[HEXAGONAL COUNTDOWN] El Salvador opens the Hexagonal Wednesday against Trinidad & Tobago as the longshot to claim one of the three automatic berths to the World Cup 2010 finals. The Cuscatlecos are coming off a disastrous Digicel Uncaf Cup during which they won only one of five games and were accused of laying down against Costa Rica in the semifinals.
Monthly Archives: February 2009
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Columbus is still the right call
Now that it seems conditions for the USA-Mexico Hexagonal opener on Wednesday will be cool and wet rather than frigid and bitter, there’s been more questioning of U.S. Soccer’s decision to stage the match in Columbus.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Feilhaber Shaping Up For Return
“I’m back in Denmark and it’s great to be back with the team [AGF Aarhus] finally. I continue to do my rehab every day, as I will continue to do that two or three times a week once I am in full training with the team. We are traveling to Italy today, and it looks […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ukraine On Track, Claims Deputy PM
“[UEFA Secretary General] David Taylor stated that Ukraine had managed to maintain the pace of Euro 2012 preparations despite the global financial crisis. This was an appropriate response to all those pessimists who keep doubting Ukraine will meet all its obligations. UEFA representatives have seen that Ukraine has moved from promises and plans to concrete […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sunderland’s Ticket Offer: Kids For A Quid
Sunderland Chairman Niall Quinn has said that his club’s decision to cut season ticket prices for next season was driven by a sense of “moral responsibility.” The team will lower season ticket prices by at least £30 ($45), while children accompanied by an adult will be able to buy season tickets for £19 ($30), just […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Grella Keen To Impress Leeds
Former Duke University forward Mike Grella has wasted no time in finishing college, turning down Major League Soccer, and signing a contract with his new team, English third-tier side Leeds United. Grella, who graduated in December, told Luke DeCock, “If I could have done school in a year, I would have done it in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Adams ‘Surprised’ By Portsmouth Dismissal
Newly sacked Tony Adams has declared himself “a little bit surprised” by his prompt dismissal as Portsmouth manager just a few months after taking over from Harry Redknapp, even though he conceded that “results have not been good.” Former Arsenal and England defender Adams has overseen two victories since taking over — one in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Prolific Barca On Target For Goalscoring Record
Averaging just over three goals per game, Barcelona is scoring “at a rate not seen in a big (or even small) European league in years,” writes Gabriele Marcotti. If Barcelona continues at this rate, it will finish with 118 league goals, shattering the previous La Liga record held by the 1989-90 Real Madrid side, when […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Five England Players Sign Up For WPS
Five England players, including Arsenal striker Kelly Smith, have signed for Women’s Professional Soccer. One of the five described the decision as a “no-brainer,” with the English FA’s decision to reward England’s national team players with an annual salary of $24,000 later this year seen as too little, too late. The Boston Breakers will […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chelsea Dumps Scolari
Chelsea fired Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari only six months into his first season in the English Premier League. The move follows a string of lackluster results, most recently a 0-0 tie at home against Hull City on Saturday that left the Blues in fourth place, seven points behind leader Manchester United. Scolari, who led […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Catch the USA and Mexico in a World Cup 2010 qualifier on Wednesday. It’s a great week for international friendlies as Brazil takes on Italy and France hosts Argentina. The English FA Cup and various European leagues highlight the weekend. Look for Mexican League games and other updates in Friday’s Soccer on TV.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Donovan plays again for Bayern; Big win for Torres
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Seven of the 13 foreign-based players on the U.S. roster for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Mexico saw action for their clubs last weekend. Among those who hit the field were Landon Donovan at Bayern Munich and midfielder Jose Francisco Torres, who helped Pachuca to a 3-1 win at Club America in Azteca Stadium.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Balanced squad picked for Mexico showdown
[USA-MEXICO COUNTDOWN] There wasn’t all that much suspense regarding which of the European-based players would be selected by Coach Bob Bradley for the Hexagonal opener against Mexico Wednesday in Columbus. So the inclusion of Jozy Altidore, who just went on loan to CD Xerez, and the exclusion of Freddy Adu, stuck on the bench while on loan to Monaco from Benfica, is notable for Adu’s notoriety, but not at all surprising.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“At the moment Milan are more important to me than the money. I want to think about football first and about my career. It’s important for me to be allowed to stay at Milan permanently so I can have the chance to play regularly and to be part of England’s World Cup 2010 squad. I haven’t spoken to the Galaxy yet, but someone is doing this on my behalf. I am really hoping that a deal can be reached.”
— David Beckham. (Il Corriere Dello Sport/Goal.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
AEG and Milan haggle over Beckham
[MLS] The opening salvos between AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani and Anschutz Entertainment Group CEO Tim Leiweke have been fired, and they aren’t likely to subside. Another episode in the Saga of David Beckham unfolded Friday when Leiweke told the Los Angeles Times AEG had rejected an initial offer for the midfielder, who has expressed his desire to stay rather than return to the Galaxy when his loan is due to expire in about a month.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Columbus 20
[USA-MEXICO COUNTDOWN] The 20-man roster Coach Bob Bradley has selected for the Hexagonal opener against Mexico on Wednesday includes 13 foreign-based players, eight players with more than 30 caps, and five with less than 10. For the roster by position and by national team appearances. …
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Referees and the Reputation Problem
It’s a puzzling thing to me that what I see as a major problem for referees is one that they always tell me is no problem at all. Call it the reputation problem. When a referee knows — as he must know, he is after all intensely involved in the sport — of the reputation of certain players as dirty or as divers, does that knowledge affect his calls? Would he, for instance, be more likely to card a known violent player than he would a player without such a reputation?
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend Scoreboard
Lyon extended its lead in France to four points when Bordeaux lost at Marseille, 1-0, on an own goal. Porto and Benfica played to a 1-1 tie in their top-of-the-standings clash in Portugal. For all the weekend scores and current standings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Costly result for Milan
[ITALY] AC Milan’s 1-1 tie with Reggina on Saturday proved costly. The result dropped the Rossoneri eight points behind leader Inter Milan a week before their derby, and Brazilian star Kaka was injured with a foot injury that will keep him out of action for at least two weeks.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
United shutout streak reaches 1,212 minutes
[ENGLAND] Manchester United recorded its 13th straight shutout when it beat West Ham United, 1-0, in London on Ryan Giggs‘ superb goal on Sunday. The victory kept United two points in front of Liverpool, with a game in hand. The Reds had sneaked past Portsmouth, 3-2, on Saturday in a game they were in danger of losing.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Klose moves Bayern within one point of lead
[GERMANY] A week after falling out of the lead it shared with surprise Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich moved to within one point of the Bundesliga lead with a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund thanks to two late goals by Miroslav Klose a day after Hoffenheim was held to a 1-1 tie at last-place Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Eto’o and Alves lead Barcelona to victory
[SPAIN] Barcelona and Real Madrid ran their winning streaks to 10 and six games, respectively, with victories over the weekend. Barca’s 3-1 win over Sporting Gijon at Camp Nou left it 12 points ahead of Real Madrid, which had edged Racing Santander, 1-0, on Saturday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New-look Ticos open on friendly turf
[HEXAGONAL COUNTDOWN] Costa Rica’s bid to qualify for the World Cup finals for the third straight time begins Wednesday when the young Ticos host Honduras at Saprissa Stadium. Coach Rodrigo Kenton has almost completely made over the team from the one that played at the 2006 World Cup finals.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ribery Hints At Bayern Exit
“I feel very good at Bayern. I have a contract with them until 2011, everybody is nice to me and I speak better German. But I can’t be indifferent to the interest from big clubs. We will see what happens next.” Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery won’t rule out a transfer away from the Bundesliga. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
ITV Chief Apologizes For Lost Goal
“It was a shambles on air. It was not deliberate. It was a technical cock-up.” ITV Executive Chairman Michael Grade apologizes on air to viewers for the “inexcusable glitch” that caused many to miss the winning goal in Wednesday’s FA Cup tie between Everton and Liverpool after the channel cut away from the action to […]