Monthly Archives: February 2009

Soccer fans can feast on full days of UEFA Champions League action Tuesday and Wednesday. All eight games will be shown — six of them live. ESPN2 will feature Anglo-Italian clashes Inter Milan-Manchester United on Tuesday and Chelsea-Juventus on Wednesday. ESPN Deportes will air eight and a half hours of coverage both days. For all the matchups and broadcast times …

Aguirre dismisses talk of Tri job, Pekerman set to replace Lapuente

[MEXICO] Manuel Lapuente joined fellow former Mexican national team coach Javier Aguirre in the unemployment ranks when he was dismissed as Tigres coach Sunday. Meanwhile, Aguirre, fired as Atletico Madrid coach earlier this month, dismissed speculation that he’ll be replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson as the Tri coach.

U.S. roster named for qualifying

by Paul KennedyFebruary 24, 2009

[CONCACAF UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP] Coach Thomas Rongen named the 20 players who will represent the USA at the 2009 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, which will be played March 6-15 in Trinidad & Tobago. For the complete roster …

Two USL teams chase dreams

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] MLS had plentiful reasons to object when Concacaf announced it would expand its club championship to 24 teams, but getting knocked out by lesser opposition surely ranked low on the list. As the quarterfinals commence after a three-month gap since group play, only one MLS team, Houston, is among the final eight. Four Mexican teams make up half of the quarterfinalists, and two others hail from the USL. Ticket sales are going so briskly that Montreal Impact officials hope to pack the Olympic Stadium with a record crowd of 50,000 fans for the visit of Santos Laguna Wednesday.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“American soccer is still years away from being able to compete with soccer on the world stage. [David Beckham is] obviously a global player. He obviously wants to play against the best and compete at that level. It’s a tough call, but him being a friend, I want him to do what’s best for him.”

— Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, a soccer fan from his childhood spent in Italy, backing Beckham and his desire to stay at AC Milan rather than return to MLS. (Los Angeles Times)

Houston wants fast start

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 24, 2009

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The Houston Dynamo’s record against Mexican teams is sprinkled with all manner of results but regardless of win, loss or tie, its players and coach welcome the competition. A rematch with Atlante is Houston’s quarterfinal assignment in the 2008-09 Concacaf Champions League, beginning with the first leg at Robertson Stadium Tuesday (10 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel, Galavision).

Soccer America Confidential, Story

AEG and AC Milan set for Beckham showdown

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 23, 2009

At a family function – the xxth birthday of my mom’s best friend, I am forbidden to supply specifics – over the weekend I got a few questions to the effect of, “So, what are you writing about in the soccer world?” To which I responded, “What else?” The saga of David Beckham in America, now more than two years old, just won’t go away as the Galaxy stubbornly tries to avoid not only financial losses, but public embarrassment.

Lapuente Let Go As Tigres Taken Down

Former Mexican national team coach Manual Lapuente was let go by Tigres UANL on Sunday after a 3-2 home letdown against Club America on Saturday and just six points from seven Group Three games in the championship of the Mexican Clausura. Lapuente, who guided Mexico to the Round of 16 of the1998 FIFA World Cup, […]

Arsene At Odds With UEFA Over Arshavin

“If he can play in the Premier League and the FA Cup, why not be qualified for us in the Champions League? He has played for a team that cannot play any more in the Champions League and who now plays in the UEFA Cup. It’s the rule so I guess we cannot complain too […]

Turkish Champs Call on Former Captain Korkmaz

Famed Turkish team Galatasaray have hired former team captain Bulent Korkmaz to take over as coach from Michael Skibbe, who was fired following an embarrassing 5-2 home loss to lowly Kocaelispor on Sunday. The defending and 17-time Turkish League champs are in an unfamiliar fifth in the league, even with rival Fenerbache and eight points […]

Solskjaer Turned Down Norway Job

Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed to Denmark’s TV2 that he chose club over country with regard to his budding coaching career, turning down top job for the Norwegian soccer federation to remain manager of the ManU reserve squad. While it was “difficult to say no to the NFF” and he acknowledged that […]

Bayern Munich ‘Wobbling’ Way Through Bundesliga

With three losses in their last four matches, their top striker out injured, and a defense that has already given up more goals in the 2008-09 campaign than all of last season, Bayern Munich’s future is looking a bit barren heading into Wednesday’s Champions League match at Sporting Lisbon. With Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Cologne, […]

Barcelona Rethinking MLS Expansion Bid?

Recent reports out of Spain have FC Barcelona reevaluating their bid to operate one of the next MLS expansion teams in Miami due to the worldwide economic downturn. According to SI.com, Barcelona General Director Joan Olive told Spanish daily newspaper Sport that they are still interested in joining the league, “but not at the cost […]

Mourinho to ManU: ‘We Will Beat Them’

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho made a multitude of strong statements ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with EPL leaders Manchester United, according to the Daily Mirror. The most simple? “United is not better than us. We will beat them.” While it might seem like unnecessary chalkboard material that could provide ManU players added motivation, […]

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

The European Champions League and the UEFA Cup are back in action. The CONCACAF Champions’ League returns, as well. Various European leagues highlight the weekend. Look for Mexican League games and other updates in Friday’s Soccer on TV.

Spector and Zizzo see action

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Two young Americans returned to action when defender Jonathan Spector started for English Premier League West Ham and midfielder Sal Zizzo came off the bench late for Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga. For a wrap-up on Americans in foreign leagues. …

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“I know that next week will be an important week. I want to remain with Milan, I’ve heard nothing from Galaxy, but when it’s like this you say it could be good news. … I love playing football and I want to remain here [in Milan].”

— The latest from the man himself on the Los Angeles-AC Milan tug-of-war with David Beckham, who played 90 minutes in Milan’s 1-0 win over Cagliari on Sunday. (AP)

Barca balking at MLS entry?

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 23, 2009

[MLS] The “dream team” may be headed for a divorce. An expansion application to place a team in Miami from legendary Spanish club Barcelona and Bolivian businessman Marcelo Claure has taken a rocky turn, according to press reports on both sides of the Atlantic.

Suwon nicks Galaxy on penalties for PPC title

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 23, 2009

[MLS] Rookie defenders, even good ones, will have bad days, yet one of the first games in the sophomore season of 2008 Rookie of the Year Sean Franklin turned out to be among his worst.

SoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story

Foul? What foul?

by Paul GardnerFebruary 23, 2009

After his Galaxy had lost a rather tedious Pan-Pacific final to the Koreans of Suwong Samsung, Bruce Arena gave his opinion of the red card given to Galaxy defender Sean Franklin. He was terse: “I didn’t see the play, whether he showed studs or not or whatever … I don’t know.”

Teen Balotelli is unlikely Inter Milan hero

by Paul KennedyFebruary 23, 2009

[ITALY] Inter Milan didn’t give challengers Juventus and AC Milan any chance to make a dent on its big lead when won at Bologna, 2-1, on Sunday. The win left Inter nine points ahead of Juventus, a 2-0 winner at Palermo, and 11 points in front of AC Milan, which edged Cagliari, 1-0, on a second-half Clarence Seedorf goal.

Hamburg makes it three leaders in three weeks

by Paul KennedyFebruary 23, 2009

[GERMANY] The Bundesliga has its third leader in three weeks as Hamburg took over first place with 2-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen thanks to two goals by defender Marcell Jansen on Sunday. Last week’s leader Hamburg and the leader at the winter break, Hoffenheim, are two points back. Bayern Munich dropped four points off the pace when it was stunner by FC Cologne, 2-1.

Suddenly it looks like a race in La Liga

by Paul KennedyFebruary 23, 2009

[SPAIN] Barcelona lost for the first time since opening day when city rival Espanyol beat 10-man Barca, 2-1, at the Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday on a pair of goals by former Barca midfielder Ivan de la Pena. Barca’s lead over Real Madrid, which was 12 points a week ago, is down to seven.

Manchester United pulls further ahead

by Paul KennedyFebruary 23, 2009

[ENGLAND] Is the Premier League race over? Last week Sir Alex Ferguson said the chase was between his Manchester United and Liverpool, dismissing struggling Chelsea. Then Liverpool was held to a 1-1 tie at home with Manchester City on Sunday, leaving Manchester United with a seven-point lead.

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