“It’s a true indication of how strong this area is, soccer-wise. Because there’s plenty of competition just to get here.”
— Charlie Slagle, CEO of the Capital Area Soccer League, on the three titles teams from the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina won at the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships in Frisco, Texas. (Raleigh News & Observer)
“There are sure to be some Betfair bettors praying for a U.S. victory. With the small matter of $51,000 to be won if they do.”
— Tony Calvin, spokesman for online betting emporium Betfair, which offered odds of 999-to-1 on the USA winning the Confederations Cup and received just $51 on that bet. The USA, which Betfair gave 699-to-1 odds to reach the semifinals, faces Brazil in the final on Sunday. (New York Times)
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] U.S. players should be encouraged if they witnessed Brazil’s lackluster performance in defeating host South Africa, 1-0, to earn a final date with the Americans.
[STATS] That Brazil scored its Confederations Cup semifinal-winning goal against South Africa with a Daniel Alves free kick from just outside the penalty area prompted FIFA.com to dig up this stat …
[GOLD CUP] The USA’s 23-man roster for the Gold Cup (July 3-26) includes seven players who have never seen national team action. Just six players in the squad have made more than 10 U.S. appearances.
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] On Sunday, the USA faces Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup final in South Africa and Spain meets South Africa for third place. For the tournament’s complete television schedule and results..
Mexico's preparation for the Gold Cup could not have gotten off to a better start as the Tricolor trounced a fragile Venezuelan squad 4-0 at a friendly match at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in front 51,115.. Mexico, propelled by an on-fire Giovani dos Santos, showed glimpses of its old form that looked lost in […]
Cruzeiro took an important step toward reaching the Copa Libertadores final with a 3-1 win over fellow Brazilian club Gremio on Wednesday. Cruzeiro had won all its previous home matches in Libertadores play, but lined up against Gremio without the midfield inspiration of Ramires, who was on international duty for Brazil in the Confederations Cup. […]
After 13 games played and no goals scored, Toronto FC striker Pablo Vitti drew criticism and doubts about his future with the club. But Vitti finally broke his goalscoring doubt on Wednesday with a header that opened the scoring in Toronto's 2-0 win over New York. Toronto wore alternate pink jerseys in support of the […]
The USA still has the Confederations Cup final on Sunday, but Coach Bob Bradley has announced his roster for the Concacaf Gold Cup (July 3-26): GOALKEEPERS Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Troy Perkins (IK Start), Luis Robles (FC Kaiserslautern). DEFENDERS Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jay Heaps (New […]
Although admitting the United States was the better team, Spain believes its loss to the Americans in the Confederations Cup semifinals was an anomaly. "In all sincerity, only one time in 10 do I think we would lose against them," Spain captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas said one day after the Americans upset top-ranked Spain […]
"We all know about the U.S. beating England back in the World Cup in 1950 but this result, in the semifinals of a major FIFA competition watched by millions around the world, has to rank right up there among the greatest upsets of all time," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard told reporters. "On Sunday we thought […]
Sixteen of the 30 boys India selected for a training camp for the Asian under-16 championships qualifiers proved to be over-age, according to MRI tests in Goa, the Times of India reported on Thursday. “We are aware of the MRI results, but we are reinquiring with state associations,” All-India soccer federation general secretary Alberto Colaco […]
After celebrating the USA’s historic win over Spain, U.S. coach Bob Bradley described the approach his team took into the game: “We really felt strongly that when we got the ball we needed to be aggressive. We needed to play some of the kind of balls behind their defense that could cause them trouble. We […]
“We are scratching our heads just like you guys are but it goes to show what hard work and commitment to each other can bring. Soccer is a funny thing. Any time you come away with a shock win you need to take your chances in front of goal and we defended like bandits. We rode our luck today.”
— U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard after the USA beat Spain, 2-0, in the Confederations Cup semifinal. (Fifa.com)
[SUPERLIGA] Group B action Wednesday night action at Gillette Stadium saw New England share points with MLS rival Kansas City in a 1-1 stalemate while all-Mexican clash between Santos and Atlas produced no goals
[USA-SPAIN] Beating the world’s top team drew stunned the international press. For a collection of headlines from around the world …
[USA-SPAIN] For video highlights for the USA victory. …
[USA-SPAIN] Spanish daily As captured some of the most dramatic images from the U.S. triumph.
Brazilian world champion Denilson, who spent half a season with FC Dallas in 2007, lasted just half a game in Vietnam. Denilson scored on a free kick for Hai Phong Cement FC in its 3-1 win over Hoang Anh Gia Lai. He then announced he had aggravated a leg injury and said he was quitting […]
The second annual Showdown in Chinatown will take place tonight at Sarah D. Roosevelt Park in lower Manhattan. A fundraiser for the Steve Nash Foundation and the Claudio Reyna Foundation, the event features a mash-up of NBA stars and international soccer stars playing small-sided soccer at a Park that is "an oasis in an urban […]
ESPN, which recently won the rights to show 46 Premier League matches in Britain next season, will set up a new stand-alone channel to screen the games as it seeks to build a powerful presence in British sport. Lynne Franks, the ESPN executive who brokered the Premier League deal, said: “Buying the Premier League rights […]
Canadian fans who have long waited for Ali Gerba to join Toronto FC will have to wait a few weeks more before they can see the national star dress for their team. On Tuesday TFC announced the signing of the 27-year-old striker from England's Milton Keynes Dons, but because the MLS transfer window doesn't open […]
Iran’s political turmoil has spilled onto the soccer field. The country’s authorities have reportedly dealt lifetime bans to a group of Iranian players who wore green wristbands in last Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier as a symbol of protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad‘s disputed re-election. According to the pro-government newspaper Iran, four players – Ali Karimi, 31, […]
