“I don’t think expectation is a bad thing, [it’s] a good thing. If you expect to do too much in a short time you might be a little disappointed and it might set you back a little bit. But I think our expectations are pretty real.” Toronto FC’s new playmaker Dwayne De Rosario on the […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Kinnear To Dynamo Players: Show Up Fit
“I wanted to start playing right away. I don’t want to be doing days where we’re not touching the ball, just working on fitness, because that kind of gets you nowhere.” Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear reveals that he sent an e-mail to players three weeks ago instructing them to show up already fit for […]
Milan ‘Will Do Everything’ To Get Beckham
“We are working to keep him and I think he would like that too. Milan will do everything to have Beckham even after March. It is clear that it’s our wish to have him until the end of the season or on a permanent deal. There’s a hope but contracts should be honored. If [the […]
Paraguayan Stadium Accident Kills Two Policemen, Injures Five
Paraguay’s national soccer stadium, the Defensores del Chaco, has been closed indefinitely after two policemen were killed in an accident Sunday. Five other officers were injured when part of concrete ramp collapsed during an amateur game, police said. “Part of the structure gave way and fell on seven uniformed officers who were 10 to […]
Beckham Departure Would Be Huge Embarrassment To MLS
Many observers and journalists have said that Major League Soccer’s best option in the case of David Beckham would be to let him leave and be done with it. But Frank Giase thinks the player’s departure now would mean a huge loss of face for the league. “Beckham has a contract and he needs […]
Fire Sued Over Canceled Mexico Tour Game
The Chicago Fire is being sued for breach of contract by the company that promoted its 2008 preseason tour of Mexico, Luis Arroyave reports. Mexico-based Administradora de Proyectos Neomed (APN), which sponsors and promotes soccer games, claims the Fire broke its agreement when it failed to play the third match of a three-game tour last […]
Joint World Cup Bids A Baffling Waste Of Time
The joint bids submitted by Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are a waste of time given that soccer’s world governing body FIFA has already stated its opposition to such bids, writes Keir Radnedge. The countries appear “to have forgotten FIFA’s earlier strictures that co-hosting bids would not be considered […]
Benitez: Selling Keane Worth the Risk
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said Tuesday that selling unsettled striker Robbie Keane back to Tottenham Hotspur is a risk worth taking in the best interests of the team, even though it may leave his side short of fire-power should key Spanish forward Fernando Torres suffer any more hamstring injuries. “Sometimes good players cannot settle […]
Mexico better?
[USA-MEXICO COUNTDOWN] Mexico goes into the Feb. 11 World Cup qualifier against the USA in Columbus, Ohio without a win over the Americans on U.S. soil since 1999, and El Tri has won just one of its last six games, but midfielder Antonio Naelson “Sinha” is expressing confidence.
Arena falls short of Hall of Fame selection
[HALL OF FAME] Coach Bruce Arena, widely considered the USA’s most successful coach for his achievements at the college, MLS and international level, finished first in voting among 2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame “Builder” candidates but failed to reach the 50 percent threshold needed for induction. Also, no “Veteran Players” tallied enough votes for 2009 induction.
Clough erases inspirational quotes
[OFF THE POST] With his team stuck in the lower half of the English second division, Coach Nigel Clough decided that the inspirational quotes from famous athletes, politicians and philosophers that adorned the walls of the club’s training facility weren’t much help. He had them painted over and noted, “most of the players can’t read anyway.”
What They’re Saying
“In the end we lost a bad third goal because of an individual error by the goalkeeper, but I’m not going to point the finger of blame at anyone for that.”
– Falkirk coach John Hughes’ version of sparing keeper Dani Mallo of blame after a 3-0 loss to Glasgow Rangers. (Irish Times)
Altidore Will Have To Prove Himself
“We’ve brought in a player who potentially could be an important player, but he’ll have to demonstrate it.” Spanish second division Xerez CD’s Sporting Director Miguel Angel Rondan on new loan signing from Villareal, Jozy Altidore.
Faubert Thought Madrid Interest ‘A Wind-Up’
“I got a call from a Madrid agent but I didn’t really take it seriously. I thought he was winding me up. Then a few minutes later my agent called to tell me it wasn’t a joke.” West Ham United’s French midfielder Julien Faubert, 25, who has made just 19 appearances for the EPL side […]
Transfer Window Like A Desperate Late Kiss
“As it is, the main consequence of the transfer window seems to be that it forces transfer deals through that would seem absurd without the aid of a panicked midnight deadline, like desperate teenagers grabbing the nearest person for a snog as the last song comes on at a disco.” Josh Widdicombe reflects upon the […]
New Year, New England, New Faces
“I feel like we have enough guys who can step in and fill their shoes, hopefully. It’s part of the business and we realize that every year there’s going to be changes, and you have to move forward. You can’t dwell on who’s here and who’s not.” Little Stevie Ralston reports back for another year […]
Chelsea Appeals Lampard Red
The English FA has received an appeal from Chelsea against midfielder Frank Lampard‘s sending off in Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Liverpool. The player was given a straight red card by referee Mike Riley for a challenge on Xabi Alonso and faces a three-match ban. Television replays showed that Lampard clearly played the ball, and […]
The Method In Benitez’s Madness
The stories that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has somehow “lost the plot” over the past few weeks are a misinterpretation of the Spaniard’s methods, writes Oliver Kay. He says that the manager is a thinker, and that his attack on his Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson last month, his decision to substitute Steven Gerrard during […]
EPL Goes Off Air In Africa
The British company that supplies broadcasts of the English Premier League to Africa went bust on Friday, depriving African fans of EPL action at the weekend. “Increased instability in global markets interrupted our ability to secure funding on an acceptable timescale and have left us no choice but to cease operations,” Gateway Broadcast Services […]
Former Duke Striker Grella Signs For Leeds
Former Duke striker Mike Grella, 22, has signed for English third division (League One) club Leeds United, according to a list of completed transactions on the BBC website. The forward impressed the three-time English champion with a hat trick last month in an outing for Leeds Reserves. Other significant moves before the deadline expires […]
Beckham ‘Happy, Surprised’ To Be On Milan’s UEFA Cup Roster
AC Milan has named on-loan L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham to its roster for its forthcoming UEFA Cup matches, a development that has left the player “really happy.” Beckham is now available for both the home and away games of the round of 32 meeting with Werder Bremen on February 18 and 26. His loan […]
Soccer on TV
The U-20 South American Championship continues throughout the week. Catch English, Spanish and Italian Cups in midweek. Various European leagues are in action on the weekend. Look for Mexican League games and other updates in Friday’s Soccer on TV.
Dempsey assists; Key U.S. players on bench
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Clint Dempsey continues to be one of the few U.S. field players enjoying a good run with his foreign club.
What They’re Saying
“We’re desperate to sign him and I will keep hoping until the last possible moment.”
— AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani, on David Beckham, who assisted on two goals in Serie A last weekend. Beckham’s cuurent loan deal from the MLS has him slated to return to MLS on March 9. (AFP)
International Weekend Scores
Lyon and Bordeaux remain separated by only one point at the top of France’s Ligue 1 standings after they both had to settle for ties at home. Rangers moved to within two points of Glasgow rival Celtic in Scotland, while Trabzon tied Sivas for the lead in the Turkey. For all the weekend results and updated standings …
