Author Archives: Paul Kennedy

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra, the first-choice central defenders on the U.S. national team, had contrasting fortunes with their European clubs. Onyewu scored two goals within 15 minutes and almost had a third as Standard Liege won the Belgian Super Cup with a 3-1 victory over Anderlecht. Bocanegra was less fortunate, earning a miserable rating of “3” — on a scale of 1-10 — from France Football for his French Ligue 1 debut in Rennes’ 4-4 tie with Marseille.

[MY VIEW] You have to respect Foppe De Haan for his honesty. The Dutch coach, who before his team’s game against the USA dismissed the Americans as an ordinary team, admitted afterward that he didn’t have a “real team.” As surprising as the U.S. effort was after four straight pre-Olympic games without a goal and an opening game in which it won on a rare sortie, the Dutch no-show in Game 2 was a shocker.

[MY VIEW] The U.S. performance in its 1-0 victory over Japan Thursday wasn’t so convincing that one doesn’t think Peter Nowak‘s boys will be hard-pressed to get a result when they return to action in Tianjin on Sunday against the European U-21 champion Netherlands, but a few players stood out against Japan.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] The French season begins Saturday with two American internationals new to Ligue 1. While Rennes is counting up Carlos Bocanegra to help on its backline, Freddy Adu is sure to be welcomed at Monaco when he returns from the Olympics in China.

[MY VIEW] Wednesday’s start to the Olympics for the U.S. women recalled their dramatic collapse in the semifinals of the 2007 Women’s World Cup 10 months earlier. The Chinese venue was different, Qinhuangdao instead of Hangzhou, but the result was the same. The 4-0 loss to Brazil snapped Greg Ryan‘s 51-game unbeaten streak as U.S. women’s national team coach and led to his ouster. Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Norway ended Pia Sundhage‘s honeymoon that was a 21-0-1 record in 2008 and was no less shocking. At least, Sundhage has a minimum of two more games to rehabilitate the Americans.

[OLYMPIC MEN] While all teams didn’t use their allotment of three overage (over-23) players for the Olympic men’s soccer tournament, the favorites are all counting on veterans to play key roles in attack. For profiles of Ronaldinho (Brazil), Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina), Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria), Roy Makaay (Netherlands) and Tomasso Rocchi (Italy) …

[OLYMPIC WOMEN] Only five countries have won medals in Olympic women’s soccer: the USA, Brazil, Germany, Norway and China. It would be a surprise if the medalists at the Beijing Olympics don’t come from this quintet of women’s soccer powers. Here’s a look at key players from each of these five teams.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Sven-Goran Eriksson called up 20 players for his first training camp as Mexico’s national team coach, and they include New Mexico youth product Edgar Castillo and former California prep star Carlos Ochoa. In English preseason action, Brad Friedel made a sensational debut for Aston Villa, stopping a penalty kick in its 1-1 tie with Reading.

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] Chinese star Ma Xiaoxu, dubbed the “female Wayne Rooney,” reinjured her left knee in a scrimmage against the USA on Wednesday in Qinhuangdao and will likely miss the Olympic women’s tournament that begins on Wednesday.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Monaco finalized the loan deal that brings American Freddy Adu from Benfica to the French league. Jerome de Bontin, Monaco’s French-American president, said Thursday that the club has an option to buy Adu for 5 million euros ($8 million), and he was on the lookout to sign another American before the end of the French transfer window in August. Adu and de Bontin talked to Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy at the U.S. Olympic training camp in Palo Alto, Calif.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] “Brad Friedels don’t grow on trees.” Those were Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams‘ words in announcing his club would not part with its 37-year-old American goalkeeper. Famous last words, they were. Friedel looks to be headed to Aston Villa in a move that could result in his salary being doubled to $5.2 million a year.

American goalie Brad Friedel, who has played every Premier League game in the last four seasons at Blackburn Rovers, has asked to leave — the latest shock wave for the Lancashire club.

When he took over as president at French club Monaco, French-American Jerome de Bontin told Soccer America he hoped to sign one or two Americans for the 2008-09 season. Well, de Bontin lived up to his word, signing 19-year-old Freddy Adu on loan from Portuguese club Benfica with an option to buy.

[MLS] One of the worst incidents of fan trouble involving an MLS club took place Sunday when the friendly between the Columbus Crew and English club West Ham United was marred by a melee between rival fans that broke out at halftime.

Lack of experience won’t be an issue with the U.S. Olympic men’s soccer team. The 18-player squad selected by Coach Peter Nowak includes 12 players who have experience at the full national team level, including Brian McBride, who has played in three World Cups.