Monthly Archives: February 2008

[MLS] Many pro athletes take it easy during the offseason, indulging in amusements and luxuries or just chilling out. Not Chicago Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez, who, along with his wife, Ginna, traveled to Mali in the fight against malaria as part of the Nothing But Nets program that he himself founded. Back home, Gutierrez signed up for one more year of MLS play with the Fire, for whom he should see plenty of playing time in 2008.

[MLS TEAM PREVIEWS] Reaching the playoffs for the first time in three seasons in 2007 masked these sobering facts: Kansas City stumbled down the stretch – losing three of four before beating Dallas in the season finale — and edged into the playoffs as the eighth overall seed with a 11-12-7 record. Following a busy offseason, the Wizards will probably look much different in 2008.

Mike Woitalla reports from Houston
Both coaches agree that controlling midfield play is likely to decide Wednesday’s USA-Mexico game (TV: ESPN2 and Univision, live, 9 pm ET). For 20-year-old Michael Bradley, currently the USA’s hottest commodity thanks to a scoring streak in the Netherlands, it means testing himself against veteran Mexican midfielders Pavel Pardo and Gerardo Torrado.

USA-Mexico is one of the biggest games of the year for American soccer fans. They will be outnumbered at Reliant Stadium, but they will be out in force at bars and pubs across the country. For information on viewing parties near you …

U.S. fans can get in the mood for Wednesday night’s USA-Mexico with a replay of last year’s 2-0 U.S. win Glendale, Ariz. For all the coverage of the Border Showdown …

The USA called in 12 European-based players for Wednesday’s match against Mexico in Houston. The Tri was left with six foreign-based players after midfielder Andres Guardado was injured playing for Spanish club Deportivo Coruna last weekend. U.S. coach Bob Bradley called up two teenagers, Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore, while Mexico’s Hugo Sanchez has three teens — Cesar Villaluz, Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela — in his squad. For the complete rosters …

[DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY] The Colorado Rapids’ youth teams made their U.S. Soccer Development Academy debut with a win and tie against teams from Southern California power Pateadores on the road. The Rapids tied, 2-2, in U-15/16 play and won, 2-1, in U-17/18 action. Real Colorado began its Development Academy with four wins in four games at the Pateadores and Irvine Strikers. South Charlotte improved to 5-0-3 with a 3-2 win over Empire United on Sunday. For all the Development Academy results …

Fabio Capello‘s reign as England national team coach begins with a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley. Televised Euro ’08 tuneups include Italy-Portugal, Croatia-Netherlands, Turkey-Sweden and Czech Republic-Poland. Ireland hosts Brazil in another friendly of note. For all the televised friendlies …

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. This week’s listings include openings at several high-profile college program.

Mike Woitalla reports from Houston
In the FIFA World Ranking, Mexico is 15th and the USA trails at No. 20. El Tri’s corps of European-based players includes two Barcelona players and two who won titles last season in the Netherlands and Germany. The majority of the crowd in Houston on Wednesday will be Mexico supporters. So why will it be foolish to bet on Mexico when it faces the USA (TV; ESPN2 and Univision, live, 9 pm ET)?

Ridge Mahoney examines all the moves
[ENGLAND WATCH] While the transfer sagas of Eddie Johnson (to Fulham) and Brad Guzan (not to Aston Villa) occupied the attention of U.S. fans, numerous other moves were made by the English Premier League clubs for which American players toil. Here’s a brief look at how EPL teams with current U.S. players used the January transfer window.

[WPS] Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and former Yahoo! President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Mallett will become investors and part owners of Women’s Professional Soccer, the women’s league scheduled to begin play in 2009.

[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP] Defending champion Egypt beat Angola, 2-1, in the quarterfinals of the African Nations Cup to set up a rematch of the 2006 final with Ivory Coast in Thursday’s semifinal. Host Ghana will meet Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions, who knocked out Tunisia, 3-2, in overtime.

Chivas USA signed Swiss midfielder Raphael Wicky, a 2006 World Cup veteran with over decade’s professional experience in Germany, Spain and Switzerland. The 30-year-old Wicky has more than 70 international appearances for the Swiss national team. For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …

[MLS TEAM PREVIEWS] On the eve of its departure for Florida came news one more of Chicago’s top 2007 performers wouldn’t be around for 2008. Replacing goalie Matt Pickens, reportedly headed to English club QPR, is just one of the question marks incoming head coach Denis Hamlett faces, along with finding a replacement for midfield linchpin Chris Armas, shoring up the scoring and handling the unique talents and personality of Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

[WORLD CUP WATCH] The long road to South Africa began in CONCACAF on Sunday with a surprise as Cayman Islands tied Bermuda, 1-1, in Hamilton. The attention of U.S. fans will be focused on the match Wednesday in Roseau, where Dominica hosts Barbados at Windsor Park.