Because of AC Milan’s commitments at the Club World Cup in Japan, the deciding Group D matches in the UEFA Champions League have been moved up to Tuesday. For what’s at stake and the TV listings …
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I like the money, but of course teachers should get more than us. I’m not saying footballers should save the environment and change the NHS [National Health Service], but if we portrayed ourselves 15 percent better then it would help.”
— Longtime American English Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who has created a soccer self-help manual provisionally titled “Bling Free Zone.” (Times)
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Midweek action includes two European Champions League games; the Copa Sudamericana final between Mexico’s Club America and Argentina’s Arsenal, which won the first leg, 3-2; and the first leg of the Mexican League Apertura 2007 final between Atlante and UNAM Pumas.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Is MLS Ready for a Recession?
Sure, Major League Soccer is coming off its best-ever year, but how would an economic recession impact the league’s fortunes? MLS Commissioner Don Garber insists there’s no direct correlation between the country’s economic performance and consumer spending on sporting events and merchandise. USSoccerPlayers’ J Hutcherson is not so sure. Some people look at American sports […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan’s Unbelievable Home Slump
What has happened to European Champion AC Milan? The Rossoneri have yet to win a home game in Serie A this season and have failed to score a single goal at the San Siro since September. Saturday’s match vs. Juventus was yet another 0-0 draw, leaving Milan fans bemused as to how a side with […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Report: Mourinho Keen on England Job
Speculation is rife that former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho is so keen to take the England job that he’s already drafted a “blueprint” for English success, according to the Guardian. And he would be quite a popular choice, too: the British paper says there’s already “a groundswell of public support” for the Portuguese manager. The […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
UEFA Reveals New Match-Fixing Scandal
UEFA, the region’s governing body for the sport, revealed that it had handed over a list of 26 matches to Europol that may have been influenced by Asian betting syndicates. In a statement, UEFA said that an early warning system implemented several years ago to detect unusual betting patterns flagged several matches in the preliminary […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
England’s EPL Influence Continues to Fade
Whoever Steve McClaren’s England successor is, he will have to rebuild the team using players from a league whose English influence is diminishing. Amid controversy over a lack of English players in first-teams across the English Premier League, the Telegraph looks at the hard numbers, using the starting 11 from each EPL team over the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Americans face Man U
[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Fulham (with Americans Clint Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra) faces Manchester United on Monday (TV: Setanta USA, 2 pm ET). Over the weekend, West Ham’s Jonathan Spector played the last 11 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Chelsea, which scored in the 76th minute through Joe Cole. Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and midfielder Bobby Convey started in Reading’s 1-1 tie with Middlesbrough. One of the EPL’s American keepers celebrated a win.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Cherundolo tops in clash of Americans
[AMERICANS IN GERMANY]. Right back Steve Cherundolo made his 15th start of the season for Hannover 96 as it won, 3-0, at Hansa Rostock, for which Heath Pearce came on at halftime for his eighth appearance of the season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Season ends for Santos, Castillo against UNAM
[AMERICANS ABROAD] In the Mexican Apertura 2007 semifinals, Edgar Castillo again went the full 90 as Santos downed UNAM Pumas, 4-2, but was eliminated, 5-4, on aggregate.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham delivers in New Zealand
[VIDEO] The Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham, playing the full 90 minutes despite being obligated to go just 55 minutes in Saturday’s exhibition against Wellington Phoenix, helped set up three goals and scored from the penalty spot in a 4-1 win in front 31,853 fans in New Zealand.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I’ve got it signed, I want to frame it and keep it for my kids. Every kid in the world knows who David Beckham is and my kids are just the same.”
— Ross Aloisi, captain of New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix, in a good mood after his team’s 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy because he swapped jerseys with David Beckham. (The Dominion Post)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
DaMarcus Beasley sidelined for months
Glasgow Rangers’ American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley will be sidelined for months because of a knee injury that requires surgery. Beasley, 25, suffered ligament damage last Tuesday in a collision with VfB Stuttgart Raphael Schaefer in a Rangers’ 3-2 Champions League loss.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Kaka is runaway winner of 2007 Golden Ball
Brazilian Kaka was awarded the 2007 Golden Ball (Ballon d’Or) as the winner of the former European Player of the Year award.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Franklin Pierce and Tampa take NCAA D2 titles
After five women’s titles, Franklin Pierce finally won its first NCAA Division II men’s championship, and Tampa, winner of three men’s crowns, won its first women’s title at the 2007 Division II championships in Orange Beach, Ala.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
USC enters uncharted territory
[ELITE 8] In contrast to fellow semifinalists UCLA, Notre Dame and Florida State, which all played in last year’s Women’s College Cup, USC continued its trek through uncharted territory by posting a 1-0 win at West Virginia on Friday night that moved the Women of Troy to the final four for the first time.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Irish trio on song against Duke
[ELITE 8] The trio of Kerri Hanks, Brittany Bock and Michele Weissenhofer struggled for a good part of the 2007 season, but they have certainly lived up to their reputation as the nation’s premier forward trio in the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament. Hanks, Bock and Weissenhofer — who now have combined for 130 career goals and 97 assists — each scored for Notre Dame, which moved into the semifinals for the ninth time in the last 14 years with a 3-2 win over Duke Friday night.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Another Talonen hat trick leads ‘Noles past UConn
[ELITE 8] If you haven’t heard of Sanna Talonen, the Finnish frosh, before, you certainly have now. The 23-year-old Talonen, a member of Finland’s senior national team, sent Florida State to the Women’s College Cup for the third consecutive season and for the fourth time in five years with a hat trick in the Seminoles’ 3-2 win over Connecticut Friday night at the Seminole Soccer Complex.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Adams powers UCLA past Portland
[ELITE 8] No. 1 UCLA joined North Carolina and Massachusetts as the only teams to reach the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament five straight years when the Bruins outlasted Portland, 3-2, Friday night in a battle of West Coast powers.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Ohio State knocks off defending champ UCSB with late flurry
NCAA Division I Men’s Game Reports
Ohio State came back from two goals down to knock off defending champion UC Santa Barbara. Offensive explosions from No. 2 seed Wake Forest and No. 3 Connecticut sent them into the quarterfinals. Notre Dame returned to the final eight for the second straight year, while Virginia Tech, Massachusetts and UIC (thanks to a goal by Ian Sarachan, son of former Chicago Fire coach Dave Sarachan) booked their first tickets to the Elite 8.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Report: D.C. Veron Deal Imminent
According to Goal.com, Juan Sebastian Veron is on the cusp of sealing a move to D.C. United. Coach Tom Soehn and Technical Director Dave Kasper are reportedly in Buenos Aires right now, finalizing the deal. The Argentine playmaker has been linked with a move to the MLS club for months now, although Veron initially rebuffed […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Aims for Ronaldinho, Henry
David Beckham’s successful crossover to MLS could pave the way for the arrival of more stars — like Ronaldinho or Thierry Henry, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said yesterday at the Reuters Media Summit. Garber described Beckham as “a home run for us,” but was quick to point out that MLS needs to attract more talent […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Red Bull Praised for Keeping it Soccer-Specific
USSoccerPlayers’ J Hutcherson talks about the significance of Red Bull wanting to build Major League Soccer’s first “real” soccer-specific stadium. Several MLS teams have their own stadiums, but these are leased out for concerts and other events. According to managing director Marc de Grandpre, Red Bull wanted to move away from the multi-use approach championed […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Greeks Could Repeat as Euro Champs
Greece can’t seem to qualify for a World Cup, but the reigning European Champion absolutely cruised through Euro 2008 qualifying, and could be considered a favorite to retain that title in Austria and Switzerland next summer. The AP points out that Otto Rehhagel’s men achieved their impressive qualifying run with many of the same players […]