The New York Red Bulls are the hottest team in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Under-15/16 age group. Their 12-0-3 record makes them only undefeated team left out of the 148 teams participating in the 2008-09 Academy.
Monthly Archives: April 2009
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hislop: Toon Players Tapped Shearer
“It’s a little bit risky given Alan’s lack of managerial experience, but I think it’s the right decision. I’ve spoken to a number of senior players at Newcastle United and they felt that Alan Shearer was the right appointment and had been feeling so for quite some time. He definitely has the makings of a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Messi: Playing in La Paz ‘Impossible’
"It’s very painful, we knew that we would lose at some stage but we didn’t think it would be like this. It’s impossible to play there. Everyone struggled. You sprint a bit and it’s difficult to get your breath back and you could see that they were faster. They also played at a very fast […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Tevez Tells Mascherano: ‘Be Ready To Be Disappointed’
"After two consecutive losses, everybody thinks we have dropped out. It is true that we feel a little tired at this stage of the season, but we will fight for the championship and the Champions League until the end. This team is very strong and I think we still have room for mistakes. Liverpool is […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
China Institutes Zero-Tolerance Policy
Who knew that the state of Chinese soccer was such a disaster? The Chinese Super League is mired in an ongoing mess that league officials are desperate to fix. So CSL midfielder Cui Peng was handed a record fine of $4,391 along with a five-match ban for elbowing an opposing player during a recent game, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chelsea Success Can’t Stop Hiddink From Russian Return
Even if Chelsea were able to pull off an incredible year-end run and somehow take home the EPL, FA Cup and Champions League trophies, interim coach Guus Hiddink still plans to exit England and relegate himself to watching the team from Russia, with love. "It would be a beautiful scenario to win both cups,” stated […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Original Ralston Ready For First Title
The underdog story of little Stevie Ralston, one of meager beginnings that include not even starting most of his high school soccer games and then playing for a local community college, won’t quite be complete unless the now New England Revolution midfield motor and MLS Mr. Reliable wins a championship. Sure, he’s won a pair […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mexico ‘Officially In Shambles’
After the exit of Ricardo Lavolpe following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, there was supposed to be something of a new dawn in Mexico, with long-campaigning and hugely popular Hugo Sanchez finally given the reigns for “what was supposed to be a successful and memorable time for himself and El Tricolor,” writes SI.com’s Luis Bueno. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sounders Star Montero Subject of Police Investigation
No charges have been filed, but Seattle Sounders FC newcomer and MLS March Player of the Month Fredy Montero is the subject of a police investigation after being accused of stalking, according to the Seattle P-I, which cites two law enforcement sources. The 21-year-old Colombian had been the league's best and brightest on-field story so […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Catch a full slate of MLS and Mexican league games this weekend. In Europe, Clint Dempsey and Fulham takes on Liverpool. Manchester United tries to protect its slim lead in the EPL as it squares off against Brad Friedel‘s Aston Villa. WPS marches on as FC Gold Pride hosts the Boston Breakers in Santa Clara, Calif.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Altidore spotlights overseas pitfalls
By the time he returns to Spain, surely, Jozy Altidore will be a must-use for his club Xerez, seeing as how he drilled four goals in two hours of action for the USA against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago in Hexagonal matches.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Obama sidesteps soccer question
[AMERICANS ABROAD] President Barack Obama, who played soccer as a boy while he was living in Indonesia but became a basketball enthusiast when he moved back to Hawaii, turned down a chance to chime in on World Cup qualifying at the G20 Summit in London.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Champions League boost for Fox
[TELEVISION] The UEFA Champions League’s move to Fox for the next three seasons gives it a chance to spread its coverage of Europe’s most important competition across a number of affiliated networks, including Fox Soccer Channel, FSN, FX and Fox Sports en Espanol, boosting midweek programming on FSC and showcasing international soccer on regional outlets and Fox’s general cable entertainment network.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Germans clash with each other [VIDEO]
[OFF THE POST] The German soccer federation [DFB] says it won’t punish striker Lukas Podolski for lashing out at captain Michael Ballack during the team’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Wales.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Week 3: Canadians host the hot upstarts
[MLS PREDICTIONS] What will happen when the high-flying Sounders play their first road game? For all the predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we fared last week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The champ gets thumped [VIDEO]
[MLS] With ties in its first two games, one at home and one on the road, one could give defending champion Columbus some benefit of the doubt. But after a 4-1 thrashing inflicted by Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium Thursday, there may be some cause for doubting the Crew’s ability to defend that title.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Week 2: Women’s league moves into full gear
[WPS] Women’s Professional Soccer moves into full gear with three games over the weekend. Marta’s drawing power will be put to the test when Los Angeles travels to Sky Blue FC. Chicago travels across Illinois to face St. Louis on the campus of SIU-Edwardsville, while FC Gold Pride hosts Boston in the WPS Game of the Week on FSC. For a look at this week’s games …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Sven Saga Ends. What Now?
[MEXICO] Mexico hiring the Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, who had only modest success during a six-year stint as England coach, never made a lot of sense. But just how disastrous an appointment it was went beyond predictions. After Wednesday’s 3-1 loss at Honduras, which marked El Tri’s sixth loss under Eriksson in 13 games, he was finally fired.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The proposed figure of [$15 million] they are offering is ridiculous. For that amount, the English club would only get Milito’s ear.”
— Enrico Preciosi, president of Italian club Genoa president, scoffs at Tottenham’s offer for Argentine striker Diego Milito. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Concacaf championship to hit 13 cities in 21 days
[GOLD CUP] The longest and most expansive Gold Cup in history kicks off July 3 with a doubleheader — Canada-Jamaica and Costa Rica-El Salvador — at the Home Depot Center. The 12-team Concacaf event will be played in 13 cities — more than any other regional championship ever — over 21 days — including a week’s gap between group play and the quarterfinals — making it the longest Gold Cup ever. For the complete schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA opens on July 4 in Seattle
[GOLD CUP] The USA opens play at the 2009 Gold Cup on July 4 against Grenada at Qwest Field in Seattle. It also faces Honduras in Washington, D.C., on July 8 and Haiti at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on July 11. The Honduras match comes a little more than a month after the USA faces the Catrachos in World Cup 2010 qualifying in Chicago. The Gold Cup follows a busy June for the USA, which is also playing at the Confederations Cup in South Africa. For a look at the three U.S. opponents …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Feedback: Passing, Sportsmanship, Game Coaching
Soccer America readers comment on recent editions of the Youth Soccer Insider e-letter.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Lippi: 3rd Minute Red Card ‘Not Right’
"It's not right, not right. Ninety minutes with 10 men because of that? At the international level? It is not right in any way." Italy coach Marcello Lippi, angry at Giampaolo Pazzini's dismissal, which forced the defending World Cup champion to play a man down for the rest of what would end up being a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mascherano: Altitude No Excuse For Lop-sided Loss
“For some of us playing in the altitude was something new, for others not so much, but we can’t say that we lost because of the altitude, but because our rivals played better and nothing turned out right for us.” Argentina captain Javier Mascherano, on playing at over 11,000 feet in La Paz in a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gerrard: England No Longer Playing With Fear
"That was the pleasing thing. I think 18 months ago when we got a goal against us this side might have gone into our shell and played the final 20 minutes with fear. But this was much more positive. It was a good reaction. We showed a lot of character and deserved the win in […]