Category: Section 2 Around the Net

He was there and yet he wasn’t, says the Boston Globe’s John Powers. David Beckham may have been on the field at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night, but — and many of the 35,000-plus fans who showed up just to see him didn’t know this — his name wasn’t even on the team sheet. Beckham’s […]

Becks is likely to make his first start for the Galaxy against the Eastern Conference-leading New England Revolution on Sunday — that is, if his tender left ankle holds up on the turf. Indeed, the L.A. Galaxy star revealed that he’s no fan of FieldTurf. In fact, Beckham was forced to apologize for his negative […]

The MLS standings don’t accurately reflect the form of the league’s teams, says Bill Urban of USSoccerPlayers, because of the big discrepancy between the number of games each has played. Los Angeles, for instance, may have the second-worst record in the league with 14 points, but it’s only played 14 games, whereas Houston, the league’s […]

New York Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore is suddenly one of U.S. soccer’s most recognizable young faces. He can now be found in commercials, newspaper articles and on the cover of the new FIFA 2008 video game. But in a recent interview with the North Jersey Herald’s Ives Galarcep, Altidore reveals he may not stick […]

Becks is likely to make his first start for the Galaxy against the Eastern Conference-leading New England Revolution on Sunday — that is, if his tender left ankle holds up on the turf. Indeed, the L.A. Galaxy star revealed that he’s no fan of FieldTurf. In fact, Beckham was forced to apologize for his negative […]

Some NBA players take part of the summer off, some just lift weights in the gym, but Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns, a two-time NBA MVP, spends his summers playing soccer in New York City. “It’s better for me than just running lines,” Nash said. “I don’t want to play a lot of basketball […]

Contrary to reports in Spain, Real Madrid still has yet to capture Arjen Robben from Chelsea. The Spanish champion is believed to have offered $47 million for the Dutch winger, although Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho earlier Friday characterized his transfer status as “wait and see.” Chelsea had been hoping to use the funds from Robben’s […]

The Carlos Tevez fiascoes (yes, plural) have prompted the English Premier League to introduce a rule change regarding player transactions that would have a direct impact on transfers, registration, loan deals and agent compensation. The move follows a season in which Kia Joorabchian, the Iranian businessman who held on to the economic rights of Carlos […]

Outside Anfield, the excitement is mounting ahead of the 2007-08 EPL season. Inside, however, it’s the pressure that’s rising. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was given the money he needed to strengthen the squad he described as inadequate following the Reds’ Champions League final loss to AC Milan some three months ago. Eight players and an […]

L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham completed a full practice at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., on Thursday before the Galaxy’s clash with D.C. United, but remained vague about his chances of playing. “It’s looking up,” Beckham said of the ankle injury that’s kept him sidelined for the last three weeks (with the exception of a […]

With or without David Beckham, the sellout between the L.A. Galaxy and D.C. United (ESPN2, 7 pm EST) is a fitting Thursday night headliner, says Ian Plenderleith of USSoccerPlayers. History says goals when these two clubs meet at RFK, which has been a particularly happy hunting ground for L.A.’s Landon Donovan. Last year, Donovan’s two […]

The English Premier League isn’t the only major European league opening its gates this weekend: the Bundesliga starts Friday when defending champ VfB Stuttgart take on last season’s No. 2, Schalke 04. In all, there are now 15 Americans playing in Germany, including five in the Bundesliga; USSoccerPlayers takes a look at their prospects for […]

If recent form is anything to go by, you could be forgiven for not liking the New York Red Bulls’ postseason chances. Indeed, the fourth-place Bulls have played poorly now for quite a while it seems, and yet somehow, thanks to a strong start to the 2007 season, Bruce Arena’s men are just six points […]

Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune interviews former England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson, who’s now leading a revolution at Manchester City, thanks to a cash infusion from exiled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the club’s new owner. Following England’s disappointing quarterfinal exit at the 2006 World Cup, Eriksson was forced to sit on the sidelines […]

Contrary to a North Jersey Herald report yesterday, Columbus Crew midfielder Danny Szetela has not finalized a move to AS Roma, although negotiations are ongoing, the player’s agent Shep Messing said on Wednesday. “We’re also in discussions with MLS,” he added. “From what I’m told, I should also expect one soon from Lazio…I don’t know […]

Arjen Robben’s move to Real Madrid now looks a virtual certainty after the Dutch winger proclaimed on Wednesday that he was “happy” with the Spanish champion’s interest in him. “Of course, Madrid’s interest makes me happy,” the striker said, speaking about the matter for the first time publicly. “But for now I can not say […]

UEFA has responded to a plea from Glasgow Rangers to investigate alleged racial abuse of American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley during yesterday’s 1-0 win over FK Zeta in Champions League qualifying. Beasley, who scored the only goal, said the he and teammate, French Guyanan Jean-Claude Darcheville, were subjected to “monkey chants” during the match. “At this […]

In spite of a long injury layoff and a move to MLS, former England captain David Beckham remains in Steve McClaren’s plans — so much so, that the England coach is planning a visit to the U.S. to see David and assess the level of play in the American league, according to the Toronto Star. […]

Freddy Adu’s “bittersweet” experience in MLS is now over, says the New York Sun’s Paul Gardner. The young man must now find his feet in Europe, which is what he always wanted and MLS knew was always going to happen. But does Adu’s move portend a greater exodus of the league’s top talent for greener […]

FIFA may thwart the Scottish Football Association’s plan to use video evidence to retroactively issue yellow cards to players for faking injuries and diving, according to BBC Sport. Soccer’s world governing body said its rules leave little room for retrospective action, “specifically to incidents which have escaped the match officials’ attention,” the organization said in […]

The English Premier League begins again this weekend and Reuters’ Simon Hart makes a list of the players who have the most to prove at the start of the 2007-08 season. Heading the list are Chelsea’s big-name arrivals in 2006, Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, whose contributions last season paled in comparison with Chelsea stalwarts […]

UEFA President Michel Platini expressed his displeasure at foreign ownership in England’s Premier League, saying he would resist the advances of foreign investors in France. “They could be rich people coming to help English football and develop it, but they may just want to make money,” Platini said during a television interview. “I fear your […]

Following the publicity-high that was his debut, the world is now wondering when David Beckham will be well enough to play again. Already-just nine days after his debut-Becks is being written off in certain circles as little more than a marketing ploy without having played a part in one meaningful match. Why’s it taking so […]

David Beckham was booed in Toronto on Sunday night as his image was projected on the big screen at BMO Field. Becks was on the L.A. Galaxy bench wearing a suit and tie, and many fans, who had paid as much as $120 to see the world’s most famous soccer player play, started booing him. […]

Can the golden age of English soccer off the field be matched by success on it? England has the most lucrative soccer league in the world, some of the world’s best stadiums, most ardent fans, and most recognizable players, and yet, England and English teams haven’t won much of anything when it comes to international […]