[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP] Host Ghana’s Black Stars entered the 2008 African Nations Cup as one of the tournament’s favorites, but they will have to play better than they did in their opener if they are to contend for the championship. Sulley Muntari’s 90th-minute goal gave Ghana a 2-1 win over Guinea.
Monthly Archives: January 2008
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Raul remains the king of Madrid
[SPAIN WATCH] Atletico is still haunted by the decision of its late president Jesus Gil y Gil to disband its youth program in 1992. Raul, who was 13 when he switched allegiance from Atletico and Real Madrid because of Gil’s decision, scored Sunday for La Liga leader in its 2-0 victory over Atletico to give him 11 goals against his former club.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Americans complete sweep in Sundhage’s debut tournament
[U.S. WOMEN] The USA completed a sweep of the the Four Nations Tournament in Coach Pia Sundhage‘s debut tournament when it beat host China, 1-0, in its final game on Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Soccer America breaks down the 2008 SuperDraft
The 2008 MLS SuperDraft is done. What it all means won’t be known for several months, when rosters are filled by the other mechanisms available to MLS teams, yet some semblance of the future can be gleaned by what transpired in Baltimore Friday afternoon.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2008 MLS SuperDraft
Generation adidas players were taken with six of the top eight picks in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
There’s Something About 1987
There’s something about certain years, says SI.com’s Gabriele Marcotti, and 1987 is shaping up to be a very special one, indeed. The list of players born in that year creates a team that would “threaten for the league title anywhere in the world,” he says. And these guys are still only 20 years of age. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gillett, DIC Urge Hicks to Sell Liverpool Stake
Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks have nearly finalized a refinancing plan for the $700 million debt incurred when they took over Liverpool last February. The loan deal involving the Royal Bank of Scotland and U.S. investment firm Wachovia is set to be completed early next week, provided Gillett and Hicks agree to the terms. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Settled U.S. Squad to Face Sweden
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle says the national team mood ahead of this weekend’s friendly against Sweden is decidedly calmer than it was at this time 12 months ago. For one thing, the relationship between coach Bob Bradley and the team is on firmer ground, as Bradley was an “interim” coach last January. “I think we know […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer-Bashing’s Political Undertones
Guardian writer Steven Wells supplies a scary, if humorous snapshot of that uniquely American sports institution known soccer-bashing. Many of us, blinded by the growing support and awareness of soccer in the U.S., will be unaware that there’s a whole online world devoted to hating the world’s most popular sport. One of the most popular […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS SuperDraft: As it Happens
As Section 2 went to press, the first 10 picks in the MLS SuperDraft had been revealed. UCLA defender Chance Myers, 20, went No. 1, chosen by the Kansas City Wizards. FC Dallas went next, choosing 17-year-old Brek Shea, whose official affiliation is with the U.S. U17 national team. UCLA defensive midfielder Anthony Beltran, 20, […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The first round of the MLS SuperDraft will be televised live Friday on ESPN2. Further rounds will be streamed at mlsnet.com. The Mexican league Clausura 2008 kicks off this weekend. The USA faces Sweden in a friendly on Saturday. European action includes relegation threatened Fulham, with Clint Dempsey leading the American contingent, taking on Arsenal.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I thought about Europe, but I felt that MLS would be a great place for me to develop and gain experience, and then we will see what is in store in the future.”
— Ghanaian Patrick Nyarko, touted as a No. 1 pick in Friday’s MLS SuperDraft, on his decision to join MLS after his junior year at Virginia Tech instead of heading to Europe. (Washington Post)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend TV Schedule
All 10 English Premier League games being played Saturday-Monday will be available on American television, included relegation-threatened Fulham hosting Arsenal on Saturday morning. All nine games from Mexico’s Clausura 2008, which kicks off Friday night, will also be available on U.S. outlets. La Liga action features the Villarreal-Valencia derby.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
African Nations Cup Predictions
[PREVIEW] The 2008 African Nations Cup kicks off Sunday when host Ghana faces Guinea in Accra. With such international stars as the Black Stars’ Michael Essien, Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba and Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, the African championship is now arguably the second most popular continental championship in the world behind the European Championship. It is certainly the most impactful. Dozens of players were reluctantly released by top-level clubs across Europe for the three-week tournament. For a look at the tournament, television information and our predictions ..
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Women’s pro league unveils name
Paul Kennedy updates WPS’s launch plans
After more than three years of work on the startup, a new women’s pro league moved one step closer to reality with Thursday’s announcement that it will be called Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). “Today’s a day for celebration,” said Tanya Antonucci, the WPS commissioner who has overseen the project since being talked into it at a gathering of Stanford soccer alumni — she played for the Cardinal in the mid-1980s — shortly after she left Yahoo!, where she served as general manager of its World Cup partnership with FIFA. For details on WPS …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA’s options are diminished
[USA-SWEDEN] Two players have left camp and at least one other is injured, so the choices for U.S. coach Bob Bradley will be limited somewhat when he names his 18 players who will face Sweden Saturday at Home Depot Center (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 8:30 p.m. ET).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS SuperDraft Primo Picks
Ridge Mahoney’s pre-draft analysis
Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo, who holds the No. 1 pick in Friday’s MLS SuperDraft (TV: ESPN2, live, 2 pm ET), believes this year’s pool of players is relatively solid, yet readily admits his rival coaches might not share that opinion. For a look at what teams might take whom with the top picks …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Offseason Player Moves
Zach Thornton, waived by Colorado after the 2007 season, has returned to New York, where he began his MLS career in 1996. For all the team-by-team MLS offseason player moves …
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Harkes to replace Wynalda on MLS telecasts?
The inclusion of former U.S. international John Harkes on the ESPN2 broadcast of the MLS SuperDraft Friday isn’t the only change to the cable system’s soccer format. Nor is it a one-off.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Real to Maintain Cristiano Ronaldo Pursuit
Spanish champion Real Madrid says it will continue pursuing Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, despite firm rebuttals from Old Trafford. United officials maintain they would not sell the reigning PFA Player of the Year under any circumstances, but the Merengues insist they will never give up hope of landing the Portuguese star. “Ronaldo is an […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
African Nations Cup Preview
The AP has a lengthy preview of the African Cup of Nations, which begins this weekend in Ghana. Cameroon and Ivory Coast are the favorites to land the continent’s top prize. The 2008 tournament features some of the world’s biggest stars, from Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon to Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast. Eto’o, in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Capello Warned FA Over Tax Probe
Barely a week into his new job as England coach, Fabio Capello has been accused of tax evasion in his native Italy. According to the Guardian, Capello alerted the English Football Association to the possibility of such an investigation while he was being interviewed for the job. However, the Italian guaranteed that neither he nor […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Best Buy-Fire Sponsorship is ‘Huge’
The Chicago Sun-Times’ Nick Firchau has a story on the impact of Chicago’s new sponsorship agreement with electronics retailer Best Buy. As part of the deal, which is worth between $2.5 million and 4 million per season, the company’s brand name will now be pasted across the front of the Fire jersey. ”This is huge,” […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Feilhaber Switch to MLS Now Possible
American Benny Feilhaber will not be making the switch from Derby County to Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to the midfielder’s employer. Rather, a move to Major League Soccer looks more likely. The 22-year-old midfielder traveled to Israel for negotiations with the Tel-Aviv club, but the parties couldn’t come to an agreement about a transfer price. […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Dorrance suit ends with settlement and apology
Almost 10 years after the lawsuit was initiated, University of North Carolina women’s head coach Anson Dorrance settled a sexual harassment suit filed by former Tar Heel Melissa Jennings.