Category: Section 2 Around the Net

David Beckham and L.A. Galaxy President Alexi Lalas make quite a pair: on the one hand you have a PR-friendly global superstar who just might be the king of understatement, and on the other, you have a loose-lipped, loudmouth of a soccer executive (in a convivial sort of way) who oozes exaggeration with every word. […]

In an exclusive interview with the Salt Lake Tribune, MLS Commissioner Don Garber casts a calm figure, discussing everything from David Beckham to the improvement of the product on the field to the ultimate direction of the league. So far, he says, the formula is working: broadcast deals are coming the league’s way, so are […]

The consensus on the U.S. national team’s 2-1 quarterfinal win against Panama is that an uncomfortably frantic final six minutes marred what should have been an easy win. Coach Bob Bradley suggested that the lapse in concentration that led to Panama’s goal showed an immaturity that has to be stamped out if the U.S. hopes […]

It’s a funny thing, perhaps, that David Beckham “in spite of winning so little, leaves Spain having won so much respect — from journalists, fans, dressing room heavyweights … and even from the manager who once vowed to never pick him again,” The Guardian’s Jack Rashleigh points out. Indeed, the praise Becks has received in […]

Those who don’t believe need only be strapped in front of a TV and forcibly subjected to the 6,840 minutes that made up the 2006-07 season for Real Madrid and Barcelona. Indeed, forget about luck, something far stronger-call it Fate-drove the Merengues’ to their first La Liga title in four years. Just ask Zinedine Zidane: […]

The Times’ George Caulkin waxes poetic about David Beckham’s last day at the Santiago Bernabeu, a place he’s called home for the last four years and where he had the rare opportunity of walking away as a champion in his final appearance. But Real Madrid, as ever, made tough work of their pre-ordained conclusion, beginning […]

It was crazy weekend in MLS, too: great games, dramatic finishes, and tons of goals, many of which were very, very high quality. Perhaps the biggest battle of them all came from league’s bottom two teams who were both desperately in need of a win. In the end, the Los Angeles Galaxy was able to […]

The New York Red Bulls have quickly gone from being the league’s best defense to its worst, conceding 11 goals in its last four games after starting the regular season with just four conceded in eight. Injuries have a lot to do with that, says Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer, as evidenced by the […]

Oh, yeah, the Argentine Clausura championship ended this weekend, too, as San Lorenzo celebrated the title — the 10th title in its history — it wrapped up a week earlier. San Lorenzo extended its lead over second-place Boca Juniors with a 2-1 win at last-place Quilmes. After falling behind in the first half, Osmar Ferreyra […]

It’s taken nearly three years, but American goalkeeper Tim Howard is once again on top of his game: first choice at Everton and now, first choice for the U.S. national team. The 28-year-old’s career is rising again, but this time he’s learned not to take it for granted. “I still feel I have to prove […]

Remember the so-called “bungs” scandal that threatened to bring the English Premier League’s shady transfer system to its knees? Well, former Police Commissioner Lord Stevens has now finished his inquiry into alleged illegal payments made between clubs and players’ agents in some 17 transfers. Chelsea, Newcastle, Bolton, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth were all named in Stevens’ […]

Speculation is rife in England that Arsenal legend Thierry Henry will be heading to the Nou Camp this summer, possibly in exchange for Samuel Eto’o, while Chelsea’s Andriy Shevchenko is close to making a shocking return to European Champion AC Milan, the club that sold him to the Blues for nearly $60 million just last […]

When Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard actually used him, Javier Saviola played quite well this season, but the Argentine striker has now made it clear he’ll be departing the Nou Camp this summer. Adored by the Catalan fans, Saviola was unappreciated by Barca’s management and Rijkaard in particular, who reacted with indifference when the 25-year-old said […]

Without question, 22-year-old Benny Feilhaber has been one of the biggest revelations since Bob Bradley took charge of the U.S. national team late last year. In just four topsy-turvy years, Feilhaber has gone from being a walk-on at UCLA to becoming a starting central midfielder for the U.S. national team. However, his national team success […]

It was the Carlos Pavon show at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday as a highly impressive Honduras pummeled Cuba 5-0 to finish top of Gold Cup Group C, ahead of Mexico and Panama, the previous leader, which had to settle for third after narrowly losing 1-0 to the Mexicans. Pavon hit the net four times, including […]

David Beckham quashed rumors linking him to a dramatic return to Real Madrid next season, telling reporters that there is no buyout clause in his contract and that he doesn’t wish to return to the club after his final match against Mallorca on Sunday. “I first realized I would be leaving Real in January when […]

As England’s Lions’ give away their national team fees to cancer research, a whole bunch of money is being lodged in the direction of certain teams in Spain to ensure that they, well, do their job- namely, win. As one of the tightest La Liga title races in history comes to its dramatic close, the […]

Thanks to a series of bright performances in the Gold Cup, the United States jumped a whopping 13 places in the latest rankings from FIFA, from 29th to 16th, thanks to consecutive wins against China, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago. The 4-0 victory against El Salvador will be added to the team’s results list when […]

Following Honduras’ 5-0 rout of Cuba, Mexico knew it was playing for second place against Panama on Wednesday night, and a 60th-minute strike from Carlos Salcido proved to be enough to reach that goal. However, the Tricolores played far from inspiring stuff for long stretches, and overall, Panama looked the more dangerous of the two […]

Well, that’s certainly more like it: the U.S. cruised to a 4-0 win at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday night, thanks to a pair of goals from DaMarcus Beasley, who could have easily had three or four himself in a much bigger victory Indeed, if the boys in red, white and blue play as well as […]

The U.S. has already done its duty in the Gold Cup group stage by winning all three of its games and qualifying in first place for the quarterfinals, and Landon Donovan is as happy as anybody to remain in New England for the next game, the striker told Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Herald — […]

DaMarcus Beasley could be on his way to Scottish giant Glasgow Rangers, according to a report from the Daily Record, which says PSV Eindhoven had agreed to a transfer fee worth approximately $1.4 million for the 25-year-old American winger. That price point has given Rangers coach Walter Smith the go-ahead to open contract negotiations with […]

The Observer delves into the world of one of soccer’s many “football factories” in the developing world, where boys as young as nine “are being exploited by businessmen who hope to profit from negotiating transfers to big European clubs.” In Ivory Coast, which has produced the likes of Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue and Chelsea’s Didier Drogba […]

Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti is reportedly keen on adding coveted West Ham striker Carlos Tevez to his vast cabinet of Argentine superstars. “It’s true,” Moratti said on Tuesday. “We really like the player. He has the qualities and the character we need.” Tevez, of course, has spent just one controversial season at West Ham, […]

More criticism of FIFA’s international ban on games at high altitude, this time from The Guardian’s Rodrigo Orihuela, who points out that the calls for reversing the decision are growing louder. The FIFA ruling bans international matches from being played at an altitude higher than 2,500 meters, a move aimed squarely at three South American […]