By Paul Kennedy A match against tiny Andorra Wednesday in Euro 2008 qualifying should put an end to England’s scoring drought, but a big win will hardly lessen the pressure on embattled England coach Steve McClaren. The Football Association offered its support Tuesday to McClaren, who has taken the brunt of the criticism for England’s […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
6. MLS COUNTDOWN: Columbus has nowhere to go but up
By Ridge Mahoney The worst team in the league last year has a lot of ground to make up if it is to reach the playoffs after missing them in 2005 as well as 2006. In its first year with head coach Sigi Schmid, Columbus (8-15-9) had last place in the Eastern Conference all but […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Doubling Up NBDPs at RBNY?
The price of a NBDP – Non-Beckham Designated Player – could be increased by more than a factor of two, if RBNY – Red Bull New York – closes the deal on the player it is pursuing. According to a source with knowledge of the negotiations, MLS and English club Aston Villa have agreed on […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
6. MLS: Revs rookie displays scoring touch
By Ridge Mahoney Revs rookie forward Adam Cristman, a fourth-round draft pick out of the University of Virginia, is proving to be the scoring terror of MLS Preseason 2007. The 22-year-old played a role in all three New England Revolution goals as it downed Honduran club CD Olimpia, 3-1, Sunday at Tad Gormley Stadium in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We are not going to start thinking ‘we are not going to qualify.’ That’s no way to start thinking, no way to have the atmosphere in and around the squad, and I won’t let that happen. … But we are where we are in the table and if we don’t start winning, we are not […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
YOUTH: Ferrari scores twice for U-20s against SMU
Sampdoria forward Gabriel Ferrari scored two goals and Freddy Adu buried the game-winner in the 90th minute as the U.S. U-20 national team beat SMU, 3-2, on Monday afternoon in Dallas. Ferrari, 19, scored in both halves in his U.S. debut, but the Mustangs twice pulled even on goals by Dane Saintus and Scott Corbin. […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
EURO '08: Italy faces difficult test against Scots
World Cup champion Italy faces a must-win situation when it hosts Scotland Wednesday in Euro 2008 qualifying at Bari's San Nicola Stadium. With the Azzurri fourth in Group B — five points behind Scotland and France and two behind Ukraine — the pressure on on beleaguered coach Roberto Donadini. Donadoni lashed out at media critics, […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
GOLD CUP: U.S. opponents struggled in weekend friendlies
None of the USA's three Gold Cup opponents in Group B won in friendly games played iver the weekend. Guatemala played to a 0-0 tie at Barbados on Sunday before heading to Frsico, Texas, where it faces the USA in a friendly on Wednesday night. FC Dallas star Carlos Ruiz was with his MLS club […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. YOUTH: Ferrari scores twice for U-20s against SMU
Sampdoria forward Gabriel Ferrari scored two goals and Freddy Adu buried the game-winner in the 90th minute as the U.S. U-20 national team beat SMU, 3-2, on Monday afternoon in Dallas. Ferrari, 19, scored in both halves in his U.S. debut, but the Mustangs twice pulled even on goals by Dane Saintus and Scott Corbin. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. EURO ’08: Italy faces difficult test against Scots
World Cup champion Italy faces a must-win situation when it hosts Scotland Wednesday in Euro 2008 qualifying at Bari’s San Nicola Stadium. With the Azzurri fourth in Group B — five points behind Scotland and France and two behind Ukraine — the pressure is on beleaguered coach Roberto Donadini. Donadoni lashed out at media critics, […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
5. GOLD CUP: U.S. opponents struggled in weekend friendlies
None of the USA’s three Gold Cup opponents in Group B won in friendly games played over the weekend. Guatemala played to a 0-0 tie at Barbados on Sunday before heading to Frsico, Texas, where it faces the USA in a friendly on Wednesday night. FC Dallas star Carlos Ruiz was with his MLS club […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. MLS COUNTDOWN: Real Salt Lake banking on Freddy Adu
By Mike Woitalla Freddy Adu mastered his skills playing barefoot soccer on gravelly sandlots in the Ghanaian harbor city of Tema. Then he moved to the USA at age 8 and five years later started getting paid $1 million to wear Nike cleats. At age 14, he signed with MLS and became the league’s highest […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
GAMES: Live and same-day delay on national TV
(All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings and soccerTV.com) MONDAY, March 26 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL Friendly JAMAICA-PANAMA (live), 9 pm. TUESDAY, March 27 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL Friendly BRAZIL-GHANA (live), 1:30 pm FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL Friendly BRAZIL-GHANA (live), 1:30 pm Copa Libertadores GREMIO-TOLIMA (live), 8:30 pm. […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
HIGHLIGHT & MAGAZINE SHOWS: A Sampling
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHT/NEWS SHOWS FOX SOCCER SHOW Fox Soccer Channel Monday-Sunday, 10 pm ETFOX SPORTS NOTICIAS Fox Sports en Espanol Monday-Friday, 2 pm ET SKY SPORTS NEWS Fox Soccer Channel Monday-Sunday, 7 pm ET GOL TV NEWS Gol TV Monday-Friday, 7 pm ET A TODO GOAL (Goals from around the world) Gol TV Sunday, 11:30 pm […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS: 100-plus game Direct Kick package for $79
Major League Soccer will again be offering its Direct Kick package that gives viewers access to more than 100 regional game telecasts. All 195 games of the 2007 regular season, the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game, playoffs and MLS Cup 2007 will be available between the following outlets: MLS Direct Kick package and national […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
1. MLS: 100-plus game Direct Kick package for $79
Major League Soccer will again be offering its Direct Kick package that gives viewers access to more than 100 regional game telecasts. All 195 games of the 2007 regular season, the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game, playoffs and MLS Cup 2007 will be available between the following outlets: MLS Direct Kick package and national […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
3. HIGHLIGHT & MAGAZINE SHOWS: A Sampling
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHT/NEWS SHOWS FOX SOCCER SHOW Fox Soccer Channel Monday-Sunday, 10 pm ETFOX SPORTS NOTICIAS Fox Sports en Espanol Monday-Friday, 2 pm ET SKY SPORTS NEWS Fox Soccer Channel Monday-Sunday, 7 pm ET GOL TV NEWS Gol TV Monday-Friday, 7 pm ET A TODO GOAL (Goals from around the world) Gol TV Sunday, 11:30 pm […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
2. GAMES: Live and same-day delay on national TV
(All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings and soccerTV.com) MONDAY, March 26 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL Friendly JAMAICA-PANAMA (live), 9 pm. TUESDAY, March 27 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL Friendly BRAZIL-GHANA (live), 1:30 pm FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL Friendly BRAZIL-GHANA (live), 1:30 pm Copa Libertadores GREMIO-TOLIMA (live), 8:30 pm. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Euro ’08 Qualifying is Rough Going for European Super Powers
A big weekend of Euro 2008 qualifying was headlined by Germany’s impressive 2-1 away win to the Czech Republic in Group D, thanks two goals from the recently recalled Kevin Kuranyi, Turkey’s 4-1 thrashing of defending European champion Greece in Group C, and Serbia’s shock 2-1 loss to Kazakhstan in Group A. Scotland maintained its […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
English Grounded After Limp Israel Performance
Like grounded children, Coach Steve McClaren on Saturday said, “They’ll be in this evening” after his England players produced a thoroughly impotent attacking display during its 0-0 Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel in Tel Aviv. The result certainly didn’t make McClaren look any better or any more competent as national team coach-England now hasn’t won […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Flores Wins ‘Sueno MLS’
Anaheim, Calif.’s Jorge Flores was crowned the winner of Sueno MLS on Sunday, as the nationally televised (on Spanish language television, anyway) month-long contest came to an end, resulting in an extended tryout with the Chivas USA U-19 team for the winner. “I gave my very best during the past five weeks, and now […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Redemption for Donovan Brings Greater Expectations
There was much to be excited about for U.S. soccer fans after Landon Donovan’s emphatic hat trick led the U.S. men’s national team past Ecuador, 3-1, in Tampa on Sunday. If Donovan could start showing that kind of form, producing the type of finishes he did, he would easily solidify the title of this country’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldinho: the People’s Choice
The New York Times has a profile on Ronaldinho, Barcelona’s Brazilian star and the man many still consider to be the best player in the world despite his third-place finish at the 2006 FIFA awards. He is a one-man endorsement machine, appearing in billboards throughout Barcelona and commercials around the world for his sponsors, Nike, […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
USA: Donovan eviscerates Ecuador with hat trick
By Ridge Mahoney He's asked the question a lot, especially after he shreds a defense as he did Sunday in a 3-1 thumping of Ecuador that featured the skills and speed and guile at which mere mortals can only marvel, and a killer instinct Landon Donovan sometimes lacks. ''It's not like other sports, especially basketball, […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS WRAP: Preseason fine-tuning
By Ridge Mahoney South Carolina and Puerto Rico were the venues for competitions over the weekend mixing teams from MLS and USL. Dema Kovalenko scored in the final minute and Richard Mulrooney debuted for Toronto FC against several of his former San Jose teammates on Saturday in the Carolina Challenge Cup. Kovalenko's goal scraped out […]