The USA will attempt to qualify for the 2009 Under-20 World Cup at Concacaf qualifying next spring in Trinidad. Here’s a look at some of the top U-20 prospects – none of whom advanced through the traditional development stage from U-17 residency to the U-20 team.
Monthly Archives: December 2008
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: Tony Lepore Heads USSF Youth Scouts
Searching for talent and advising elite American youth clubs on player development.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Soccer: Road Warriors
The USA had its best-ever start to World Cup qualifying thanks to early road victories.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: It’s Wonderful To Win, But …
There’s universal agreement that a results-driven approach to youth soccer is a detriment to player development. And although ignoring the scoreline is easier said than done – it’s worth the effort.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Year In Review: Best Of MLS
The second year of designated players was also the first year of liberalized rules regarding limits on foreign player. With some teams overloaded by games in different competitions, many MLS teams relied on youngsters to get the job done.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Women’s soccer highlights the week with U-20 Women’s World Cup action — the USA plays its semifinal match on Thursday — and the NCAA Women’s College Cup (final four), which kicks off on Friday. Mexican playoff broadcasts times will be posted at SoccerAmerica.com (Soccer on TV) when available.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Edinburgh Derby In The Scottish Cup
Edinburgh rivals Hearts of Midlothian and Hibernian will meet in the fourth round of the Scottish FA Cup next month. Holder Glasgow Rangers, the team of DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, will travel to second-tier St. Johnstone, while champions Celtic hosts Dundee.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Simek vs Dempsey In The FA Cup?
Sheffield Wednesday's Frankie Simek could face Clint Dempsey in the FA Cup when the two teams meet in the competition's third round next month. Tim Howard and Everton travel to Macclesfield, Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan will face either Gillingham or Stockport away, while Jay DeMerit and Watford host Scunthorpe United.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Crew’s Lost Opportunity
"Perhaps both sides will get things patched up by the end of next week, but it looks to me as if the opportunity has been fumbled and lost. After winning a championship, the Crew will be cutting the man most responsible for the title. What a curious thing to do." Michael Arace's take on why […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Where MLS Should Go From Here
“Playoffs add little in terms of drama or hype — relegation does, with every game important. With this in mind, MLS should look into establishing a second division, where teams can bounce up and down based on performance.” Just one component of Gareth Wheeler’s seven-point manifesto for change in Major League Soccer.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Parkhurst Set For Denmark
"The buzz around MLS circles is that Michael Parkhurst, the [New England] Revolution's standout defender who is out of contract this winter, has reached agreement with a Danish club. Barring last-minute complications, a formal announcement is expected soon." Steven Goff telegraphs another MLS standout heading to one of Europe's less glamorous leagues.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Why Ronaldo Shouldn’t Win Ballon D’Or
France Football magazine will almost inevitably award its European Player of the Year Ballon D'Or trophy to Cristiano Ronaldo, writes Paul Doyle. But he believes that there are two better candidates. The first is Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. His "superb performances for [Euro 2008 winner] Spain last summer, allied to his heroics […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mailman Knocks Leeds Out The Cup
The English media love the early rounds of the FA Cup because they get the chance to list the mundane jobs of the lower league team's semipro players. Fifth-tier Histon Town duly provided the "delivery" headlines after it knocked 2001 Champions League semifinalst Leeds United out of the competition Sunday on a headed goal by […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Yoga Keeping Giggs Fit For The Top Flight
Former Major League Soccer star Preki won the league's MVP award at the age of 40, and said that his secret to keeping fit was yoga. Manchester United's Ryan Giggs, who has played for the club a record 772 times, is using the same method to keep his 35-year-old body in shape for the Premier […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
From Bosnia To Bundesliga Via St. Louis
Former St. Louis University striker Vedad Ibisevic, 24, has been a scoring sensation this season in the German Bundesliga. On Saturday he scored his 17th goal of the season for league-leading Hoffenheim in just 15 games, and this Friday will appear for his team against the reigning champion, second-placed Bayern Munich. "It is kind of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Barca ‘A 90 Percent Certainty For Miami’
FC Barcelona's Chief Executive Officer Joan Oliver has said that the Spanish team's chances of landing a Major League Soccer franchise in Miami stand at 90 percent. Barcelona, together with Miami-based Bolivian businessman Marcelo Claure, in October submitted one of a half dozen bids for two available franchises. "If it's confirmed, we expect to make […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Reserve Division is gone. Now what?
Putting the MLS Reserve Division out of its misery, unfortunately, is the merciful, and sensible, thing to do with the league also cutting down on roster spots for developmental players.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NAIA: Previewing the Women’s National Championship
The 25th annual NAIA Women’s Championship begins Monday at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Fla. Sixteen teams are taking part at the tournament, which begins Monday with four first-round games. Here’s a look at this year’s finals …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division I Women
No. 1 regional seeds Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA and North Carolina all won to set a dream Women’s College Cup, which begins Friday in Cary, N.C. The four entrants have a combined 92-2-5 record. For the Women’s College Cup schedule …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
TOURNAMENT WATCH: Everything clicks for UCLA
UCLA advanced to the Women’s College Cup for the sixth straight year in dominating fashion thanks to a 6-1 win over Duke Saturday. Olympic gold-medalist Lauren Cheney broke an early 1-1 tie with a goal in the 18th minute.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NAIA: Previewing the Men’s National Championship
The 50th edition of the NAIA Men’s Championship begins Monday at Fresno Pacific. Sixteen teams are taking part at the tournament, which begins Monday with four first-round games. Here’s a look at this year’s finals …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division I Men
Three teams from the ACC (Wake Forest, Maryland and North Carolina), two from the Big East (St. John’s and South Florida) and Big Ten (Indiana and Northwestern) and one from the Missouri Valley (Creighton) make up the final eight in the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament. For the quarterfinal schedule and third-round scores …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Men’s third-round roundup
No. 2 seed Maryland extended its winning streak to 13 games. Creighton and North Carolina won in overtime. Indiana beat Michigan, 3-0, in a battle of Big Ten foes. South Florida needed penalty kicks to oust upstart UNC Greensboro. St. John’s edged Big West champion UC Irvine, 3-2.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Everything goes against Akron
Akron was the highest remaining seed in the NCAA Tournament to fall in the third round when the No. 5 Zips fell at unseeded Northwestern, 1-0, in a game that was decided by two shots two minutes apart in the second half — a Northwestern shot into a fierce wind that found the upper corner and an Akron shot that hit the crossbar.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
TOURNAMENT WATCH: Wake explodes for seven goals
No. 1 seed Wake Forest left no doubt who has the most explosive attack in men’s soccer, trouncing No. 16 seed Dartmouth, 7-0, on Sunday to move into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament.