Within a few hours yesterday we got a look at Russia playing Sweden in Euro 2008, and then Brazil taking on Argentina in a World Cup qualifier. Two so-so European teams, then the South Americans, who happen to be the FIFA-ranked No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the world.
Monthly Archives: June 2008
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Russia dazzles in ousting Sweden
[RUSSIA-SWEDEN REPORT CARD] Guus Hiddink did it again, taking an underdog team and leading it to the knockout phase of a major championship. Russia moved into the quarterfinals of Euro ’08 with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win over Sweden on Wednesday. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the players.
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Hat trick highlights U.S. win at under-20 women’s qualifying
[YOUTH] The University of Portland’s Michelle Enyeart scored a hat trick to lead the USA to a 4-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday in the first game of the Concacaf qualifying tournament for the 2008 Under-20 Women’s World Cup at Estadio Cuauhtemoc in Puebla, Mexico.
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Euro ’08 TV Schedule
The quarterfinals begin on Thursday and continue through Sunday with one game each day. Three games, including Thursday’s Portugal-Germany match, will be broadcast on ESPN, and the fourth, Sunday’s Spain-Italy game, will air on ABC.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Findley Finding His Form Again
A much younger U.S. prospect up front is Real Salt Lake’s Robbie Findley who, following a moribund start to the current season, is finding the form that earned him a national team call-up last year. Ever since being substituted into the game against San Jose two weeks ago by Coach Jason Kreis, Findley has been […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Razov Looks Back Without Anger
When Chivas USA striker Ante Razov left the Chicago Fire more than three years ago, some Fire fans thought the team made a big mistake letting him go. Others still chastise him “for sulking his way out the door” when the team didn’t meet his increased contract demands, writes Nick Firchau. “Looking back, I don’t […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
France’s Staggering Failure
France was unable to surmount the three major setbacks in its final Group C game against Italy Tuesday, writes Cedric Rouquette at lequipe.fr. The 10th-minute injury to Franck Ribery, the red card to Eric Abidal, and the deflected shot for Italy’s second goal all reflected “a sort of inevitability that designated them losers at this […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Euro 2008 Better Without England
Thanks to the excitement of the soccer at Euro 2008, many England fans have come to the realization that the tournament is better off without them, writes Oliver Holt. Who knew? “Being rubbish never felt so good,” he writes. “Maybe it’s because England aren’t there in Austria and Switzerland that it seems to be […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hyndman Leaves The College ‘Comfort Zone’
It’s often asked why more coaches don’t leave college soccer for MLS, and there are usually two easy answers — better money and job security. New FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman, however, has opted to leave what he admits is “the comfort zone” of the college game after more than two decades at Southern Methodist […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“My future? The only plan I have is to marry [French television reporter] Estelle [Denis]. There are beautiful things in life. In difficult moments, you want to tell people you love them, you want to say the things that matter.”
— France coach Raymond Domenech, announcing plans to marry his longtime girlfriend after the Bleus’ 2-0 loss to Italy knocked them out of Euro ’08.
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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.
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Concacaf hopes bigger is better
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] A regional confederation that often conducts its competitions and draws in Byzantine fashion on Monday completed its “draw” for the the inaugural Concacaf Champions League by releasing the makeup of the four groups that commence play in September.
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Euro ’08 Television Schedule
Group play at Euro ’08 wraps up with the final first-round games on Wednesday. The quarterfinals begin on Thursday and continue through Sunday with one game each day.
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End of an era for French stars
[EURO ’08] Following France’s elimination from Euro ’08, veterans Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele confirmed their international retirement.
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Cuba moves to closer to U.S. showdown
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] In a battle of potential U.S. opponents in the semifinal round of Concacaf qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, Cuba won, 4-3, at Antigua & Barbuda on Tuesday night in the first leg of their second-round series.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Italy knocks France out of Euro ’08
[ITALY-FRANCE REPORT CARD] Few would have thought that the Group of Death tag given Group C would mean the loser of the Italy-France finale would finish last. But that’s what the French did after falling, 2-0, on Wednesday. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the players.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Feeble Romanians downed by Dutch
[NETHERLANDS-ROMANIA REPORT CARD] Italy’s win over France rendered the result moot in any case, yet while Romania’s hopes of advancement were still flickering, it seldom raised its game enough to trouble an under-strength yet confident Netherlands and went down, 2-0. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the players.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘The Miracle of Vienna’
[OFF THE POST] Austria’s Euro ’08 ended not with a first-round exit but with a stunnng victory — at least that’s the outcome of mock documentary by filmmaker David Schalko.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. women win rematch against Brazil
[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] In a rematch of their 2007 Women’s World Cup semifinal, the USA got revenge with a 1-0 win over Brazil on Tuesday at the 2008 Peace Queen Cup in Suwon, South Korea.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Inside Chelsea’s Propaganda Machine
Wouldn’t it be your dream job to work at the soccer club you’ve always supported? Terry Daley’s family and friends presumed that he was delighted to be working on the official game day magazine at Chelsea FC (British teams produce a unique “match programne” for every home game), but he ended up feeling less like […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Wants England Captaincy Back After All
Los Angeles Galaxy wide midfielder David Beckham has changed his mind about the England captaincy. Life, it turns out, would be too short for him to turn down the long-term opportunity to lead his national team again. Beckham was made captain for the day when England beat Trinidad & Tobago earlier this month, and […]