[2009 CONFEDERATIONS CUP] The USA received no favors when it was drawn with reigning World Cup champion Italy, South American champion Brazil and African champion Egypt in Group B the 2009 Confederations Cup June 14-28 in South Africa. Euro ’08 champion Spain’s opposition in Group A will be Iraq, New Zealand and South Africa.
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
No Bulls on Best XI
[MLS HONORS] Three members of the Columbus Crew made MLS’s 2008 Best XI team while the other MLS Cup 2008 finalist New York Red Bulls were not represented.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Kenny Cooper gets ‘Comeback’ Award
[MLS HONORS] FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper, who scored 18 goals in 2008 after recovering from a broken shinbone suffered in 2007, was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
On Sunday, Columbus battles New York for the MLS crown. Complete Mexican playoff schedule was not available at press time. Check local listings.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Germany Lost Without Ballack, Frings
German national team coach Joachim Loew has told his players that form will count over experience when it comes to selection. But after Wednesday's mediocre defeat at home to England, the German press has concluded that the only winners were the absent captain Michael Ballack (injured) and midfield veteran Thorsten Frings (not selected). Both players […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Danny Cepero And Post-War Decolonization
In the run-up to MLS Cup, the story continues to be Danny Cepero, and here's the latest angle: it's not just for sporting reasons that the RB New York goalkeeper is happy the team's season has been extended with every unlikely playoff win. Each further game has given him a valid excuse not to hand […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Wizards Get Stadium Tax-Break
The Kansas City Wizards received a boost toward its plan for a soccer specific stadium in the southeast of the city Thursday when the Missouri Development Finance Board approved $30 million in tax credits toward the $1 billion mixed-use project, reports Randy Covitz. The approval "clears the way for the LANE4 Property Group and the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Crew In Danger Of Losing Schmid
These should be happy days for Sigi Schmid, says Steve Davis, given that the Columbus Crew coach is just 90 minutes from lifting his second MLS Cup. But for the second time in his career, Schmid is finding that success is not necessarily enough to secure him a new contract It would be ironic if […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gallas A Captain But Not A Leader
"The team captain has a unique position in English football," writes Dan Bryant. And few things in soccer irk an English fan more than "a perceived lack of effort from a player; a captain represents something the rest of the team can look up to, a shining example, leading his team to glory." Arsenal's French […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Confed Cup Crowds Will Be A Challenge
"We have a major challenge to fill the stadium for every match, not only the games involving high-profile teams." Danny Jordaan, chief executive of South Africa's 2010 World Cup Organizing Committee, admits it will be tough getting crowds to the 2009 warm-up tournament, the Confederations Cup, also in South Africa. The United States, as Gold […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arsenal Will Seek Walcott Compensation
As Theo Walcott faces an expected 12 week-absence with a dislocated shoulder sustained training with the England team, Arsenal will seek compensation of up to $1.6 million from the English FA under the insurance deal that covers players injured while on national team duty.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hahnemann Eyes Seattle In Long Run
"It has always been the plan to go back to Seattle, only my good pal Kasey [Keller] is there at the moment for the next couple of years. Hopefully then that will present me with an opportunity to play there." Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann looks to end his career in MLS.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Copa Sudamericana Finalists Set
Estudiantes of Argentina will play Internacional of Brazil in the two-legged final of the Copa Sudamericana, Central and South America's secondary club competition after the Copa Libertadores. Estudiantes, captained by Juan Sebastian Veron, beat compatriot club Argentinos Juniors 2-1 on aggregate in one semifinal, while in the other Internacional routed Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara 6-0 […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
POLLS: NSCAA/adidas High School Rankings
Brentwood (N.Y.) High School claimed the No. 1 spot in the NSCAA/adidas High School Boys Rankings when last week’s No. 1, Sacramento Jesuit, fell to Davis in a shootout in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals. The Pennington School, whose season is finished, is the No. 1 team in the NSCAA/adidas High School Boys Rankings.
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I wrote on a piece of paper at the beginning of the season: 24-0.”
— Brentwood (N.Y.) High School coach Ron Eden, scripting the season for the Indians, who won their first boys state title since 1989 after a 2-1 victory over Clarence on Sunday and claimed the top spot in the national high school rankings. (Newsday)
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Hawks soar in Michigan finals
For the third year in a row, teams from the Michigan Hawks reached the finals of every Michigan State Youth Soccer Association girls division from under-14 to under-18.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Historic Virginia state title for Charlottesville club
The Soccer Organization of Charlottesville-Albemarle became the first club team from West Central Virginia to win a state championship when it won the U-18 boys title at the Virginia Youth Soccer Association’s state tournament for boys and girls teams in the under-14 to under-18 divisions.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Arsenal FC cleans up in CSL Premier
Arsenal FC, the Southern California team that produced U.S. national team captain Carlos Bocanegra, cleaned up in the 2008 CSL Premier League, winning two boys and one girls championship. The boys won the U-19 and U-16 divisions in the Southern California superleague, while the U-16 girls were the only team with a perfect record, finishing 11-0-0. For all the U-19, U-17 and U-16 boys and girls final standings …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
North American Finals kick off Friday
The Super Y-League’s North American Finals begin Friday with 136 American and Canadian youth teams competing in 10 boys and girls divisions at the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa and Land O’Lakes Recreation Center in Land O’Lakes, Fla.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
OBITUARY: Jonathan Manzo Chavez
Jonathan Manzo Chavez, 10, was on his way home from Santa Clara Sporting Club’s NorCal State Cup qualifier in Manteca, Calif., last Saturday when the mini-van his mother was driving was struck head-on by a car attempting to pass another car on Highway 84, a two-lane road. When rescue workers tried to take off Manzo’s Sporting green jersey and shorts and tend to his injuries, he pleaded, “Don’t cut them, don’t cut them, I have a game tomorrow.” Manzo later died of injuries suffered in the crash.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. U-17 World Cup players are off to Thanksgiving Interregional
Two members of the U.S. national team that finished second at the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand are headed to U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional. Maddy Laddish will represent Region II in the 1992 division, while Morgan Brian is on the U.S. under-15 national team competing at the Interregional to be played at the North Community Park and Coral Glades High School Sportsplex in Coral Springs, Fla. Teams arrive Saturday for two days of training. The competition runs through next Friday. For all the 1992, 1993 and 1994 regional teams and U.S. under-15 national team …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NAIA Men & Women
The NAIA has introduced an opening round to its national championships for men’s and women’s soccer. Play gets underway Saturday with 15 first-round games for both the men and women. The men’s winners will advance the 50th annual NAIA National Men’s Championship Dec. 1-6 at Fresno Pacific. Winners of the opening-round women’s games will play at Embry-Riddle, the site of the National Women’s Championship Dec. 1-6 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division I Women
Play resumes in the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament with eight games this weekend. It begins Friday when No. 1 regional seeds Notre Dame and Stanford host unseeded Minnesota and Rutgers, respectively. For all the results and schedules …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division I Men
The NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament begins with first-round play Friday and Saturday. The 16 seeded teams move into action in the second round next Tuesday. The third round follows the weekend of Nov. 28-30. For the complete first- and second-round schedules …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NJCAA Division I Men and Women
Defending champion Yavapai improved to 24-0-0 with a 3-1 win over Schoolcraft that moved it into the semifinals of the NJCAA Division I Men’s Tournament in Phoenix. Francis Khamis, Justin Meram and Gabriel Okito scored for the Roadrunners, who play Garden City of Kansas in Friday’s semifinals. The other semifinal pits Mercer County against San Jacinto. In the NJCAA Division I Women’s Tournament being played in nearby Chandler, Ariz., host Chandler-Gilbert faces top-seed Darton and Lewis & Clark of Illinois meets North Idaho in Friday’s semifinals.