[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] There were road wins for Australia, Japan and South Korea in the latest round of Asian World Cup qualifying, making all three favorites to qualify for South Africa 2010.
Monthly Archives: November 2008
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan Reiterates: Beckham Move Temporary
"I want to make clear that the club does not have any future projects for him [David Beckham]. All we know is that he will come to Dubai [for winter training] and then he will return to Galaxy in March, besides that nothing else." AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani states anew the temporary nature […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo Hints At Retirement
"I could decide tomorrow [to retire] or in a month's time what to do, but I still don't know. It was beautiful to return to play because soccer is my life, but it was just an exhibition as I only played for 22 minutes. Professional soccer is a different issue." Ronaldo, 32, mulls quitting the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
30-Year-Old Could Make French Debut
“I am proof that the system doesn’t always work. I was born at the wrong time. I’m from the same generation as [Thierry] Henry and [Nicolas] Anelka and when they were coming through you had to be well over 6-foot to be picked for youth schemes.” Caen striker Steve Savidan, 30, who four years ago […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
United Players Lived On ‘Burgers And Beer’
"It [the diet at Old Trafford] was outrageous. Everyone ate whatever they wanted to eat and when you think about the typical English diet, you can imagine what I am talking about. Every 15 days they would put us on what we dubbed the 'spare-tire machine' to measure our body fat. You would be amazed […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Paolo Sousa New QPR Manager
"I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management." Former Portugal national team assistant coach and Inter midfielder Paolo Sousa is the new manager of nouveau-riche Premier League wannabes Queens Park Rangers, presently 10th in the second-tier Championship.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Salt Lake Readies For Change
"After the game is before the game," as the legendary German coach Sepp Herberger used to say. Hardly had Real Salt Lake been eliminated from the MLS playoffs than it had to start planning for next season, what with Monday's expansion draft for Seattle Sounders FC looming. Players will be called in Wednesday and Thursday […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Silverbacks To Sit Out 2009
The Atlanta Silverbacks have announced that its men's professional team will sit out the United Soccer Leagues 2009 season due to the state of the economy and the possibility that the city could land an MLS franchise. "This was an extremely difficult decision that was prompted by the dynamic events in our economy and the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Crew’s Fringe Players Hanging In For A Win Bonus
With most pre-MLS Cup story angles exhausted, Shawn Mitchell turns his attention to the poorly paid, unsung players on the Columbus Crew roster who will likely play no part in Sunday's final, but who will at least be happy to take some extra cash from the bonus money. "Obviously it's tough [not being in the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Defensive? Thanks For The Compliment
RB New York has made it to Sunday's MLS Cup Final on the back of some impressive defensive performances in the playoffs. Some observers are unhappy when defensive teams succeed, but it's a different matter if you're actually on that winning team. "When people say about me that I'm a defensive coach, I take that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Garber on Scheduling, Donovan, MLS Cup …
Jack Bell’s wide-ranging interview with Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber should be read in full, but below are some tasters on issues of scheduling, expansion, the recession and the possible transfer of Landon Donovan. Garber on scheduling: “The issues are being addressed. We’re trying to schedule away from as many international dates as we […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SPOTLIGHT: Yavapai shoots for greatness
In its 20th year of varsity play, Yavapai College has enjoyed considerable success — six NJCAA men’s championships and 18 national tournament appearances. But this year’s team is on the verge of greatness. The Roughriders are 23-0-0 heading into the NJCAA Division I finals, which begin Thursday at nearby Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Ariz. For more on the Roughriders and Coach Mike Pantalione‘s advice for players looking to play JC soccer …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Hottest men’s teams
Top-ranked Wake Forest had its 25-game unbeaten streak snapped in the ACC Tournament. Loyola (Md.) lost for the first time in 28 games. But there are many other teams riding unbeaten streaks into the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament, which starts Friday with the first round.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
LEADERS: NCAA Division I Women’s Scorers
Cynthia Morote-Ariza of Loyola (Ill.) and Milwaukee’s Sarah Hagen remained 1-2 in points among NCAA Division I women’s players, but Casey Nogueira will have a chance to overtake them when North Carolina plays in the third round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament. For all the NCAA Division I leaders …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Under-20 World Cup effect
The Under-20 Women’s World Cup begins Wednesday in Chile. Many of college soccer’s top young players are skipping this fall’s NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament to represent their countries.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOUTING REPORT: NJCAA Division I Men
The NJCAA Division I Men’s Tournament begins Thursday in Phoenix. The tournament annually features some of the most intriguing prospects to be found in the college ranks. Here are this year’s players to watch, one from each team …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘Best of U.S. Soccer’ voting begins
[AWARDS] U.S. Soccer has announced the finalists for the 2008 “Best of U.S. Soccer” awards in 12 categories. The seventh annual series, presented by SOCCER AMERICA, gives fans the opportunity to make their selections for the best in soccer in the United States. Fans can vote once a day from now until Monday, Dec. 8, on ussoccer.com’s “Best of U.S. Soccer” blog page.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico faces possible exit
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] It’s a longshot, but Mexico could be out of the World Cup. The Tri travels to San Pedro Sula to face Honduras with its place in next year’s Hexagonal still not assured. If Honduras beats Mexico, and Jamaica defeats Canada, Honduras will advance and it will come down to goal difference to separate Mexico (9-5) and Jamaica (3-6).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA begins hunt for world title
[UNDER-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] Tony DiCicco, who led the USA to the 1999 Women’s World Cup title, looks to add the Under-20 Women’s World Cup to his trophy case when the Americans compete at this year’s world championship, which begins Wednesday in Chile with a game against France (TV, live, ESPN2, 1 p.m. ET; delay, Galavision, 6 p.m. ET/PT).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Slugger Pujols backs St. Louis expansion bid
[MLS] Landing an MLS expansion team, even in these tough economic times, requires a strong lineup of financial and political backers, heavy hitters if you will. St. Louis has added power and prestige to its lineup, both figuratively and literally, and its bid by adding Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols to its proposed ownership group, which until recently had been virtually nonexistent, at least publicly.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. depth to be tested
[USA-GUATEMALA] With a majority of its first team resting in Europe or preparing for Sunday’s MLS Cup, the USA concludes the semifinal round of World Cup 2010 qualifying in the Concacaf zone against Guatemala on Wednesday at Dick’s Sporting Good Park in Commerce, Colo. (TV: live, ESPN Classic, Galavision, 8 p.m. ET).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The state of Chinese soccer at the moment makes everyone feel bitter. If it goes on like this, it’s in danger of being thoroughly destroyed.”
— Jiang Heping, head of sports for CCTV, China’s government-run broadcaster, in the Titan sports newspaper on the decision to black out top Chinese league matches because of on-field fighting at a recent game and reports likening some players to martial arts experts.
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 jobs in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo’s Modest Top Three Nominations
“I am the first-, second- and third-best player in the world. There are other good candidates, like Kaka, [Lionel] Messi and [Fernando] Torres. I think that I did everything that is necessary to win and I am going to continue doing more. My goal is to win everything in front of me.” Cristiano Ronaldo half-jokes […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Top Marks For Subotic
Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic, still undecided on whether to play for Serbia or the U.S. at international level, was nominated to Eurosport’s Bundesliga team of the week following his two-goal performance against Eintracht Frankfurt Saturday. Kicker magazine also awarded him one of its rare ‘world class’ 1.0 ratings, although he didn’t get MVP — […]