Author Archives: Paul Kennedy

[TRANSFER TALK] Ghanaian Reuben Ayarna, who helped Boston College win the 2007 ACC title, and Brazilian Pablo Campos, a star for NAIA power Fresno Pacific and the PDL’s Fresno Fuego, have signed to play for GAIS Gothenburg of Sweden’s top-level Allsvenskan.

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] The 2008 Olympic men’s soccer competition will be a star-studded event, headed by Barcelona stars Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi, who will lead Brazil and defending champion Argentina, respectively. Italian-American Giuseppe Rossi is in Italy’s team. New Zealand has called up five current or former U.S. collegians. For all the Olympic men’s news …

[TOP 20] Euro ’08 champion Spain led all teams with eight players among the top 20 ratings leaders, based on the Soccer America Report Cards compiled by Soccer America’s editors. Italy goalie Gianluigi Buffon edged Spain forward David Villa for first place. For all the final ratings leaders …

[SPAIN-ITALY REPORT CARD] Spain was the only group winner to avoid defeat in the quarterfinals of the European Championship, but it wasn’t easy.

[RUSSIA-SWEDEN REPORT CARD] Guus Hiddink did it again, taking an underdog team and leading it to the knockout phase of a major championship. Russia moved into the quarterfinals of Euro ’08 with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win over Sweden on Wednesday. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the players.

[RATINGS LEADERS] After group play at the 2008 European Championship, Spain’s David Villa (a hat trick in his first game and stoppage-time winner in his second) is the top-rated player, based on the daily Soccer America Report Cards. Two other Spaniards — Fernando Torres and Brazilian-born Marcos Serna — and two Dutchmen — Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst — round out the top five. For all the ratings leaders …

[ITALY-FRANCE REPORT CARD] Few would have thought that the Group of Death tag given Group C would mean the loser of the Italy-France finale would finish last. But that’s what the French did after falling, 2-0, on Wednesday. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the players.

[CROATIA-POLAND REPORT CARD] Already through to the quarterfinals, Croatia rested most of its starters but still beat Poland, 1-0, to finish with three wins in three games in Group B. Poland needed to win by at least two goals to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stage.

[SWEDEN-GREECE REPORT CARD] Defending champion Greece and Sweden appeared to be headed to a 0-0 tie when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first international goal for more than two and a half years with a brilliant individual effort and minutes later Petter Hansson added a second goal on a scramble on the Greek goal line to give the Swedes a 2-0 win. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the players.

[EURO ’08 PREVIEW] The first day of group play concludes on Tuesday with two games in Group D. Spain is the favorite in the group that also includes defending champion Greece, Russia and Sweden. For a look at the Group D teams and their rosters …

[PORTUGAL-TURKEY REPORT CARD] Portugal showed that it is more than a one-man team in beating Turkey, 2-0, in their Group A opener in Geneva on Saturday. Cristiano Ronaldo was excellent for Portugal, but it was his supporting cast that did the damage. Brazilian-born Pepe (on a brilliant one-two with Nuno Gomes) and substitute Raul Meireles (fed by young Joao Moutinho) scored second-half goals to put away the disappointing Turks. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the players. …

[AUSTRIA-CROATIA REPORT CARD] After a fourth-minute penalty kick converted by Luka Modric, it looked like it would be a blowout for Croatia, but it had to hang on for a 1-0 win over host Austria that was scrappy but ultimately lacking in ideas. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the players.

[EURO ’08 PREVIEW] The Group of Death could be something less. Injuries are a major for concern for France, Italy and the Netherlands heading into the Group C openers on Monday in Switzerland. For a look at the Group C teams and their rosters …

[EURO ’08 PREVIEW] Despite miserable showings at the last two European Championship, Germany is the heavy favorite to win Group B, which begins Sunday. Featuring talented playmaker Luka Modric, Croatia is considered a darkhorse, while co-Austria — arguably the worst team ever to host a major international tournament — and Poland — miserable in a 3-0 loss to the USA in March — are longshots. For a look at the Group B teams and their rosters …

[EURO ’08 PREVIEW] Portugal is one of the favorites to win Euro ’08, but its preparations for its Group A opener against Turkey have been overshadowed by the talk of its star, Cristiano Ronaldo, and his apparent intention to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid. Perhaps the only thing that can stop the Portuguese from winning the European Championship is if Ronaldo’s unsettled situation lingers and the 23-year-old star is distracted. Otherwise, Portugal has the edge over Switzerland, Turkey and the Czech Republic in a very balanced group. For a look at the Group A teams and their rosters …

Jozy Altidore joins one of Europe’s hottest clubs in Spanish La Liga runner-up Villarreal, which beat out Barcelona for second place behind Real Madrid. With the guarantee of money from playing in the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League and the sale of 21-year-old Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres to Barcelona for a transfer fee estimated to be as high as $26 million, the Yellow Submarine is loaded with money to buy up young talent.

[SPAIN] After a lackluster 2-1 win over Peru, Coach Luis Aragones is likely to make several changes when Spain faces the USA Wednesday in Santander. Young Raul Albiol will likely replace Carlos Marchena in the middle of the backline, while Daniel Guiza, La Liga’s top score with Mallorca last season, could get his first start in place of Fernando Torres. But it’s in midfield where Aragones has an abundance of riches — one of the reasons Spain is a favorite to win Euro ’08, which begins Saturday.

[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] Antonio Di Natale is certainly making it hard for Italian star Alessandro Del Piero to regain his spot in the Azzurri’s starting lineup. The Udinese forward scored twice to pace an impressive Italian effort in a 3-1 win over Belgium … France’s injury concerns mounted as captain Patrick Vieira could be sidelined for next Monday’s opener against Romania with a thigh injury … Young Liverpool star Ryan Babel will probably have to settle for a spot on the Netherlands’ Olympic team after an ankle injury forced him to withdraw from the Oranje’s Euro ’08 squad. For all the latest Euro ’08 news …

[AMERICANS ABROAD] DaMarcus Beasley celebrated his 26th birthday and first start in six months by scoring one goal and setting up the winning goal to lead Glasgow Rangers to a 3-2 win over Queen of the South in Saturday’s final of the Scottish FA Cup.

[MAN. UTD.-CHELSEA HIGHLIGHT REEL] For a 1-1 game, decided in a shootout, Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League final was jammed pack with excitement. Manchester United looked to run away with the game in the first half, but Chelsea came back and had the momentum in the second half. The overtime produced chances for both teams, leading up to the dramatic turn of events in the shootout that made a hero out of long-serving United winger Ryan Giggs and a goat out of Chelsea captain John Terry and earned Manchester United its second Champions League trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson.

[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Manchester United and Chelsea meet Wednesday in Moscow in the first all-English final of the UEFA Champions League. Clarence Seedorf, the only player who has won the Champions League title with three different clubs (Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan), will be part of the broadcast team on both ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes during the game (kickoff: 2:30 pm ET). For a look at some of the key storylines …