended video highlights). Conceding a goal with about 15 minutes to go, the Americans did not lie down and roll over, rather, they stuck to their guns, focusing instead on what […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Inheriting a Team on Shaky Ground
It’s a fact not lost on the British press: David Beckham isn’t just joining a lesser league; he’s also joining one of that league’s worst teams in the L.A. Galaxy. This point was painfully driven home Tuesday night as Becks’ new teammates crashed out of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup at the hands of second-division […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Becks in the Center of Everything
The David Beckham stories are coming fast and furious again, as MLS, ESPN, adidas and everyone else with a vested interest in American soccer prepare for his official unveiling tomorrow. Behind the glitz, glam and buzz lies the question of how Becks will fit in soccer-wise to the struggling L.A. Galaxy team. The 32-year-old tells […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS ALL-STAR GAME: The 18-man roster set
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol named the remaining seven players to complete the roster for the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game between the MLS All-Stars and Celtic FC on July 19 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. Garber selected Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake) and Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy). The five players selected by Nicol were: Kevin Hartman (Kansas City Wizards), Ronnie O’Brien (Toronto FC), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) and Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo). For complete MLS All-Star roster …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Top California legislator added to USSF Board of Directors
Fabian Nunez, the California State Assembly Speaker, has been added to the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. Nunez takes the second of three Independent Director positions created at U.S. Soccer’s 2006 AGM, when the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Board of Directors was reduced from 40 to 15. Longtime Goldman Sachs Group partner, Carlos Cordeiro, became the first Independent Director in February and the third will be elected at the 2008 AGM. Nunez (D-46th District) was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002 and sworn in as the State’s 66th Speaker in February 2004. For the complete Board of Directors roster and more on Nunez …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Osorio’s first MLS test is a stern one
[MLS TV PREVIEW] Juan Carlos Osorio, presented just a few days ago as the Fire’s new head coach, admits that he needs some time to get back up to speed on MLS and its teams. Since no MLS opponent has been able to defeat the Dynamo in its last eight games, perhaps a fresh approach will help. And since the Fire is 1-9-1 since it beat Houston, 1-0, April 29, maybe the less he knows about his own team, the better. The Fire hosts Houston Thursday night (9 pm ET, ESPN2).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Web site goes bilingual
Upon being elected U.S. Soccer Federation president last year, Sunil Gulati promised to create a greater link to the U.S. Hispanic community. This month, the Federation’s Web site went bilingual, offering a Spanish version at http://ussoccer.com/es/index.jsp.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Late heroics send USA to U-20 World Cup quarters
Coaches rhapsodize about talent, and sing the praises of the skillful, but what they relish above all else is toughness. If not for ample doses of resolve, the USA wouldn’t be among the eight survivors that play in the U-20 World Cup quarterfinals this weekend. Misfortune and circumstance piled up against the Americans, yet still they beat Uruguay, 2-1, in Toronto Wednesday night with an own goal and an overtime winner by Michael Bradley. Of obstacles there were plenty. A charley horse sidelined its stud goalkeeper. A central defender returned to the lineup sporting a gash under his left eye suffered in the first game of the tournament. A wild tackle knocked its specimen of a striker out of the game early in the second half.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Harrisburg knocks D.C. United out of Open Cup
D.C. United became the third MLS entrant in the SuperLiga to be spared the distraction of competing in the U.S. Open Cup when it fell to the USL First Division’s Harrisburg City Islanders, 1-0.
Steve Fisher‘s goal in the 44th minute was the difference in the game.
On Tuesday, the USL’s Charleston Battery eliminated the Houston Dynamo, and the Los Angeles Galaxy fell to the Richmond Kickers of the USL-2.
Dallas FC, the fourth MLS team in this summer’s SuperLiga, went through to the quarterfinals on penalty kicks.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Uruguay made it very, very hard for us to establish any kind of rhythm and we struggled quite frankly throughout the game. But great teams find ways to win and I think our will power, the willingness to sacrifice, the willingness to go where it hurts, which we did, to go down and come back and eventually win the game and hold on for dear life, showed me the quality of the team that only through games you find out. You talk about being courageous and today they showed they’re a team [that is courageous].”
— U.S. U-20 coach Thomas Rongen on his team’s 2-1 overtime win over Uruguay that sends the USA into the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Spain leads European teams into U-20 World Cup quarterfinals with win over Brazi
Three European teams joined the USA as winners on Wednesday in the round of 16 at the Under-20 World Cup. European champion Spain knocked out South American champion Brazil, 4-2, in overtime, while the Czech Republic and Austria both moved into the final eight.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Under-20 World Cup TV Schedule
Play at the Under-20 World Cup continues on Thursday with the remaining four games in the round of 16. For the complete Under-20 World Cup schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA sends three teams to Pan-American Games
The USA is sending three soccer teams to 2007 Pan-American Games July 13-28 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: the U-18 men’s national team, U-20 women’s national team and futsal national team. For complete rosters …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Argentina moves into Copa America final with 3-0 win over Mexico
Argentina beat Mexico, 3-0, to move into the final of the Copa America against Brazil on Sunday. Juan Roman Riquelme and Lionel Messi were the stars for Argentina, which improved its tally to 16 goals in five games.