Citing irreconcilable differences with Argentina head coach Diego Maradona that would appear to outside parties as simple communication breakdowns, veteran playmaker Juan Ramon Riquelme announced to Canal 13 on Tuesday that he quit the Argentina national team. Speaking to Canal 13, the Boca Juniors star reasoned, “we did not agree on much. We do not […]
Monthly Archives: March 2009
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mellowed Mathis Back in MLS Mix
Gone are the days of attention-grabbing Mohawk haircuts in the days leading up to the World Cup (there’s not enough hair there anymore, for starters). And gone are the days of a short fuse and hot temper that would results in regular red cards (both time and the presence of a wife and son have […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Reds Ready For ManU Match on Saturday After Real Rout
Liverpool is loving life after Tuesday’s 4-0 rout of La Liga leaders Real Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield, while brimming with confidence ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-standings showdown with Manchester United at Old Trafford. "This is the best way to approach the Manchester United game," said Reds coach Rafa Benitez, according to ESPN Soccernet. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mexico Aims To Bounce Back Against Bolivia
Facing pressure from media and fans alike, and now amid controversial comments made about Mexican players (not playing) overseas, embattled coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is out to get El Tricolor back to winning ways in a friendly against Bolivia at Dick’s Sporting Goods Stadium in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday (TV: 9 pm ET/7 pm MT live […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Seattle Awarded MLS Cup 2009
No doubt because of the success the Sounders had in selling some 20,000 season-ticket packages long before the expansion team played a game, Seattle’s Qwest Field was named the site for the 2009 MLS Cup. Scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET and to be broadcast live on ESPN, MLS Cup will mark […]
Posted inSoccer America Classifieds, Story
Soccer America Classifieds
Welcome to Soccer America Classifieds, Soccer America’s email newsletter connecting soccer companies and organizations to Soccer America members each week. Soccer America Classifieds feature soccer classified advertisements on the latest soccer job openings, soccer products and soccer opportunities. Read Soccer America Classifieds each Wednesday.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Several European leagues and a full slate of matches from Mexico highlight the weekend. If you’re looking for something different, Spartak Moscow hosts Zenit St. Petersburg in the Russian league on Sunday. Also, Brazil’s Ronaldo continues his comeback as Corinthians visits Santo Andre on the same day.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“He understands where they’re coming from. I think he’s better suited now to talk to a young player who’s a little bit down and hasn’t been able to get on the field, and players who have limited roles.”
— Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena explaining that Landon Donovan‘s loan stint at Bayern Munich, where he was used mainly as a late sub, will help him be a leader with the Galaxy. (AP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham Injured
Three days after David Beckham came to terms with MLS to stay on loan at AC Milan until July before rejoining the Los Angeles Galaxy, he twisted his ankle in practice.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Champions League TV Schedule
Three games in the UEFA Champions League will be broadcast live on cable — Barcelona-Lyon, Manchester United-Inter Milan and Roma Arsenal. For all of television details …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Garber softens suspensions for Parke and Conway
[MLS] Jon Conway and Jeff Parke, who tested positive for a banned substance and were suspended by MLS in October for 10 games, will be able to train with their teams once the MLS regular season begins next week.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Real Madrid suffers yet another quick exit
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Real Madrid has won nine European Cup titles, more than any other club, but that’s all ancient history as the Merengues have failed to get past the first round of the knockout phase for the last five years. Its latest exit was the result of Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool — its worst defeat in the history of the Champions League. Chelsea, Bayern Munich (with a record aggregate victory) and Villarreal (2-1 winner at Panathinaikos) also advanced.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA bound for Egypt
[CONCACAF UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP] While its archrival, Mexico, was unceremoniously dumped from the tournament, the USA got the job done and qualified for the Under-20 World Cup for the seventh straight time, defeating El Salvador, 2-0, in Tuesday’s group finale despite finishing with only nine players.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Portland bid needs one vote
[MLS] A league that has been beaten over the head dozens of times at the ballot box, city council meetings, and legislative sessions is perhaps one vote away from adding another Northwest city to its lineup. The five-member Portland City Council votes Wednesday on a proposed agreement between potential MLS operator-investor Merritt Paulson, who owns the USL-1 Timbers soccer team and minor-league baseball Beavers, and the city to renovate PG&E Park, currently the Beavers’ home, into a first-class soccer facility and build a new baseball park downtown near where the NBA Trailblazers play.
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
World Cup 2018/2022 Bid Report
U.S. STADIUMS. Concacaf’s decision to play the 2009 Gold Cup in 13 different U.S. cities over 13 dates is an ambitious undertaking — it’s a record for a continental championship and one less than Spain 1982’s World Cup record for a single host — but it says a lot about the availability of U.S. stadiums for its World Cup 2018/2022 bid effort.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Garber: ‘Very Positive Solution to Very Difficult Situation’
"I think the European [soccer] community continues to underestimate the resolve that our ownership has to ensure that we're managing the league in a way that will help grow the sport and establish it solidly for the future. We were not just going to give into Milan's demands or David's desire to leave the league […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mourinho Making Play for ManU Job?
"If you want me to rule out ever being Manchester United manager, I can't. Special clubs need special managers so in theory it could work, but nobody knows what the future is in football." Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho, as quoted by UK paper News of the World talking about possibly replacing Alex Ferguson if […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ferguson: Italian Mentality Will Produce PK Shootout
“I can tell you now that Inter will just try and get to a penalty shootout at Old Trafford. The Italian mentality is always there, despite the presence of Argentines and others. The concept is always the same, they will try to stifle our game for 120 minutes to preserve the 0-0 draw.” Man U […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Euro 2016 Bids Down to Final Four
The process to pick a host for what will be a beefed up European Championship in 2016 is down to four finalists, with bids from France, Italy, Turkey and a joint proposal from Sweden-Norway accepted by Monday night’s midnight deadline, according to an AP report from Geneva. UEFA will analyze each bid before confirming an […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Club America Misses Blanco
The idea that Mexican power Club America “unraveled” upon the departure of Cuauhtemoc Blanco to that other America following a loss in the final to close out the 2007 Clausura season “is no coincidence,” according to goal.com’s Andrea Martinez. The team has been in a “downwards spiral since the Apertura 2008,” writes Martinez, who maintains […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
British 2012 Olympic Team to Be All-English?
UK Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said an all-British representative at the 2012 Olympic soccer tournament could comprise just of English players if Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales don’t cooperate. “[An all-English team] is the sad fact of what is going to happen unless we can try and resolve this issue," Sutcliffe said. Opposition of a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
To Roma-Bound Fans: ‘If You Go, Don’t Go Alone’
"If you travel to the stadium independently, please be aware you are at risk. Do not take trains to the Piazza Flaminio or attempt to use the Ponte Duca D’Aosta bridge as these are habitual routes taken by the Ultras. Please stay away from the Campo De Fiori." According to The Times, these are the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Claudio Suarez Ends 21-Year Career
After three years at Chivas USA and a total of 21 years as a professional, legendary Mexican international Claudio “El Emperador” Suarez confirmed speculation in the offseason that he would retire, but said he’s “satisfied because I know that I always gave everything I had on the field." The 40-year-old defender made his debut in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Even before the end of the first half I felt as if I had spat my lungs out. In the second half my legs simply refused to serve me.”
— Arsenal’s midseason signing, Russian attacker Andrey Arshavin, on adjusting to the pace of the English Premier League. (Irish Times)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
By The Numbers: MLS Salaries
[MLS] 2009 player salary figures released by the MLS Players Union reveal that only seven players in MLS earn more than $500,000. Forty players make the minimum $34,000, and 12 more make the developmental minimum of $20,100, as of March 2. For more on who makes what in MLS. …