Author Archives: Soccer America

The seven inaugural teams in Women’s Professional Soccer, set to launch next year, will next month each be allocated three U.S. national team players, according to WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci.   “It is not a draft,” writes Steven Goff at his Washington Post soccer blog, “rather the players have selected their preferences and the league […]

Manchester City is persisting in its bid to sign Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho with an offer that would bring his salary close to $400,000 per week, making him the best-paid player in the world.   “Extensive talks over the weekend concluded with Ronaldinho mulling over a contract,” reports The Guardian. The rumored salary “would smash City’s […]

At the other end of the fan behavior spectrum, there were 157 arrests in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt over the weekend as Germany met Poland in the first round of the European Nations’ Cup. Reporting from the city, Jason Burt blames the liberal availability of alcohol.   He writes that many more would have […]

After all the publicity surrounding the behavior of fan groups at the Columbus Crew’s northeast corner, and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber’s statement last week that the throwing of streamers and confetti will be “kept under review,” Bob Hunter spent an evening with the Hudson Street Hooligans, Crew Union and La Turbina supporters’ groups. […]

After four years of hype and varying levels of achievement, Freddy Adu’s performances against Spain and Argentina have prompted Brian Lewis to wonder if this has been the week when “Adu began to realize his vast potential.”   “The 19-year-old midfielder always showed flashes before,” writes Lewis. “Little hints and clues as to what he […]

The Houston Dynamo’s trip to Washington wasn’t a complete loss. A day after its game against D.C. United was washed out, the Dynamo players and staff visited the White House. For the second year in a row, President George Bush honored the Dynamo as MLS champion. “It is the coolest honor I can think of […]

The European Championship, which kicks off on Saturday, will generate a record income of $2 billion — an increase of 50 percent from 2004 revenues. “The sums from TV rights and sponsors are much bigger than the sums generated from ticketing,” said UEFA general secretary David Taylor. “Considerable sums are now also being generated by […]

Italy’s Marco Materazzi, best known for his insult that provoked France’s Zinedine Zidane to head-butt him in the chest at the 2006 World Cup final, can’t escape his critics. The 34-year-old defender evoked the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy in taking a swipe at those who questioned his character. “I think it was Kennedy […]

On the orders of Portugal Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t talking about his future plans, but Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, expects him to stay at Manchester United for now. “He’s fine where he is,” she told Portuguese TV station TV1. “Only God knows the future, but what is certain is that he’ll stay […]

The USA heads from the frying pan into the fire. After losses at England (2-0) and Spain (1-0), the USA returns home to face Argentina Sunday at Giants Stadium (TV: ESPN Classic, Galavision, live, 7:30 pm ET). The Argentines are ranked No. 1 in the latest FIFA rankings and are coming off a 4-1 victory […]

While the European Championship kicks off this weekend, World Cup 2010 qualifying continues in Asia, where Iraq and Iran play critical matches. Iraq faces Australia in Dubai, while Iran — without a competitive victory in almost a year  — travels to Al Ain to play the Group 5 leader United Arab Emirates. New Iran coach […]

What was for many years an event seen by only a handful of Americans on pay-per-view television will be available in its entirety on the ESPN family of networks. As part of its expanded commitment to soccer, the ESPN networks will broadcast all 31 European Championship matches, beginning Saturday and going through June 29 when […]