Author Archives: Mike Woitalla

[OFF THE POST] Vienna-based voice coach Ingrid Amon is offering cheering lessons to Austrian fans ahead of the European Championship, because she warns that improper screaming can cause voice loss – and even permanent vocal chord damage. She says fans should avoid alcohol and caffeine, and, apparently unaware that Austrian fans rarely have something to cheer about, says they should take “quiet breaks” during the game. She also recommends body movement while screaming: “Shaking your popsch [booty] helps the most.”

[OFF THE POST] Reason magazine reported that Guatemalan immigrant Pedro Zapata had $59,000 of cash confiscated, while on the way to his home country, by U.S. airport security, which suspected him of being a courier for drug dealers. Zapata, who was released and exonerated of the drug charge, explained that he was able to save so much money from his income as a dishwasher in Northern California because his only entertainment for seven years was Spanish-language TV and soccer games in a local park.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Freddy Adu was a late sub, as has been the norm since he joined Benfica last summer, on Thursday in UEFA Cup play. But the 18-year-old, who saw much more playing time in MLS, says he’s perfectly happy in Portugal. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla spoke with Adu while he was on U.S. national team duty …

[WORLD CUP 2018] Barring unforeseen problems with the organization of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, slated to be held in South Africa and Brazil, respectively, the next chance for the United States to host the World Cup will come in 2018. U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati recently told a media roundtable that U.S. Soccer would make a decision by June about whether to enter the 2018 bid contest that is expected to include such countries as England and Australia. Even in the face of heavyweight competition, the U.S. potential is substantial. “We have 50 stadiums that could host World Cup games two days from now,” boasted Gulati.

[YOUTH] Dave Sarachan, former Chicago Fire head coach and U.S. World Cup assistant coach, has been named Scouting Manager of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The appointment, along with the hiring of Tony Lepore and Raul Diaz Arce, is part of U.S. Soccer’s aim to ensure that players on the 64 clubs competing in the Academy league are being closely evaluated for national team selection. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla spoke with Sarachan …

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Benny Feilhaber, who turned 23 in January, has already made 15 U.S. national team appearances. He scored the 2007 Gold Cup winner and has been in Europe since 2005. But he’s now struggling for playing time at English Premier League last-place club Derby. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla spoke with Feilhaber after his 27 minutes of action against Mexico last Wednesday.

Mike Woitalla reports from Houston
Of the more than 40 national team games played across the world on Wednesday, only England’s game at Wembley drew a larger crowd than the USA’s 2-2 tie with Mexico in Houston, where a sellout crowd of 70,103 set a U.S. national team record for ticket sales income. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla checked out the fans in Texas.

After a squad of mainly MLS players trained in California for Wednesday’s friendly against Mexico, Coach Bob Bradley called in 10 European-based players for the 22-man roster than convenes in Houston. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla looks at the form of Bradley’s foreign legion.