December 2007 – Page 10 – Soccer America Archives

Notre Dame’s seniors get another shot

by Soccer AmericaDecember 6, 2007

Paul Kennedy continues the Men’s Elite 8 Countdown
Everyone knows about Notre Dame star Joseph Lapira, the Ragin’ Cajun who parlayed a breakout season last year into a callup from the Irish national team last spring. But the Louisianan is only a part of an outstanding senior class that led the Fighting Irish back to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, where they face Wake Forest Saturday.

OFF THE POST: 72-year-old plays 60th season

by Soccer AmericaDecember 6, 2007

Dickie Borthwick of Weymouth, England is entering his 60th season of soccer. The 72-year-old is playing for Wyke Rangers, a team he joined three decades ago, and hits the field with some players 50 years his junior. “I have lost a bit of pace and can’t run as much as I used to, but I am still quick in the mind and that’s what counts,” he told The Daily Mail . Since joining a team in 1947 at age 12, he’s never been cautioned or red-carded. “I am a clean player and I believe in playing hard but fair,” he said.

Soccer America Daily, Story

Modest Argentine club wins Copa Sudamericana

by Soccer AmericaDecember 6, 2007

Argentine club Arsenal, which had not won a title in its 50-year history, won the Copa Sudamericana final on away goals after a 2-1 loss to Club America ended the series 4-4 on aggregate. Club America, the third Mexican team to reach the final in three years, was headed toward victory in Buenos Aires when Martin Andrizzi scrambled through its defense before scoring an 83rd minute goal. Arsenal won the first leg, 3-2, in Mexico City.

Soccer America Daily, Story

Early start to test MLS drawing power

by Ridge MahoneyDecember 6, 2007

The league schedule won’t be released until January at the earliest, but the lineup for opening weekend of the 2008 season is known. And for a few games at least, heavy jackets, thick gloves, and hot chocolate are recommended. After kicking off its season the first weekend of April for the past few seasons, MLS is moving up its start date.

Soccer America Daily, Story

Club World Cup TV Schedule

by Soccer AmericaDecember 6, 2007

The Club World Cup begins Friday in Japan with a first-round match between Iran’s Sepahan, the Asian champion, and New Zealand’s Waitakere United, the Oceania winner. Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol will provide live coverage from the tournament, which continues through Dec. 16.

Soccer America Daily, Story

UEFA Cup Results

by Soccer AmericaDecember 6, 2007

With American Tim Howard in goal, English club Everton beat Zenit St. Petersburg, 1-0, to clinch a berth in the round of 32 of the UEFA Champions League. Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Hamburg and FC Basel also won Wednesday to advance to the knockout phase. American Ramiro Corrales‘ foul set up Basel’s winning free kick by Carlitos in the Swiss club’s 1-0 win over Brann, which is in third place in Group D with four points and still has a chance of advancing depending on next week’s game between Dinamo Zagreb and Rennes. For all the UEFA Cup results …

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer AmericaDecember 6, 2007

“What happened in the game?”

— The first words from outgoing Japan coach Ivica Osim when the Bosnian came out of a two-week coma. Osim suffered a stroke at his suburban Tokyo home while watching an English Premier League game on TV. (Guardian)

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

Officials Suggest Albania Fixed Euro Qualifiers

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

The Albanian soccer federation president and the Albanian national team are the subject of scathing attacks by high-profile public figures within the country. Reuters reports that Prime Minister Sali Berisha recently called the national team a “mafia group,” while Culture Minister Ylli Pango Prime Minister accused the soccer federation president of “selling” two of Albania’s […]

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

FIFA Warns Iran over Mixing Politics and Soccer

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

FIFA has demanded that the Iranian Soccer Federation bar public officials from interfering with the sport, giving the federation two days to respond to the demands laid out by the organization and the Asian Football Federation. The Iranian Football Federation and the Iranian Physical Education Organization left a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, agreeing to […]

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

Liverpool’s Record CL Win Linked to Match-Fixing Scandal

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

Liverpool’s historic 8-0 drubbing of Besiktas in the Champions League last month is one of the 26 European matches under investigation for potential match-fixing, according to a report from the German paper Süddeutsche Zeitung. The Reds’ Anfield win was the largest margin in the competition’s history, although that result now looks in doubt. The German […]

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

Paring Down MLS Offseason Expectations

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

The MLS offseason looks destined to become a time of year for fans, full with the thought of “Hey, they managed to sign Beckham, right?” to dream big. And dreaming big is exactly what many are already doing. So who’ll be the big signing this summer, Andriy Shevchenko, Thierry Henry, Ronaldo, maybe even Ronaldinho? Goal.com’s […]

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

Freddy Steady in Portugal

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

The New York Times’ Jack Bell checks in with Benfica and U.S. national team prodigy Freddy Adu. Mere weeks after his high profile transfer from Major League Soccer to the Portuguese giant, we were worried that the youngster’s future was immediately in doubt when Benfica replaced its head coach with Spanish tactician Jose Antonio Camacho. […]

Soccer America Magazine, Story

MLS Playoff 2007 Best XI

by Ridge MahoneyDecember 5, 2007

Around the world, cup competitions are a volatile, unpredictable counterpart to the long grinding slog of league play. In the United States, the MLS season is condensed into a frantic burst of tense showdowns that determine the champion.

Soccer America Magazine, Story

Ellinger: U.S. Youth Soccer ‘renews focus’

by Mike WoitallaDecember 5, 2007

John Ellinger has coached some of the most brilliant young American players in the nation’s history and brings vast experience to new USYS Technical Director role.

Soccer America Magazine, Story

MLS Cup 2007: Dynamo Dynasty

by Ridge MahoneyDecember 5, 2007

Houston matched D.C. United’s back-to-back championships in the first two MLS seasons by rallying to beat New England, just as it did in last year’s final. This time, it came back from a 1-0 deficit to win, 2-1, in overtime to win the fourth title in franchise history.

Soccer America Magazine, Story

Youth Beat-Wilmer Cabrera: ‘Coaching has to be natural.’

by Mike WoitallaDecember 5, 2007

World Cup vet and former pilot Wilmer Cabrera aims to take U.S. Soccer’s U-17 program to new heights.

Soccer America Magazine, Story

International Year in Review

by Paul KennedyDecember 5, 2007

It was a year for triumph and tragedy. Champions were crowned on three continents, and a new generation of stars dominated the international club scene. But 2007 was also marked by tragedy as Italian soccer descended into violence.

Soccer America Magazine, Story

The Best of MLS

by Ridge MahoneyDecember 5, 2007

An influx of new players – DPs, youth and senior internationals and drafted rookies – produced the deepest player pool in league history. That depth and quality are reflected in the annual Soccer America positional rankings.

College Soccer Reporter, Story

NCAA Division I Tournament TV Schedules

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

All three games from the Women’s College Cup in College Station will be broadcast live on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. For the men’s and women’s weekend schedules …

College Soccer Reporter, Story

Bradley buses set to roll

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

Bradley is the only one of two schools left in the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament that doesn’t have a football program, so interest in the Braves is high. By Monday afternoon, three buses had been filled to take fans to Sunday’s quarterfinal game at Ohio State.

College Soccer Reporter, Story

NCAA Division 1 Men’s & Women’s Coaching Openings

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] The resignations of Catherine Byrne at Akron Monday and Chris Kouns at Jacksonville Tuesday bring the number of Division I women’s programs to lose their coaches to 17 since the end of the season. For a list of coaching openings and job postings …

College Soccer Reporter, Story

Kouns steps down as Jacksonville women’s coach

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

A year after leading Jacksonville to the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament, Coach Chris Kouns announced his resignation on Tuesday.

College Soccer Reporter, Story

Sundhage calls up seven collegians

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

[U.S. WOMEN’S ROSTER] Swede Pia Sundhage called up seven collegians for her first camp since being named the U.S. women’s national team coach.

College Soccer Reporter, Story

UIC’s Flames flicker bright

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

Paul Kennedy continues the Men’s Elite 8 Countdown
Last year, UIC got off to a fast start before its season went up in — well — Flames. This season has been the reserve: a slow start followed by a late rush. With three straight wins on the road, unfancied UIC is one game away from advancing to the Men’s College Cup for the first time.

Soccer America Daily, Story

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Report

by Soccer AmericaDecember 5, 2007

Six clubs saw U.S. Soccer Development Academy action on the weekend before the 2007 Development Academy Nike Friendlies in Bradenton, Fla. from Dec. 6-9.