Monthly Archives: May 2008

[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] Sweden recalled veteran striker Henrik Larsson in a surprise move for the European Championship. Larsson, who retired from international play after the 2006 World Cup, did not play in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign but has scored six goals in 11 games for his club, Helsingborg. His return to international soccer is the third of his career. For the complete Sweden roster …

[MLS] You have to give the Colorado Rapids some credit; they’re throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their ESPN2 Thursday night clash against Rocky Mountain rival Real Salt Lake. Midweek attendances for MLS games remain problematic, especially those played before summer vacations commence, but Colorado is attacking the midweek malaise in several manners.

[MLS] With David Beckham in tow, the Los Angeles Galaxy headed back on the exhibition circuit, and it had no more luck Tuesday night than it has had in MLS, where it’s again playing below .500 almost two months into the 2008 season.

[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.

Contrary to what was reported on Monday’s SoccerAmericaDaily, the top three teams in each of Major League Soccer’s two conferences are assured berths in the playoffs. Last season only the top two teams in the two conferences were guaranteed spots in the eight-team playoffs.

[ENGLAND] David Beckham, who was injured and missed the Los Angeles Galaxy’s game at Toronto FC last season, will likely miss the Galaxy’s trip to Toronto again this year. He was among the 30 players named to England’s squad for games against the USA May 28 at Wembley and at Trinidad & Tobago on June 1. TFC and the Galaxy are scheduled to meet May 31.

[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari named 11 players from his Euro ’04 runner-up team to the squad he will take to the European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland next month. For the complete Portugal roster …

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Monmouth University forward Damon Wilson signed a three-year contract to play with Kapfenberg SV of Austria’s T-Mobile Bundesliga. Kapfenberg SV recently won the Second Division championship, earning the club promotion to the First Division.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] In what could be Michael Bradley‘s last game in the Netherlands, Heerenveen earned a place in the 2008-09 UEFA Cup thanks a 2-2 tie with NAC on Monday.

[REFEREE WATCH] So many borderline handball decisions arise during an MLS season that it’s somewhat disconcerting when a stone-cold violation becomes “controversial.” Such was the case Saturday when Ugo Ihemelu brought down a ball — expertly it must be said — with his left arm in the 87th minute of a game tied 1-1 between Colorado and Houston.

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] For what will be the most important test for players seeking to make their way on to the U.S. Olympic men’s team, U-23 head coach Peter Nowak has named 22 players who will participate in the Festival Espoirs International in the region of Toulon, France, beginning May 23.

[MLS] With the start of World Cup 2010 qualifying only weeks away, the USA suffered a blow when Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein was sidelined with a sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee that will be him out of action for 6-8 weeks.

[EUROPEAN RACES] The race for Italy’s Scudetto took a dramatic turn Sunday when Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi missed a penalty kick that would have given the Nerazzurri their third straight Serie A title. Instead, Inter, which was held to a 2-2 tie by Siena, goes into the final day of the season with a one-point lead over Roma. In France, the race for the Ligue 1 championship will also be decided this weekend. Lyon and Bordeaux remained 1-2 in Ligue 1 with one game to play.