Goal.com’s Pat Walsh picks Real Salt Lake as his dark horse for the 2008 MLS season. RSL is the only MLS club to have never made the playoffs. Only once in its short history did RSL finish above last place in the West, and that was 2005, the club’s first season. That year fellow expansion […]
Monthly Archives: March 2008
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham to Earn 100th England Cap
Barring injury, David Beckham is on course to earn his 100th cap for England, national team coach Fabio Capello revealed on Wednesday. “He will get his 100th cap if he is fit and in form,” the England manager said, adding that either he or his assistant Franco Baldini would travel to the U.S. to see […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
At Camp with Manny Schellscheidt
It was 35 years ago when Manfred “Manny” Schellscheidt became the first coach granted an “A” license by the U.S. Soccer Federation. He has since coached at every level of the U.S. men’s national team program and is now enjoying his role as technical director of U.S. Soccer’s U-14 boys development program.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ruiz hits hat trick; Beckham takes a knock
Nowhere, it seems, can MLS teams in preseason training escape the specter of bad fields. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Champ struggling on D
[MLS] It’s preseason, yes, but what’s going on with the Houston defense? Gamba Osaka lit up the Dynamo with a 6-1 thumping in the Pan Pacific Championship final a week and a half ago; on Wednesday, the first day of play in the Texas Pro Soccer Festival, Houston conceded three while beating Toronto FC, 4-3.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA to face heavyweights
[U.S. SOCCER] The U.S. men’s national team, which is already scheduled to play Spain June 4, is close to finalizing friendlies against England at Wembley May 28 and Argentina June 8 at Giants Stadium.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Winter Transfer Moves
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Former Kansas City Wizards reserve keeper Chris Konopka signed with Bohemians of the eircom League, Ireland’s top flight that plays a spring-fall season. For all the winter overseas transfers involving Americans …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Another Champions League shocker
[WINNERS & LOSERS] A day after defending champion AC Milan went out at home, nine-time champion Real Madrid was upset by Roma, 2-1, to fall in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the fourth straight year. Chelsea made it 3-for-3 for English clubs when it disposed of Olympiakos, while Schalke 04 had 21-year-old goalie Manuel Neuer to thank for its series victory over favored Porto.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Lineker vs. Gandhi
[OFF THE POST] Controversy has surrounded plans to erect a 12-foot tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the British city of Leicester after a “No Gandhi” campaign was launched by residents who prefer a statue of former England forward Gary Lineker. Now a TV soccer commentator, Lineker began his career at Leicester City, for which he scored 95 goals. Gandhi, who died in 1948, is known as the Father of the Nation of India and the world’s most famous pacifist.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I don’t believe any decision will be made on the basis of one game. He may not have had full control of the game but I haven’t heard any complaints about specific decisions.”
— Japanese soccer federation official Hideto Teshima says there won’t be repercussions after referee Masaaki Iemoto‘s performance in the J-League opener between Kashima Antlers and Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Iemoto allowed Hiroshima to retake two missed penalty kicks, showed three red cards and 11 yellow cards, and disallowed two Kashima goals in the Hiroshima win. (Reuters)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. women stomp on Steel Roses
[ALGARVE CUP] The U.S. women’s national team handed China the worst defeat in their storied rivalry when it opened play at the Algarve Cup with a 4-0 victory Wednesday in Albufeira, Portugal.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Liverpool Tussle Remains at Stalemate
Liverpool is still the property of Tom Hicks and George Gillett after negotiations between Dubai International Capital and the American owners, lasting well into the night, remained at a stalemate. Sources told BBC News that Gillett was tempted to accept an offer worth $400 million for his 50 percent stake in the English Premier League […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan Looks to Summer Transfer Market
Following stern pronouncements in the Italian press that Milan’s current squad is now passed its sell-by date, Football Italia reports that the Rossoneri’s front office is already lining replacements for when the transfer window opens in June. Top of the list for Milan director general Ariedo Braida is Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. The 29-year-old Ivorian […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Italian Press Marks the End of an Era for Milan
“Milan: The End” — the headline from Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport says it all. Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League loss at home to Arsenal certainly signals the end of an era for the Rossoneri. As the Guardian’s Paolo Bandini points out, Milan’s starting XI had an average age of over 30, which means the time is […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ruiz Hat Trick Leads L.A. to Victory in Shanghai
Carlos Ruiz bagged a hat trick as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated an East Asian “All-Star” team composed of players from second division club Shanghai Dongya and the Hong Kong national team, 3-0. Goal.com described the Chinese side as “disorganized” and “overmatched” for the MLS team. The Galaxy broke through just before the end of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arena: No Regrets About Red Bulls Stint
In an interview with Goal.com, former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena reflects on his time with the New York Red Bulls, which lasted for little more than a year. Arena complains that Red Bull, the team’s owner, for the most part “didn’t know anything about professional soccer in this country,” and that he inherited […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The doctors had said that he risked injury if he played, and they [the press] pressured us by saying that he always has to play, and now we are all paying for this.”
— Barcelona defender Carles Puyol blames the press for the pulled hamstring Lionel Messi suffered during Barcelona’s Champions League win over Celtic. (Goal.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Texas four-step preps MLS teams
Major League Soccer may never set up shop in San Antonio, but for the next week, four league teams will spread the word while training and playing a round-robin mini-tournament that suits their various preseason needs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Teen answers Dallas goal call
[MLS] Once FC Dallas had traded striker Carlos Ruiz to Los Angeles, speculation began regarding who would pick up the scoring slack. Coach Steve Morrow is still negotiating the acquisition of Chilean forward Reinaldo Navia. Forwards Ricardinho, Dominic Oduro, Kenny Cooper and Abe Thompson are vying for playing time; Roberto Mina, unable to reach agreement on a new contract, is not. On Tuesday, FC Dallas got goals from an unlikely source. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dealing may not be done
[MLS WAIVER DRAFT] Only three players were claimed in the MLS waiver draft Tuesday, but at least a few more of the players placed on waivers may find their way onto rosters.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Offseason Player Moves
Nine MLS teams passed on players in Wednesday’s Waiver Draft before D.C. United picked up the rights to Jeff Curtin. Taken later were Brandon Prideaux (Chicago Fire) and Kyle Brown (Houston Dynamo). For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Champions League TV Schedule
UEFA Champions League play continues Wednesday with four more games. For all the TV coverage of the midweek action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Spanish master leads Arsenal resurgence
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] In a golden generation of young stars led by Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, it’s easy to overlook Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, but he has been just as influential, leading Arsenal to first place in the English Premier League and past defending champion AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy Results
Teams from U.S. Soccer’s residency program in Bradenton, Fla., won all four games against area opponents in U-17/18 nd U-15/16 action over the weekend. For all the U.S. Soccer Development Academy results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions, They include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.