Author Archives: Soccer America

Soccer tournaments are one of the key vehicles for reaching America’s soccer player “masses.”

Becks’ Biggest Losers Are in L.A.

After being suspended for a bit, the David Beckham No Show has returned, for as long as six weeks this time, which means plenty of people are feeling pretty sorry for themselves right about now. Who should you feel sorriest for? Mark Ziegler of The San Diego Union-Tribune says the Galaxy’s season ticket holders are […]

Report: Becks Might Seek to Go Back to England

Becks may be looking for a loan deal that would return him to the English Premiership in the months leading up to the Euro 2008 Championships in Austria and Switzerland. According to the London Daily Express, the England midfielder might be willing to sacrifice some of his earnings in order to do so. Galaxy GM […]

Injury-Riddled England Receives Some Good News

England heads into its must-win Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on Saturday with a long list of missing regulars: Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Gary Neville, David Beckham and Kieron Dyer all cannot play, while Steven Gerrard, John Terry, and Owen Hargreaves are all struggling to reach full fitness ahead of Saturday’s crucial match at Wembley. […]

The Case for St. Louis

In general, USSoccerPlayers’ Kevin McGeehan is opposed to the idea of Major League Soccer expanding into mid-size markets like Kansas City and Columbus. Why? Because “the American game is at its strongest in a handful of major cities around the league, such as Washington, Toronto and Los Angeles.” Big cities mean more people, more Latino […]

AEG Sells Fire to L.A. Investment Group

The Chicago Fire has been sold to a private investment group from L.A. for the estimated price of $30 million, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Andell Holdings now becomes the sole owner of the club, having purchased it from Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of the L.A. Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo. Last year, AEG sold […]

Story, Youth Soccer Insider

Buying the Right Cleat for Your Foot

The temptation as a parent purchasing cleats for a growing child with a growing foot is to buy cleats that are a bit too large, thinking that your child will “grow into them” and thereby save you some money in not having to buy another pair too soon.

How do you say ‘Woo pig sooie’ in Spanish?

It reflects a sign of the changing demographics in Arkansas: college soccer being carried on Spanish-language radio. After a year on La Tremenda, Spanish-language broadcasts of the University of Arkansas women’s team has moved to ESPN Deportes, La Maquina 1590 AM in Springdale.

Big East women’s teams Rutgers and Louisville remain perfect with comeback wins

[WEDNESDAY ACTION] Rutgers and Louisville, two of four ranked Big East women’s teams, improved to 3-0-0 with comeback wins on Wednesday. No. 24 Long Beach State fell for the first time when it lost at Wake Forest, 1-0.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“Yes, for your country, you’ve got to haven’t you? Previous players have before. You would do anything to play for your country. I have never played with a painkilling injection but everyone is their own person and if they want to do it then it is up to them.”

— England defender Micah Richards joins the debate on whether midfielder Steven Gerrard should take a needle so he can play on a broken toe in England’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on Saturday. (Reuters)

Spanish Federation nixes Catalonia-USA friendly

The USA’s Oct. 14 friendly against Catalonia, has been vetoed by the Spanish soccer federation. “There’s an agreement between clubs and the league that all games played by autonomous selections have to be played during Christmas holidays since it doesn’t leave the clubs in a tough spot and the players don’t risk injury,” federation spokesman Jorge Carretero said. The friendly between the USA and Catalonia would have fallen between Spain’s Euro 2008 qualifier at Denmark on Oct. 13 and a friendly against Finland in Helsinki on Oct. 17.

No jail for drunk Danish field invader

The inebriated Danish fan who stormed the field and attacked referee Herbert Fandel during a European Championship qualifier in June will have to perform 40 hours of community service but his 30-day prison sentence for attempted assault and illegal entry is suspended because the court said he had already suffered significant consequences after the assault. Denmark was tied, 3-3, against Sweden when the fan rushed the field and attempted to punch Fandel. The game was abandoned and Sweden was awarded a 3-0 win.

U.S. Player of the Year finalists: Bocanegra, Donovan, Howard

Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard are the three finalists for the 2007 Honda U.S. Player of the Year Award, which is selected by U.S. journalists.

Zavagnin replaces Mastroeni on U.S. roster

Kansas City Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin, who last played for the USA in the 4-1 loss to Germany on March 22, 2006, has been called in to the U.S. roster for Sunday’s friendly against Brazil to replace Pablo Mastroeni, who is ill.

OFF THE POST: Couch potato soccer

[VIDEO] The European Commission and UEFA have created an anti-obesity public-service commercial to air more than 2,000 times during halftime of Champions League games. The ad featuring armchair-bound soccer players is expected to reach up to 100 million viewers.

W-League products at the Women’s World Cup

[MAKING A LIST] There are 54 current or former W-League players representing nine teams at the 2007 Women’s World Cup that will kickoff Monday.

The entire Canadian team has played in the W-League, and 13 members of the U.S. team have experience in the W-League. Other nations with W-League representatives headed to the tournament are Australia (6 players), Ghana (4), New Zealand (2), Japan (1) and Norway (1).

Four players headed to China less than two months after the conclusion of their club play in the W-League are Jodi-Ann Robinson and Sophie Schmidt of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Jersey Sky Blue’s Formiga (Brazil) and Ottawa Fury’s Faye White (England).

Spain reaches U-17 World Cup final

[U-17 WORLD CUP SCOREBOARD/VIDEO]. Spain beat Ghana, 2-1, on an overtime goal by Bojan Krkic to reach the U-17 World Cup final, in which it will meet the winner of the Nigeria-Germany semifinal. But Krkic, who is on the verge of cracking Barcelona’s first team, was ejected for a second yellow card late in the game and will miss the final.

Francesco Coco to MLS?

Unwanted Inter Milan defender Francesco Coco is being tipped with a move to MLS once the transfer window opens in January, according to reports in Italy. Coco, a veteran of Italy’s 2002 World Cup campaign, is being linked with a possible move to either the New England Revolution or the New York Red Bulls. Inter […]

Zimbabwe Looking to Cash in on 2010

South Africa neighbor Zimbabwe is another country that expects a tourism windfall from the 2010 World Cup. As such, a delegation of FIFA officials has been sent to the African nation to assess its capacity to host visitors and national team training camps before the tournament. In a statement, Karikoga Kaseke, CEO of the Zimbabwe […]

Beckerman, RSL Bounce Back

The 1999 U.S. U-17 national team was loaded with future senior team stars like Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Oguchi Onyewu and Bobby Convey. Real Salt Lake’s Kyle Beckerman isn’t often mentioned in the same breath as these guys, but if recent performances are anything to go by, he may soon be, says ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle. […]

Becks Blasts Critics as Fergie Doubts His Success

David Beckham is injured for most of the rest of the Major League Soccer season, and the critics are once again out in full force against the former England captain’s decision to come to America. Among them is his former coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, who believes that Beckham’s pilgrimage to the States will be fruitless […]

Men’s & Women’s Small College Rankings

Messiah lost for the first time on the road in four years when it fell to Greensboro College, 1-0, on a goal by Eric Hatchett Friday at the CNU Classic. Trinity (Texas) climbed from the No. 12 spot to take over as the No. 1 team in the NCAA Men’s Division III rankings. Metro State fell from the top spot in the NCAA Women’s Division II Top 25 when Winona State’s Heidi Woerle converted a penalty kick in the 41st minute to give the Warriors a 1-0 win on Saturday afternoon. Grand Valley State moved from No. 2 to No. 1. For complete NSCAA/adidas small college rankings …

Freshmen remain hot for South Carolina