Author Archives: Soccer America

Luis Bueno of the Press Enterprise doesn’t think the Pan Pacific Championship will live past its inaugural season. Not in Hawaii, anyway. While the four-game tournament provided plenty of action and plenty of goals, attendance was abysmal. Saturday’s doubleheader, which pitted David Beckham the L.A. Galaxy against Sydney FC, and J-League cup holder Gamba Osaka […]

Red Bulls Still Have Holes to Fill

Years of disappointment have left New York Red Bulls fans wondering what’s taking the team so long to fill in the holes left by the off-season departure of so many of its former players. That tension reached a boiling point last week when the Bulls traded defensive midfielder and long time starter Dema Kovalenko to […]

Kinnear Reflects on Osaka Defeat

The Houston Chronicle’s Bernardo Fallas says there are lessons to be learned from the Dynamo’s 6-1 hammering by Gamba Osaka in the Pan-Pacific Championship final. Coach Dominic Kinnear, who’s not used to being beaten so comprehensively, reflected on the blowout loss. “The defeat opened our eyes,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of guys […]

Hicks Denies Liverpool Sale, Again

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks was again prompted to respond to allegations that he planned on selling his 50 percent stake in the club to Arab investment group Dubai International Capital. The Texas billionaire called the media speculation “absolutely and categorically false,” although ESPN implies that the statement, issued by Hicks on Tuesday, is a cover-up […]

Dempsey, Fulham ‘Upbeat’ About Relegation Situation

ESPN’s Ravi Ubha speaks with Clint Dempsey about the worrying relegation situation at 19th place Fulham FC, which has been nicknamed “Team America” for the five Americans on its roster. Dempsey has been one of the better and more consistent performers at Craven Cottage this season, leading the team in scoring six goals. Nevertheless, a […]

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Results

The Chicago Fire’s youth teams and powerhouse Chicago Magic both went 3-0-1 against the Concorde Fire and AFC Lightning on their trip to Atlanta last weekend. For all the U.S. Soccer Development Academy results and goal scorers …

Soccer Job Openings

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. Besides college coaching opportunities, this week’s listings include an opening for U.S. Soccer Foundation president and three management positions at the United Soccer Leagues.

Adu, Feilhaber head U.S. Olympic qualifying roster

[ROSTER] Ten players who have played for the full national team, including Freddy Adu and Benny Feilhaber, are in the 24-man roster Coach Peter Nowak has named to enter the U-23 national team training camp to prepare for Olympic qualifying play.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“There are players … who aim only to stop opponents with unfair means. I see too much hacking, tripping and pushing in the Bundesliga. There should be a blacklist of players who intentionally don’t go for the ball but for the calf of their opponent. Such attacks are more damaging to the game than the outbursts of rage from those who have been fouled.”

— German national team coach Joachim Loew. (Focus)

Guzan Reflects on Failed Transfer

Brad Guzan returned to the U.S. a disappointed but not necessarily dejected goalkeeper on the day he was denied a work permit that allow him to complete a $4 million transfer from Chivas USA of MLS to Aston Villa of the English Premier League. “I remember sitting on the plane on the way back thinking […]

Ferguson: Goal Difference Worth an Extra Point

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says that goal difference could be crucial in determining the fate of the EPL title. Good thing the Red Devils thumped Newcastle 5-1 this weekend, a result that moved them four goals ahead of league leader Arsenal on goal differential. “We’re scoring a lot of goals and, you never […]

Infighting Escalates at Chelsea

The Associated Press reports of serious infighting at Chelsea Football Club following the English Premier League giant’s loss to Tottenham in the Carling Cup final last weekend. According to the report, the Blues squad was split by “jealousies and unhappiness” over the coaching staff’s preparations for the final, which ended in a 2-1 defeat. Several […]

Eduardo Injury Cripples Croatia’s Euro 2008 Hopes

The Guardian’s Jonathan Wilson agrees with Croatia’s newspapers that without Eduardo Croatia do not stand a chance of winning Euro 2008. After ending England’s bid to qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland, Croatia had become everyone’s favorite dark horse to pull off the unthinkable — just as Greece did in Portugal four years […]

D.C., Red Bulls Lose Philadelphia-Area Fans

Philadelphia soccer fans will have some choosing to do when MLS announces the City of Brotherly Love as its 16th franchise, as expected on Thursday, says ESPN writer Ives Galarcep. Philadelphia has always been a soccer-rich area, producing such quality players as Reading’s Bobby Convey, New England’s Chris Albright and Jeff Parke and Jon Conway […]

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

Midweek action includes an Italian Serie A clash in which Roma can keep its title hopes alive with a win over leader Inter Milan. There’s also Libertadores Cup action and domestic cup matchups in Spain and Germany.

Real gaffe against Getafe [VIDEO]

[OFF THE POST] Real Madrid’s grasp on the Spanish La Liga lead loosened with Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Getafe, which scored while Real Madrid players celebrated what they thought was a goal of their own. “They have scored a goal against us like in a match for 4-year-olds,” Real midfielder Guti said. “We can’t afford to lose games in this way.”

‘Lion-hearted cobra’ Jaqua starts scoring streak in Austria

[AMERICANS ABROAD]. Oregon product Nate Jaqua, who joined Altach last month from the Houston Dynamo, has scored in each of his first two games for the Austrian First Division struggler. Jaqua’s second goal was an 88th minute gamewinner.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“Taylor’s brutal start [to the game] destroyed the ambition of a small but great soccer nation to hope for a European title.”

— From an editorial in the Croatian daily Jutarnji List on the Martin Taylor foul that broke the leg of Brazilian-born Croatian national team striker Eduardo in last weekend’s Arsenal-Birmingham game. Arsenal striker Eduardo, who turned 25 on Monday, moved to Croatia as a 16-year-old and was instrumental in its successful qualifying campaign, during which it knocked out England, for the 2008 European Championship. (Reuters)

Iraq drops Olsen after one qualifier

[IRAQ] Norwegian Egil Olsen lasted all of one World Cup qualifier as coach of Iraq’s national team, the reigning Asian champion.

MLS Offseason Player Moves

In deals already finalized, MLS clubs have signed 16 foreigners: four from Argentina and Colombia and one each from Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Scotland and Switzerland. For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …

USA to face Mexico and Jamaica in Olympic women’s qualifying

[DATEBOOK] The USA was drawn into Group A along with Jamaica and Mexico for 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament that will take place April 2-12 at the Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Ramos Recalls Mourinho in Carling Cup Glory

by Soccer AmericaFebruary 25, 2008

“Never in recent memory has the Carling Cup made a group of supporters so absurdly happy as it did Tottenham’s yesterday,” writes Sam Wallace of the Independent. Why, because Tottenham supporters have reason to believe that yesterday’s 2-1 triumph against Chelsea is the sign of many things to come from Juande Ramos, the former Sevilla […]

Real Punished in Extraordinary Circumstances

by Soccer AmericaFebruary 25, 2008

Another lackluster performance, another loss for Real Madrid, although this one came in rather extraordinary circumstances, it must be said. Getafe won with a single goal that came as the Spanish champions were celebrating a goal that had been called offside. While most of the team was saluting supporters in the stands, Getafe restarted play […]