Chelsea’s Michael Essien scored one goal and set up the other to lead host Ghana to a 2-0 victory over Morocco Monday that gave the Black Stars first place in Group A at the African Nations Cup and knocked the Lions of Atlas out of the competition. Guinea tied Namibia, 1-1, in the other Group A finale to finish in second place and move into the quarterfinals along with Ghana.
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sundhage’s talent search continues
[U.S. WOMEN] Pia Sundhage is organizing a mega-camp beginning Friday at the Home Depot Center, the last chance for players to impress the new U.S. women’s national team coach before she gets down to the task of picking a squad to prepare for Olympic qualifying in the CONCACAF region to be held April 2-13 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Why U.S. investors are jumping at EPL clubs
Paul Kennedy on the EPL’s U.S. owners
[ENGLAND WATCH] Less startling than the news that yet another American group is buying an English Premier League club is the club it’s buying. With only seven points in its first 23 games, Derby County is doomed to relegation, yet Detroit-based sports management firm General Sports Entertainment purchased the Rams in a deal reported to be in the range of $100 million. Why would anyone pay $100 million for a last-place team? The explanation says a lot about why English soccer clubs are attractive to foreign investors …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. keeper Guzan Targeted by Aston Villa
The tug of war over Brad Guzan has gotten more interesting: according to Soccer By Ives. English Premier League club Aston Villa has lodged in a $4 million bid for the Chivas USA goalkeeper, surpassing a $2 million offer from Glasgow Celtic and matching the fee Manchester United paid for former MetroStars keeper Tim Howard […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Iraqi Officials Cry Foul over Star’s U.K. Work Permit Denial
The Los Angeles Times has a lengthy article on the misfortune of Iraqi soccer star Nashat Akram, one of his country’s most popular players, who was recently denied a work permit that would have allowed him to sign for Manchester City of the English Premier League. The news spread across Iraq on Saturday, angering the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Second-Tier MLS Players Headed Overseas, Too
Major League Soccer is looking outside of the U.S. to fill in the holes left by the move of American players to Europe. The likes of Kansas City’s Eddie Johnson (England), New England’s Pat Noonan (Norway) and Houston’s Nate Jaqua (Austria) have all sought better opportunities across the Atlantic this month. Meanwhile, Latino-friendly D.C. United […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
American Sports Firm Buys Derby County
The Detroit-based sports management firm General Sports and Entertainment on Monday was confirmed as the new owner of English Premier League club Derby County. Derby becomes the fourth EPL club with American ownership after Manchester United, Liverpool, and Aston Villa. Derby was promoted to the Premiership this season, but has only managed one victory in […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Midweek action includes the Copa Libertadores, Spanish Cup, Italian Cup and league games from England and Argentina.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Houston’s Nate Jaqua set for Austrian league
[MLS MOVES] MLS champion Houston is set to lose another attacker to the Austrian league. Following Joseph Ngwenya‘s move to SK Austria Karnten, Nate Jaqua is set to join SCR Altach pending what its coach Heinz Fuchsbichler calls settling some minor contract details.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Michael Bradley sets scoring record; Rossi strikes against Real Madrid
[AMERICANS ABROAD/VIDEO]. Michael Bradley scored in his fourth straight game for Dutch club Heerenveen, striking twice in a 3-0 win over De Graafschap. The double strike gives the 20-year-old Bradley 11 league goals this season, breaking the record for goals in a season by an American-born and -bred player in a European first division, which had been set by Eric Wynalda at German club Saarbruecken in 1992-93 and Brian McBride at Fulham last season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Pato is very young and we, the team and the coaching staff, need to look after him to keep him relaxed. He’s an intelligent kid, but it can be very dangerous to be that famous at his age.”
— Dutch player Clarence Seedorf, trying to downplay 18-year-old Pato‘s impact after the Brazilian scored two goals in AC Milan’s 2-0 win over Genoa on Sunday to give him three goals in his first four Serie A games. (AFP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Thieves add to City’s misery
[OFF THE POST] Sunday was a bad day for Manchester City and its players. Not only did the Premier League club lose to second-level Sheffield United, 2-1, in the English FA Cup, but its players and staff returned to their locker room at United’s Bramall Lane to discover it had been ransacked.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
DiCicco returns as U-20 women’s coach
[U.S. WOMEN] Tony DiCicco, who coached the USA to the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics and first place at the 1999 Women’s World Cup, has rejoined the U.S. women’s national team program as head coach of the under-20 team.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mali Man Sought to Manipulate Benin Match
A match-fixing scandal surfaced at the African Cup of Nations on Thursday, as Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch revealed that a Malian man had asked him if there was any possibility of manipulating the outcome of Benin’s Group B match against Mali. “I told him, ‘Look, you have two minutes to leave the hotel or I […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Figo Ponders Retirement
Inter Milan winger Luis Figo has been linked with a possible move to Major League Soccer, but the 35-year-old on Thursday revealed that he might choose to retire instead. The Portugal legend is currently recovering from a broken leg suffered in early November, and is believed to be close to regaining fitness. “Right now, what […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Whither Christian Gomez?
If, as expected, Marcelo Gallardo signs for D.C. United, then Christian Gomez’s days in the nation’s capitol are numbered. Gomez is believed to be entertaining offers from abroad, but blogger Ives Galarcep believes the 33-year-old could resign with MLS and then move on via trade. Where would he end up? Should he decide to stay […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Liverpool Order Restored, For Now
The dust is now settling after Liverpool officials declared a ceasefire on Friday, ending weeks of uncertainty over the club’s future. American sports moguls Tom Hicks and George Gillett will remain Liverpool’s owners following the approval of a new refinancing package, which allowed them to unveil plans for a new $600 million stadium at Stanley […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Serious Kudos for Brad Friedel
Brad Friedel is in fantastic form for Blackburn Rovers again this season, but no, he’s not interested in returning to the U.S. national team. “I had unbelievable times, to say the least, and I loved every minute of international football,” he tells ESPN, “but I also don’t regret for one second the day that I […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Olympic Quest: Player selection down to wire
[ROSTER] Coach Peter Nowak has called in 23 players for the second training camp of the U-23 men’s national team that will aim to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, when the team can add three wild-card (over-23) players. The training camp takes Jan. 26 – Feb. 2 in at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA preps for Mexico clash
[ROSTER] U.S. coach Bob Bradley has called in a 21-man squad to train for the USA’s Feb. 6 friendly against Mexico in Houston. More than 43,000 tickets have already been sold for the game at Reliant Stadium (capacity 71,000). The only foreign-based players on the initial roster are five who play or have recently signed with Scandinavian leagues, which are on winter break. Other European-based players are expected to arrive after their league play on the weekend before the Mexico game.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ex-player Agogo leads Ghana past Namibia
[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP] Almost six years after he was waived out MLS, Junior Agogo emerged on the international stage, scoring the only goal in host Ghana’s unconvincing 1-0 win over Namibia Thursday at the African Nations Cup in Accra
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Offseason Player Moves
For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“In Italy the referee whistles as soon as a defender brushes against you. In the Premier League you don’t get a free kick even if the defender runs you over with a tank.”
— Italian forward Rolando Bianchi, who is leaving Manchester City for Serie A club Lazio after a six-month stint. (Reuters)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend TV Schedule
The English FA Cup moves into the fourth round. The top matchup features Manchester United against Tottenham on Sunday. In Spain, leader Real Madrid hosts third-place Villarreal with Italian-American Giuseppe Rossi on Sunday. For all the weekend international action …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Most Important MLS Off-Season Moves
MLSNet writer Jeff Bradley recounts the 11 most important trades of the MLS offseason so far. They are, from least to most important according to Bradley: Jim Curtin, Chicago to Chivas USA, Jason Hernandez, Chivas USA to San Jose, Bobby Boswell, D.C. United to Houston, Jose Burciaga Jr., Kansas City to Colorado, Ivan Guerrero, Chicago […]