The U.S. women’s team is No. 1 in the FIFA world rankings and has gone 21-0-1 this year, but those facts and stats will mean little or nothing when it comes to next month’s Olympic tournament in Beijing, writes Mark Zeigler. As U.S. captain Kate Markgraf puts it: “Sometimes it’s not the best team over […]
Monthly Archives: July 2008
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Wambach out of Olympics
The U.S. women will head to the 2008 Olympic Games on the momentum of two straight victories over nemesis Brazil — and a 21-0-1 record in 2008 — but they will do so without their top scorer.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy Awards
The eight conference starting XI squads and coaches of the year were announced for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Under-17/18 age groups. Among the recipients were former U.S. national team star Bruce Murray, selected as the Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year for his work with CASL. For all the awards …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
One goal apiece is enough for Revs and Chivas USA
[SUPERLIGA] New England and Chivas USA took giant strides towards qualifying for the SuperLiga semifinals Wednesday night by scraping out 1-0 victories against their Mexican rivals in Group B.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
In Praise of Claudio Reyna
What a shame that Claudio Reyna’s splendid career should end in anticlimax. The final stage of that career, his signing with the Red Bulls in January 2007, proved to be one step too many.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Finals Week Results
The Baltimore Bays and LAFC moved into Friday’s final of the U-17/18 Group at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Finals Week at the Home Depot Center. For all Wednesday’s results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Much-traveled Dalby returns home
[MLS] Former U.S. under-20 national team captain Greg Dalby is returning home to play for MLS’s Colorado Rapids, the club that drafted him in 2007.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“There’s not going to be any Bret Favre situation here.”
— Former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna, referring to the Green Bay Packers quarterback’s desire to unretire and return to the NFL. Reyna announced his retirement less than two seasons after returning from Europe to join Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
American women open with win in Sweden
[NORDIC CUP] Midfielder Brittany Klein‘s goal in 51st minute gave the U.S. under-23 women’s national team a 1-0 win over Switzerland in their opening match of the 2008 Nordic Cup in Sweden.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Canada loaded with U.S. collegians
[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] Canada’s roster for the Olympic women’s soccer competition is loaded by current and former collegians, led by two-time Soccer America Player of the Year Christine Sinclair.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ronaldinho deal a steal for Milan?
[TRANSFER TALK] Despite Ronaldinho‘s much-publicized problems with weight, partying and missed training sessions, most pundits seem to agree that Milan has gotten the better end of the deal that has sent the Brazilian from Barcelona.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Night Dudelange Went Down To Domzale
The Champions League is under way. All your qualifying first round, first leg results and game reports here, from Tirana to Llanelli.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
In Dublin They Chant His Name
Brent Latham catches up with Carlsbad, Calif., native Ryan Guy at St. Patrick’s Athletic in Ireland.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Striker Zamora Joins Fulham
More competition for Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson as West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora heads for Craven Cottage.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
At Last I Have Signed For Milan
Ronaldinho is as relieved as the rest of us that his transfer saga is over.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ruiz Maybe Not Be So Available
The L.A. Galaxy’s recently trade-available striker Carlos Ruiz may not be leaving the club after all, despite recent speculation. “Our intention is to keep Carlos,” said the team’s Director of Soccer Paul Bravo Tuesday when asked about the status of trade talks after Ruiz came on as a late substitute for the team against Chivas […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Busch Just A Little Bit Bummed
It’s hard to find anyone outside of MLS headquarters who cares passionately about the league’s All-Star selection. So congratulations to the Chicago Fire’s Jon Busch for his entertaining broadsides at All-Star team coach Steve Nicol for failing to include the league’s stat-topping goalkeeper as one of his picks. Nicol opted for Houston’s Canadian stopper Pat […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
New York Missed The Ronaldinho Boat
The news that New York Red Bulls captain Claudio Reyna is to announce his retirement Wednesday prompted Jonah Freedman to accuse the club of having missed the boat on signing a potentially huge player. If the clearly incapacitated Reyna had stepped down at the start of the season, the team could have set its sights […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soehn Slams D.C. After Second Superliga Loss
Superliga prize money will likely be a moot theme for D.C. United this year after it lost its second successive home game to Mexican opposition in four days. Coach Tom Soehn was frank about his team’s achievement after falling 3-2 to Cancun-based Atlante. “There is no sugarcoating anything,” Soehn said. “The performance, especially in the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Seeing All Sides To SuperLiga Cash Dispute
The statement by the Major League Soccer Players’ Association that its players are unhappy about their share of any potential SuperLiga prize money comes under the scrutiny of Frank Dell’Apa. He points out that MLS is under no legal obligation to give the players a share of the much-touted $1 million prize money, because Superliga […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“We will play with a 4-3-2-1 formation. It’s a model that has worked well for us and brought us great satisfaction. It’s our trademark and it will be again this year, with or without Ronaldinho. Our only objective is to win playing good soccer. This is Milan.”
— AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti on new signing Ronaldinho, who is expected to play alongside fellow Brazilian Kaka behind their young countryman Alexandre Pato. Ronaldinho was in Milan to finalize a $30 million transfer from Barcelona. (AFP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Captain America retires
Claudio Reyna, who played 112 games for the U.S. national team, has called a press conference for Wednesday to announce that he is retiring midway through his second injury-plagued season with MLS’s New York Red Bulls.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They also include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
All-Star roster completed
[MLS] The roster for the MLS team that will face West Ham United July 24 at Toronto’s BMO Field in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game was completed when seven players were added to the 18-player roster, including a trio of Canadian national team players.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. opponents announce rosters
[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] The Netherlands and Nigeria, which the USA will meet in Group B at next month’s Olympic men’s soccer competition, will be sending star-studded teams to China. The Dutch squad includes Liverpool star Ryan Babel, Real Madrid’s Royston Drenthe and Canadian-born Jonathan De Guzman, as well as overage players Gerald Sibon, Roy Makaay and Kew Jaliens. Nigeria’s squad includes Taye Taiwo of Marseille, Victor Anichebe of Everton and Getafe’s Ikechukwu Uche. For all the selections …