Russia were outplayed, 4-1, by Spain in the opening game of the European Championships, but no one will be expecting a similar result in Thursday’s semifinal rematch. In contrast to Spain, who looked tired and lacking in ideas against Italy in their quarterfinal, Russia appears to be hitting its stride just at the right time, […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Dropped Scurry Keeping Focus
The long-running saga of the goalkeeping spot on the U.S. women’s national team took its latest turn Tuesday when Briana Scurry was only named as back-up to the Olympic roster, behind Hope Solo and Nicole Barnhart. But Scurry says she’ll be going to China anyway, the only one of four alternates doing so, in order […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships
Four defending champions — the U-18 Andromeda boys, U-16 Lonestars Red boys and U-15 CASL Elite boys and the U-17 Dallas Texans Red girls — moved into the finals at the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships with semifinal wins on Tuesday. For all the semifinal results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
LDU aims to make history for Ecuador
Ecuador’s LDU Quito hosts Brazil’s Fluminense in first-leg of the Copa Libertadores final on Wednesday (Fox Sports en Espanol, 8:30 pm ET). LDU Quito aims to become the first Ecuadorian club to lift the title. Fluminenses, in the final for the first time, would become the 14th Brazil club to take the title since the competition’s inception in 1960.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships
MLS clubs Kansas City, Chicago and Columbus (its Grand Rapids affiliate) all had youth teams advance to the boys finals at the US Youth Soccer Region II Championships in Rockford, Ill. Minnesota boarding school Shattuck-St. Mary had its U-18 boys won its semifinal match on Tuesday. On the girls side, Eclipse Select, the No. 1 team in the Soccer America Girls Top 25, went 3-3 in semifinal play — three teams moved on to the finals and three others lost. For all the semifinal results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sounders romp in Open Cup action
[U.S. OPEN CUP] The defending USL First Division champion Seattle Sounders moved into the third round of the U.S. Open Cup with a 6-0 win over Hollywood United. The only USL-2 teams still alive are the Richmond Kickers and Cleveland City Stars. For all Tuesday’s results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“He could come on toward the end as a substitute, as the last man in defense, or as a center forward.”
— Turkey coach Fatih Terim jokes that he might use goalkeeper Tolga Zengin as a field player in Wednesday’s Euro 2008 semifinal against Germany because Turkey has lost nine players to injuries and suspensions and is down to 14 men. Among those missing with injuries are captain Nihat Kahveci, who scored twice in the 3-2 comeback win over the Czech Republic. (The Times)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. This week’s positions include U.S. Soccer’s Director of Coaching Education. They also include college coaching and youth soccer opportunities.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
All Quiet On The Korean Front
North played South Korea in Seoul in a World Cup qualifier at the weekend, but with both teams already qualified for the next round, there was nothing at stake and the game ended 0-0. Perhaps more importantly, there were no diplomatic incidents. North Korea’s striker Jong Tae-Se, christened the ‘North Korean Wayne Rooney’ by […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
‘Brave Changes’ Helped T&T Past Bermuda
Trinidad & Tobago’s Colombian coach, Francisco Maturana, might have been advised to head straight back to South America if he hadn’t steered the Caribbean nation past Bermuda in Sunday’s second leg of their World Cup qualifying second-round series. As it turned out, his team overturned the shock first-leg 2-1 deficit with a comfortable 2-0 road […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
European Agents Using MLS As A Bargaining Chip
Did anyone pay too much heed to last week’s story that Ronaldinho may, at some point, have been negotiating a multi-million dollar deal with the LA Galaxy? As Greg Lalas writes, “the whole episode smacked of agent-team gamesmanship.” The reported possible $50 million a year deal for the 28-year-old Brazilian was “simply too symmetrical” […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Turkey’s Englishman Pinpoints Lack Of Home Technique
With England having failed to qualify for Euro 2008, its press has been eager to pick up on any stories with an English connection. One has been Big Phil’s move from Portugal to Chelsea, announced mid-tournament. Another has been the progress of Turkey’s adopted Englishman, Colin Kazim-Richards, whose roster selection was aided by a Turkish-Cypriot […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Don’t Call Me ‘Big Phil’
Nicknames have been a part of sports for as long as balls have been thrown, hit or kicked. In Philip Roth’s Great American Novel, about a traveling baseball team, one novice player begs to have a nickname so that he can feel truly accepted among the senior players. Much to his fury, they oblige by […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘Since you beat us, join us’
[REF WATCH/EURO 2008] After English referee Howard Webb‘s stoppage time penalty-kick call against Poland yielded death threats blamed on a provocative statement from Poland’s Prime Minister, some Polish fans responded more civilly. They’ve started a drive to grant Webb Polish citizenship, which would disqualify him from ever reffing a Poland game again.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Is nothing sacred in Sao Paulo?
[OFF THE POST] Gun-point robberies are no rarity in Sao Paulo, whose crime situation is deemed “critical” by the Overseas Security Advisory and a majority of residents say they don’t feel safe when walking the streets. Even O Rei Pele – three-time world champion and an officially declared national treasure of Brazil – has fallen victim. In an incident made public on Sunday, Pele waited at a congested traffic light in the passenger seat of his car as 10 masked youths, armed with guns and pocket-knives, demanded he turn over his possessions.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships
Action continued Monday at the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships in Raleigh and Wilson, N.C., where quarterfinals took place in 10 divisions. Three boys teams and two girls teams from the local CASL program moved into the semifinals. Three boys teams and two girls teams from Dallas Texans Red also are still alive. For all the quarterfinal results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships
Tuesday’s semifinal pairings at the US Youth Soccer Region II Championships in Rockford, Ill., include an U-19 showdown between youth teams representing MLS clubs Chicago and Kansas City. Scott Gallagher leads all boys clubs with five teams in the semifinals. On the girls side, Eclipse Select, the No. 1 team in the Soccer America Girls Top 25, has six teams still alive. FC Milwaukee Blue has six teams — two boys and four girls — in the semifinals. For all the semifinal pairings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I am empty and tired. I need some time off, must recharge the batteries. Chapter closed, mission accomplished.”
— Austria coach Josef Hickersberger quit as Austria coach with six months left on his contract after accomplishing a first-round exit as host of Euro 2008. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Euro 2008 moves into the semifinal phase in the midweek and concludes with the final on Sunday. The first leg of the Copa Libertadores final is on Wednesday. In MLS’s Thursday night game, Houston hosts FC Dallas.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
South Africa Out Of Next African Nations Cup
Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland and Austria were ill-equipped to compete with Europe’s best teams and were deservedly dumped out in the first round. It’s continuing to look as though 2010 World Cup host South Africa will suffer the same fate. South Africa will not participate in the next African Nations’ Cup, due to take […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Galaxy Still The Entertainers
There were mainly low-scoring games in Major League Soccer this past week (only three out of nine games produced more than two goals), but the L.A. Galaxy, the league’s top scorers with 31 goals, continued to buck the trend by putting three past the Columbus Crew. It also conceded three to share the points, with […]