FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, is considering abolishing age limits for the Olympics and barring all players with World Cup experience. FIFA president Sepp Blatter had initially suggested reducing the present under-23 limit, but Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, suggested that such a change would affect the quality of the Olympic competition […]
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Real Madrid Holds Player Sale for EPL Clubs
Real Madrid has contacted several Premier League clubs with a list of nine players it is keen to offload to recover some of the $246 million it spent on Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka. A crew of Dutch players is available: Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Rafael van der Vaart and Royston […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Moreno Sidelined by Hamstring Injury; Emilio back
D.C. United captain Jaime Moreno will miss both league matches this week because of a hamstring injury, club officials confirmed today. Moreno, MLS's career scoring leader, was injured late in the first half of Saturday's 2-1 victory over Chicago at RFK Stadium. He will not accompany the club to Seattle for Wednesday's game against the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Crew Trade Noonan to Rapids to Free Salary
Midfielder/forward Pat Noonan has talent, versatility and an impressive resume. The former New England Revolution standout is a two-time Major League Soccer All-Star and former scoring champion (tied in Amado Guevara with 30 points on 11 goals and eight assists in 2004). His credentials are impressive, but they were not enough to keep him on […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Evolving Role of the Holding Midfielder in MLS
“Let’s not get carried away and say that the day of the tough, tackle-happy enforcement presence in the holding midfield spot is dead. It’s not,” writes Steve Davis of MLSnet.com. Davis, however, diagnoses a trend in the MLS toward favoring more deep-lying playmakers over traditional tacklers. Winning the ball and covering ground remains a priority,” […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Champions crowned at National Cup VIII regionals
Champions have been crowned at four U.S. Club Soccer’s National Cup VIII regionals. Boys champions were scheduled to crowned Tuesday in Modesto, Calif., and regional play will continue at six venues through early July. For all the regional champions …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Indiana’s Carmel enjoys big success
Carmel United Academy had four teams finish first and five others took second place in the U-14 to U-19 groups at the Indiana State Cup. The highlight was an all-Carmel final in the U-14 girls division. For all the Indiana State Cup final results …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Massapequa and Albertson clean up
Less than three months after former U.S. international Chris Armas took over as its director of coaching, Massapequa SC achieved success at the Eastern New York state finals, where it won the U-17 and U-15 boys titles and U-14 girls championship. The Albertson Fury won four girls titles in convincing fashion. For results of all the finals in the U-14 to U-19 boys and girls groups …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Upset at Region IV Championships
Play began Monday at the 2009 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships in Lancaster, Calif. Nine teams began their defense of regional titles at the Lancaster National Soccer Center, but most faced stiff competition. A wild game saw the So Cal Blues fall in U-17 girls play. For all the news and complete results from the Region IV Championships …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Coaches evaluate U-15s for residency
The U.S. under-15 boys national team camp being held this week at the PDA training facilities in Zarephath, N.J., has added significance since U-17 national team coaches will be evaluating the ’94s for the next cycle of U.S. Soccer’s residency program. For the 48 U-15s in camp …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
ON THE WEB: Brooks honors Moran’s memory
Amber Brooks, who won three New Jersey state titles at The Pennington School and captained the USA at the inaugural Under-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008, has endured some trying times this spring. The North Carolina-bound star lost her father Allan died in April, and longtime girls soccer advocate Charlotte Moran — her “soccer mom” — died of pancreatic cancer in April. For Brooks’ efforts to raise money for cancer research …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Parade All-American awards
Forward Jack McInerney, who scored five goals for the USA at the 2009 Concacaf Under-17 Championships, and Amber Brooks, who captained the USA at last year’s inaugural Under-17 Women’s World Cup, are the 2009 Parade Players of the Year. For the complete Parade Boys and Girls All-American Teams …
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The vision of the city in building this complex was to host the top events in the country.”
— Alan Blinzler, president of the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association, on Overland Park landing the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the $36 million soccer complex that’s scheduled to open later this summer. (Kansas City Star)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Grasping at straws
[TV WATCH] How do you sugarcoat another in a series of games marked by some dreadful soccer? The USA’s performance in its 3-1 loss to Italy on Monday at the Confederations Cup left its commentators grasping at straws.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I would like to dedicate my goals to my family who were watching from America.”
— Giuseppe Rossi, who was born and raised in New Jersey before moving to Italy at age 12, on the two goals he scored against the USA in Italy’s 3-1 win. (Goal.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Keys To U.S. Defeat & Why Clark Got Ejected
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] The best teams are the best at punishing miscues, as the U.S. national team learned once again Monday at the Confederations Cup in South Africa. Errors of technique, positioning, and judgment enabled world champion Italy to rally from a 1-0 deficit and smack the Americans, 3-1, as the nations opened play in Group B in a rematch of the 1-1 tie they played three years ago at the World Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Four exceed the average mark
[ITALY-USA REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance in Monday’s 3-1 loss to Italy at the Confederations Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Pharaohs give Brazil all it can handle
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] The knock on Dunga‘s Brazil has been its defense-first approach, so its display in its opening game at the Confederations Cup Monday was certainly a surprise. The defending Confederations Cup champion opened up a 3-1 lead in Bloemfontein, blew that lead early in the second half and then needed a controversial decision on the awarding of a penalty kick Kaka converted to beat Egypt, 4-3.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
U-17 World Cup Must Be Moved from Nigeria
What on earth is FIFA waiting for? The reports out of Nigeria make it alarmingly clear that to stage the Under-17 World Cup there Oct. 24-Nov. 15, as currently scheduled, would be exposing the young players to considerable risk.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Brazil Squeaks By Egypt
In the opening match of group B in the Confederations Cup, underdog Egypt shook five-time world champions Brazil but finally succumbed 4-3 when Kaka converted a penalty in stoppage time awarded for Ahmed Al Muhamadi's handball on the goal line. African champions Egypt fought back from two goals down at halftime, scoring twice in a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Blatter and FIFA Disappointed with Empty Seats
FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested on Monday that unsold tickets for Confederations Cup matches should be given away rather than have empty seats at games after disappointing opening day crowds. "I had a meeting with the organizing committee this morning, and I think they should have done a little bit more to bring more people […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Premier League Gives Setanta Deadline
The Premier League said sports pay TV channel Setanta has until Friday to pay more than $49 million it owes to retain its broadcast rights. An invitation has been issued for competing bids for the broadcaster’s package of 46 live matches in the upcoming season and will sell them to the highest bidder if Setanta […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Crew Turning Bad Into Good
The Columbus Crew is in such good form right now that even the bad turns out to be good. Take the service from defender Gino Padula that led to the deciding goal by Guillermo Barros Schelotto in the 87th minute of the 2-1 win against Chivas USA on Sunday at Crew Stadium. Padula, not known […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Onyewu Fights Racism in European Soccer
This month, U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu used a rare tactic to seek redress for racial remarks uttered at him by another player in a playoff last month to decide the Belgian league championship. Onyewu, who has grown tired of monkey noises and racial remarks made by fans toward black players, filed a legal complaint in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
German-American Jermaine Jones Eyes U.S. Duty
By this time next year, Jermaine Jones could be a starter for the United States at the World Cup in South Africa. Jones, a midfielder for Schalke 04 of the Bundesliga, is a citizen of Germany and the United States, a son of an African-American serviceman and a German woman. Jones has spent his entire […]