[SPAIN] Barcelona headed into the Christmas break with a 10-point lead thanks to its 2-1 win at Villarreal on Sunday. The Catalan team came from behind to win on goals by Mali midfielder Seydou Keita and Frenchman Thierry Henry. Its form is such that even a red card to defender Gerard Pique with 15 minutes to play didn’t stop Barcelona.
Monthly Archives: December 2008
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Anglo-Italian showdowns set for UEFA Champions League
[DATEBOOK] Defending champion Manchester United was drawn with Italian champion Inter Milan in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, setting up a meeting between old nemeses Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, formerly the coach of Chelsea and now the boss of Inter Milan.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rooney rescues 10-man Manchester United
[CLUB WORLD CUP] Despite losing Nemanja Vidic to a red card, Manchester United won the 2008 Club World Cup with a 1-0 win over South American champion Liga de Quito for its third trophy of the year.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Cristiano [Ronaldo] is superb. He has timing getting into the box, ability with two feet — and you would never associate a Portuguese winger with such magnificent ability in the air. He is like an old fashioned center forward. He’s only 23 and still a very young lad and there’s a lot of things in his favor to go on and prove himself as a legend. The next few years, when he reaches 28 or 29, I think you will get your answers.”
— Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said Cristiano Ronaldo could reach the heights of Diego Maradona and Pele. Cristiano Ronaldo helped Man U win the FIFA Club World Cup last weekend. (AFP)
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The FIFA Club World Cup final is early on Sunday: England’s Manchester United vs. Ecuador’s LDU Quito. In Spain, Jozy Altidore will hope to see action when Villarreal hosts Barcelona on Sunday.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Liverpool Win Would Avenge 1989 Title Game
“Victory would put Rafael Benítez‘s club four points clear at the top of the standings for 24 hours at least and all but end Arsenal’s challenge.” Sachin Nakrani on how victory for Liverpool at Arsenal this weekend would not just end the home team’s championship hopes, but avenge Arsenal’s last-minute goal in the 1988-89 season’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Friedel: Fitness The Key To Top-Four Finish
"I think it is crucial all our players stay fit because we don't have a massive squad — that is a must." Aston Villa's Brad Friedel says that avoiding injuries will be key to Aston Villa securing a Champions League qualification spot in the EPL. Villa's partly second-string lineup lost 3-1 to Hamburg in a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Scottish Bosses To Stay Tight-Lipped On Refs
"The managers believe there has been too great a focus on refereeing decisions in post-match interviews." Scottish Premier League Chairman Lex Gold announces that the league's 12 coaches have agreed to desist from talking about refereeing decisions after games. If anyone's heard of a soccer-related New Year's resolution less likely to last beyond the end […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
When A Player’s Too Good For MLS …
"Claudio [Lopez] and a lot of other experienced players in the league sometimes make very intelligent runs and they don't always receive the ball early enough." Kansas City Wizards coach Curt Onalfo carefully pinpoints one of the difficulties for good players in adapting to Major League Soccer.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
De Rosario Trade Opens World Of Options For Dynamo
"Whether the Dynamo succeeds [in signing Mexican striker Luis Angel Landin] or are forced to look elsewhere is not the point. Rather, it is the fact the team has the tools to be aggressive in looking for talent — at home and abroad — that makes trading [Dwayne] De Rosario a potential winner." Bernardo Fallas […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Former West Ham Chairman Magnusson Sues Current Owner
"Business, always business," a murderous character known only as "The Greek" answers laconically at the end of the second series of HBO's "The Wire" when asked by an airline check-in assistant if he's travelling for business or pleasure. The phrase could increasingly apply to soccer — it's less about the pleasure of the game, and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bracewell-Smith Shocked At Removal From Arsenal Board
Arsenal shareholder Nina Bracewell-Smith, who has a 15.9 percent stake in the club, has spoken out about the way she was treated by her fellow board members, and at her removal from the board. "I'm in total shock and very upset about the appalling way I have been treated," she said. "The board have no […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Villa Meets Moscow, Liege To Play Braga In UEFA Cup
Aston Villa, the team of U.S. goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan, will meet CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup round of 32. Standard Liege and Oguchi Onyewu, provided he hasn't moved to Marseille in the transfer window, take on Braga of Portugal. Marseille plays FC Twente of the Netherlands, the club coached by former […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
CL Draw Takes Mourinho, Ranieri Back To England
The draw for the round of 16 in the European Champions League will take former Chelsea managers Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri back to England. Mourinho's Inter Milan team will play Manchester United, while Ranieri will take his Juventus team back to Stamford Bridge. Liverpool will meet Real Madrid in a repeat of the 1981 […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
New draft rules change teams’ approach
In the view of most MLS coaches, player development is a numbers game, and by decreasing the number of players, the odds of success also drop.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Dallas Texans-Houston Division perfect in National League
The Dallas Texans-Houston Division were the dominant team in the U.S. Youth National League, which held its first four games last weekend in the under-15 to under-17 boys divisions in Dallas. The Texans, playing in the under-17 division, were the only team to win all four games. They also did not to allow a goal. National League play for the boys resumes Feb. 27-March 1 in Atlanta. For all the results, goal scorers and standings …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
CLUB SPOTLIGHT: FC Dallas Juniors off to fast start
Playing in their first year in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, the FC Dallas Juniors U-16 team has been so successful that it has already qualified for the 32-Academy Playoffs next June, having guaranteed to finish in the top three of the Texas Division. The U-16s are undefeated through the first 14 games, posting a record of 11-0-3. The U-18 team is riding an 11-game undefeated streak of its own, with an overall record of 6-2-6.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. Youth Soccer Boys ODP Rosters
Regional rosters for boys 1992 and 1993 teams have been announced for the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Super Group that will take place Dec. 27-30 at Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by the Chelsea Football Club in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For the complete rosters of players and their club affiliations …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Regional boys award winners make college verbal commitments
NSCAA/adidas Youth Boys regional awards have been handed out to many of the country’s top prospects. Here are the players, divided by graduating class, and the college verbal commitments or pro plans reported for those players in the Class of 2009 …
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Soccer can be a business in Michigan — not just a sport, not just a hobby. The numbers aren’t a fad. We’ll continue to grow.”
— Dan Duggan, chairman and CEO of the PDL Michigan Bucks, on the popularity of soccer in Michigan, despite the absence of an MLS team and the state’s economic crisis. Michigan ranks in the top 10 among all states in high school boys and girls participation, and the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association has more than 86,000 registered players (Detroit Free Press).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Manu Chao’s Maradona tribute [VIDEO]
[MUSIC] The latest hit single by Manu Chao, the French-born singer of Spanish descent, is “La Vida Tombola,” a tribute to Diego Maradona, currently head coach of Argentina’s national team.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
$156 million awaits winner
[EUROPE] The winner of the UEFA Champions League could reap up to $160 million. The 16 teams that have reached the knockout stage, and which will be matched up in Friday’s draw, have already secured $56.2 million through prize money, tournament commercial revenues, ticket sales, sponsorship, merchandising and increased squad value, according to an AP report.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Defenders are tall, strong and fighters, and the referees only give you a foul once you are bleeding.”
— Liverpool’s Spanish striker Fernando Torres on life in the English Premier League. (Irish Times)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Man. United downs Osaka, 5-3, to reach world final
[CLUB WORLD CUP] Manchester United beat Japan’s Gamba Osaka 5-3 to reach Sunday’s Club World Cup final against LDU Quito of Ecuador.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Tottenham, Sampdoria among UEFA Cup qualifiers
[UEFA CUP] In Thursday’s final night of UEFA Cup group action, Tottenham, Sampdoria, Stuttgart and Paris St. Germain were among the teams to qualify for next spring’s knockout phase.