England struggled to snatch a tie in a friendly at home to the Czech Republic, but the eternally optimistic David Beckham believes his country is building up well to the start of World Cup qualifying. “You’ve got to believe it,” he said. Indeed you do.
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Georgia Beat Weakened Wales
Georgia may be embroiled in a violent geo-political conflict with Russia, but at least its soccer side managed a win, albeit against a struggling Wales team in an exhibition game.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Johnson Set For Year’s Loan To Cardiff
Benched Fulham striker Eddie Johnson is to go on loan to Championship side Cardiff City for a year.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Dynamo On A Roll
“They are hot. They are healthy. They are rolling. They’re all that and then some,” writes Bernardo Fallas after watching the Houston Dynamo crush injury-hit Chivas USA with four first-half goals. Recent signing Kei Kamara scored twice “in what turned out to be a 4-0 rout of a Chivas USA team so depleted it could […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Warren’s Wait For A Win Finally Over
New England Revolution goalkeeper Doug Warren has been waiting a long time. Not just to get some Major League Soccer playing time ahead of first choice keeper Matt Reis, but to record an MLS win too. Keeping sticks for the Revs Wednesday in a 2-1 win over D.C. United, he finally managed both. Former United […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bolt Not The Only Jamaican Achiever
While Jamaicans were celebrating Usain Bolt’s sprint gold medals at the Olympics, its soccer players embarked upon the semifinal stage of the country’s World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-1 tie in Canada. “We proved that [Jamaicans] are not only good at the 100 and 200 meters but at [soccer] as well,” joked Jamaican coach […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
USA Win All About The Fight And The Result
The USA’s World Cup semifinal qualifying round victory Wednesday will take no awards for beauty, but the result and the three points will more than compensate for the beautiful game’s absence in Guatemala City. All the talk post-game was about hard work and cohesiveness. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy one way or […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Refreshing The Rapids
There was a spring in the step of the Colorado Rapids’ players at training Wednesday following the “mutually amicable agreement” that lead to the departure of coach Fernando Clavijo, reports Brian Forbes. With interim coach Gary Smith in charge, the players “were physical, competitive and vocal.” “I’ve been in the situation three or four times, […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Young Seminoles regroup without Yamaguchi
[PRESEASON NO. 5] Losing players to the pros before their eligibility expires is common for major men’s programs. But Hermann Trophy winner Mami Yamaguchi’s decision to leave Florida State to play for Sweden’s Umea was a surprise. Even without the Japan international, the Seminoles have the talent to return to the College Cup for a fourth straight year.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Depth in numbers
[PRESEASON NOS. 6-25] After the big five is a quintet of women’s programs — Stanford, Virginia, Portland, Penn State and West Virginia — that have their sights set on reaching the 2008 Women’s College Cup in Cary, N.C.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Trio leads Notre Dame attack
[PRESEASON NO. 4] With the trio of Kerri Hanks, Brittany Bock and Michele Weissenhofer, Notre Dame again has the most dangerous threesome in women’s college soccer.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
UCLA becomes a College Cup regular
[PRESEASON NO. 3] UCLA’s 2007 postseason brought the disappointment of another Women’s College Cup collapse, but the Bruins, led by Olympians Lauren Cheney (USA) and Kara Lang (Canada), should return to the final four for a sixth straight year.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Carolina is loaded with national team talent
[PRESEASON NO. 2] It’s easy to forget just how young North Carolina’s 2006 national championship team was. Eight starters from that championship team return in 2008, including Olympian Tobin Heath and Casey Nogueira, one of four Tar Heels who represented the USA this summer in U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
College Soccer Reporter resumes daily frequency
MEMBER ALERT. Soccer America’s College Soccer Reporter today resumes its daily (Monday-Friday) frequency during the college season. Friday’s edition will feature the Soccer America Women’s Preseason All-American selections. The Soccer America Men’s Preseason Top 25 will appear next Tuesday, while the Men’s Preseason All-American selections will appear next Wednesday.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Women’s Preseason Top 25
Defending national champion USC is ranked No. 1 in the Soccer America Women’s Preseason Top 25 rankings. North Carolina, the 2006 national champion, is ranked No. 2. The race for the top spot begins on Friday when the 2008 women’s college season kicks off. For all the Top 25 preseason rankings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Revs rebound; Dynamo thumps Chivas USA
[MLS RESULTS/SCHEDULE] For the second time in a week, the Houston Dynamo scored four goals in the first half. On Wednesday, the two-time defending champ followed up on Saturday’s 4-3 win over Real Salt Lake with a 4-0 victory over Chivas USA. Also on Wednesday, New England reclaimed first place in the East with a 2-1 win over D.C. United. On Thursday night, Coach Bruce Arena makes his Galaxy debut when L.A. hosts the Chicago Fire (TV: ESPN2). For Wednesday’s game summaries, standings, leading scorers and this week’s MLS TV Schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Onstad own goal blows it for Canada; comeback win for Mexico
[WORLD CUP 2010] Pavel Pardo scored two late goals to lead Mexico to a 2-1 comeback win over Honduras. Canada is already in trouble after tying at home with Jamaica because of an own goal by its MLS keeper. Suriname had a 2-0 lead until squandering it in the waning minutes against Haiti. The Ticos and Soca Warriors fared well.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It was a very hard fought game, and for us a hard earned three points. The win is based more on the determination of our team. Sometimes it’s necessary to win games in that way. It was a game where we relied on the effort, team spirit, and the mentality of the group. … We have played some tough games in the last year, but none of them are qualifiers. To experience it and to win in that fashion is good for the group.”
— U.S. coach Bob Bradley on the USA’s 1-0 win at Guatemala in its first game of the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying. Forty fouls were committed and each team had a played ejected.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Friendly Results
International play resumed with Europe’s top teams all in action in friendly action on Wednesday. Euro ’08 champion Spain was playing its first game under Vicente Del Bosque, while Italy and Portugal both welcomed back former coaches. For all the results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Special Edition: U.S. Olympic Soccer
MEMBERSHIP ALERT: A special edition will appear later Thursday with coverage of the USA-Brazil women’s gold-medal game, so look for this e-newsletter from Soccer America’s editors. For fans not wishing to read our coverage until after they have watched the game, the subject line of these e-letters will begin “Special Olympic Edition.”
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: Refs’ Difficult Job Made Harder
As U.S. Soccer works on improving the nation’s refs, their job isn’t made any easier by coaches, parents and TV commentators.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Premier League Transfers In Full
Forget the rumors, here’s a comprehensive list of all the Premier League transfers that have taken place this summer.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Shevchenko Back To Milan?
Chelsea’s Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko is set to end his unsettled two-year spell in London with a one-year loan move to his previous club, AC Milan.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Testing Time Ahead For Men’s Olympic Soccer
George Gorecki examines the future of men’s soccer as an Olympic event.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Dunga’s Brazil Future In Doubt
Will Dunga keep his job after Brazil’s Olympic semifinal mauling to South American rivals Argentina?