Brazil, of course, will qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. Of course — for a whole bunch of reasons: because it’s Brazil, because it has been present at every World Cup so far played (and no other country can match that), and because a World Cup without Brazil is simply unthinkable, it wouldn’t be a World Cup at all. And then, Brazil will be there on merit, because Brazil has more of the world’s great players and plays the sort of soccer that everyone loves to watch.
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Qatar Out; Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and North Korea In Hunt
Qatar needed to win its final game to stay alive, but could only muster a 1-1 draw away at already-qualified Japan. Bahrain, which lost to Australia, needs only one point from its final home game against Uzbekistan to clinch third place in Group A, which would secure a playoff against the third-place Group B team. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Australia Maintains Perfect Qualifying Record
Australia maintained its unbeaten record in the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 win over Bahrain at the Olympic stadium on Wednesday. Despite making seven changes to the starting lineup, Australia maintained its impressive record of not conceding a goal in any of seven games so far in the last stage […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Most Annoying Things Coaches Say
Goal.com produced a list of the top 10 most annoying things coaches say. Our favorites: No. 9: “At the end of the day.” Every day ends, we know this. There is no need to tag this onto the start of a sentence. No. 6: “We showed character.” Translation: We played absolutely rubbish, the opposition hit […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Analysts: Real Madrid Spending Not So Savvy
"Real Madrid's transfer market spending spree will inflate prices and wages and sets a poor example in a sport struggling with debt mountains and dwindling revenue in the deepest global recession for six decades," writes Iain Rodgers of Reuters. This week Real president Florentino Perez kicked of a wanton raid for the world's best players […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Toronto FC Defends Pricey Real Madrid Visit
The Real Madrid friendly is causing real headaches for Toronto FC fans, notably regarding exorbitant ticket prices and the installation of real grass that the club hasn't provided its own team. Ticket prices will range from $140 to $215 plus other fees, though subscribers and those on the waiting list get a "loyalty discount" starting […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Setanta Refused Lifeline
On Tuesday night, Setanta held an emergency board meeting to discuss efforts to stave off administration, or a legal procedure that allows a business in financial trouble to keep operating without being forced to sell off assets to pay debts. Setanta's founders Leanord Ryan and Michael O'Rourke are in talks with backers to secure financing […]
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
In Friday’s USL action, Puerto Rico hosts Austin. Catch a full slate of MLS action on the weekend. The WPS Game of the Week features Boston and St. Louis. Also, the FIFA Confederations Cup starts on Sunday. The USA faces Italy on Monday. Look for updates in Friday’s Soccer on TV.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS WEEK 12: Adjustments pay off
[TEAM OF THE WEEK] Players who reprised their former positions took center stage to help their teams win in Week 12 and head Soccer America’s MLS Team of the Week for Week 3.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
PDL and NPSL teams advance
[U.S. OPEN CUP] The Sonoma County Sol of the NPSL and El Paso Patriots and Chicago Fire Premier of the PDL were the lowest ranked teams to win games on Tuesday in the first round of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Former MLS players earn top honors
[USL TEAMS OF THE WEEK] Tyler Hemming, who helped lead the undefeated Charleston Battery to a win and a draw at Austin after earning his first cap for Canada earlier in the week, and Western Mass goalie James Thorpe, who had big games in wins over Crystal Palace Baltimore and Real Maryland, earned the USL First Division and Second Division Player of the Week honors, respectively. For the USL-1 and USL-2 Teams of the Week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico must make big changes
[HEXAGONAL] Mexico returns to the friendly confines of Azteca Stadium, where it faces Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday in Mexico City in a battle of the last two teams in Concacaf’s World Cup 2010 qualifying group. Big changes are expected after the Tri lost its fourth straight qualifier on the road Saturday. Of perhaps more importance to the USA’s hopes of qualifying for South Africa is Wednesday’s other Hexagonal match between Honduras and El Salvador. A tie or El Salvador win would very much be the USA’s interest.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Best of the West meet in Texas
[MLS PREDICTION] Western Conference leader Chivas USA will take a break from league play starting June 20 for the SuperLiga, but first has a tough road date Wednesday in Houston and another in Columbus Sunday, and thus needs points. The second-place Dynamo is riding an eight-game unbeaten streak and with two games in hand can close to within three points of the conference lead by winning.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazil looks to overtake Paraguay
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Before Brazil heads to the Confederations Cup, where it will face the USA, it hosts Paraguay Wednesday in a clash of the South American qualifying group leaders. For more on the Brazil-Paraguay showdown in Recife and a listing of all of Wednesday’s qualifiers on television …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Quakes shake up roster
[MLS] If it ain’t broke, so goes the adage, don’t fix it. But if it is, as in the case of the San Jose Earthquakes, well, get to fixin’. They’ve sent away a veteran defender and possible targets include an England international.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“So far, there have only been speculations. There is nothing concrete and I haven’t received any offers. The only thing I can say is that Barcelona are a great team and everybody would love to play for them.”
— Manchester City’s Brazilian star Robinho. (Goal.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Winner gets the watts
[OFF THE POST] Harvard student Jessica Lin designed a soccer ball that captures impact energy when the ball is kicked and stores it to charge lights and batteries. Lin and her team of students received a grant from the Clinton Global Initiative University to bring the energy balls to Nigerian farmers.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mexico Fears Fan Boycott
Nestor de la Torre, president of the commission for Mexico's national teams, has asked the press not to encourage Tricolor fans to boycott Mexico's upcoming World Cup qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago. "We are in the same boat to go together to the World Cup and to be encouraging situations that divide I do […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Newcastle Misery Compounded by Joke Offers
Newcastle United has been inundated with joke offers after owner Mike Ashley invited anyone interested in buying the club to make contact via email. Supporters of Newcastle's local rivals, Sunderland, took particular delight in responding to a statement on the relegated club's website which said that potential purchasers could go through the unusual process of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Scolari Gets Job in Uzbekistan
Former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has been named coach of Bunyodkor, the Uzbek champion announced on Tuesday. The 60-year-old former Brazil World Cup-winning coach, who was sacked by the London club in February, has agreed an 18-month contract with the Uzbek side. "Uzbek soccer is on an upswing right now while Bunyodkor is a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Argentina Needs Altitude Adjustment
Argentina, beaten 6-1 by Bolivia at 3,600 meters (11,811 feet) above sea level in April, faces another high-altitude World Cup qualifier in Ecuador on Wednesday. Coach Diego Maradona appeared to underestimate the effects of the altitude against Bolivia. The result marked the team’s heaviest defeat in 15 years and Lionel Messi was among players who […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Madrid Get Kaka; Cristiano Ronaldo is next?
Immediately after completing the $96 million capture of Kaka, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez warned Manchester United that Cristiano Ronaldo was next on his hit list. Perez said last week that he would not jeapordize his relationship with United to sign Ronaldo, but he appeared in a bullish mood after the success of the Kaka […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beasley Enters Crucial Summer Stretch
At 27 years of age, DaMarcus Beasley should be in his athletic prime. However, the Fort Wayne native, once a "golden child" of U.S. soccer, finds himself at a crossroads. Although he played every minute of the first four matches of World Cup qualifying, Beasley has failed to find a consistent position. Against Honduras, Beasley […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Grumpy Sounders Steer Off Course
“Seattle Sounders FC seems to be following Macaulay Culkin‘s career path, and that’s not a great thing,” writes Don Ruiz of The Olympian. “The former child star of ‘Home Alone’ quickly grew from cute little kid that everybody loved into a less-likable adolescent who just made everybody miss the cute little kid he used to […]