Category: Section 2 Around the Net

Brazil has ended Spain's one-year reign as the world's top soccer team and the United States moved up two spots to No. 12. The FIFA rankings released Wednesday reflected the recent Confederations Cup tournament in which Brazil rallied for a 3-2 victory over the USA in the final. Brazil rose four spots, gaining No. 1 […]

Germany's national teams are on the rise at all levels of European youth soccer. On Monday, when Germany trounced England, 4-0, in the final of the European Under-21 Championship, it completed a unique triple. Germany holds the European titles at the U-17, U-19 and U-21 age groups. This success, in part, stems from multiculturalism and […]

When he came to Los Angeles, David Beckham was supposed to push the MLS to new heights. “In his two years with the Galaxy he has successfully sold jerseys and served as celebrity eye candy, but the soccer story has been an epic disaster, from the his injury-plagued season in ’07 through a loss-filled campaign […]

In some ways, the New England Revolution entered its Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third-round match against the Harrisburg City Islanders in a no-win situation. A win would have put the Revs through to the next round but added yet another midweek game to an already crowded July calendar. A loss would leave the depleted […]

The United States national team just might get back one that got away. New Mexico native Edgar Castillo, who seemed unlikely to ever play for the country of his birth after representing Mexico's Under-23 team in Olympic qualifying, said recently he'd be willing to take advantage of a new FIFA rule allowing players cap-tied at […]

One of the biggest rivalries in American soccer will be rekindled as longtime foes Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC highlight the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In their first meeting since Seattle's "promotion" to MLS, the high-flying Sounders will travel to PGE Park to take on a Timbers team that […]

The first film festival in the United States dedicated to soccer movies, the Kicking and Screening International Soccer Film Festival, will unspool at five locations July 14-18 across New York City. "Soccer and film are passions – they crystallize things and make us feel," said one of the event's founders, Rachel Markus. "When we watch […]

The gloom at Southampton deepened today when the Pinnacle group, the consortium fronted by Matthew Le Tissier, formally withdrew from the race to take over the stricken League One club, leaving the administrator, Mark Fry, left to scrutinize two bids from abroad as he desperately seeks new owners. "It is with great regret and frustration […]

Brazilian striker Grafite has agreed to extend his contract with German champion Wolfsburg until 2012. Grafite, the leading scorer in the Bundesliga last season, scored 28 goals. Grafite formed a strike partnership with Edin Dzeko that produced a total of 54 goals, making them the most prolific partnership in Bundesliga's history. Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh […]

So who is the first American to complete a move to Europe this summer? No, not any of the Confederations Cup players. Try goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, who finally received his Italian passport and is finalizing his long-awaited move to Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Celtic. The former Chicago Fire draft pick had been waiting for a year […]

Argentine striker Emmanuel Villa is joining Cruz Azul from English Championship club Derby County, the Mexican club said on Monday. "We have reached an agreement with Derby County of England for the transfer of Emmanuel Villa, who will arrive (in Mexico) on Tuesday to undergo a medical and sign a contract," Cruz Azul said in […]

After taking a 2-0 lead before halftime, the USA watched an inspired Brazil roar back in the second half to score three goals and win the Confederations Cup, 3-2 FIFA.com spoke to Landon Donovan, who scored the USA's second goal on a swift counterattack, about the game and what it means for the national team. […]

The New England Revolution entered Sunday's match against Atlas with a chance to clinch advancement in the SuperLiga with either a win or a draw at home. An already battered squad, the Revs ost Mike Videira to a red-card suspension. Local product Nico Colaluca stepped into Videira's spot to make his debut for the Revolution. […]

After advancing past Sweden on penalties, England faces Germany in the final of the U-21 European Championship on Wednesday. Germany is the current European Under-17 and Under-19 champion. But England has appeared the best team in the tournament to most neutrals, as Stuart Pearce's B squad outplayed Germany in the final group match. Germany has […]

In the wake of the United States’ 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore stressed the importance of the U.S. player getting playing time for their club teams. Of the 23 players on the U.S. roster, only seven are regular starters in the top division of a European league. […]

Scandal erupted last week when several newspapers blamed the robberies of Egyptian soccer players on prostitutes that Egyptian players allegedly brought back to their rooms during the Confederations Cup in South Africa. But Egyptian diplomats are expecting a police investigation to force these newspapers to retract their stories and clear the players' names. "We are […]

The Los Angeles Galaxy players said it wasn't a desperate situation but they sensed some urgency. In need of a home win after a 1-2-4 home record this season, the Galaxy relied on stingy defense to beat Western Conference leader Houston Dynamo, 1-0. A first-half goal from Todd Dunivant helped give the Galaxy 18 points, […]

Reports out of Buenos Aires indicate Diego Maradona will earn $1.2 million dollars for his first year (November 2008 to October 2009) at the helm of the Argentine national team. Maradona, who had been working without a contract, is thus making more than twice as much as his predecessors, Daniel Passarella, Marcelo Bielsa, Jose Pekerman […]

Iran soccer federation (IFF) President Ali Kafashian denied reports that four national team players were banned for wearing green wristbands during a World Cup qualifier to show their support for presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. FIFA, which prohibits political displays during games and responds with fines, had requested the IFF respond to reports that it […]

Betfair, an online betting emporium, received only $51 of wagers on the United States winning the Confederations Cup in South Africa, at 999-to-1 odds. That means that for every $1 bet, the bettor will make out with $999 if the United States should beat Brazil on Sunday. The prospects of the United States winning the […]

Bob Bradley, normally the grave and all-business type, showed unusual levity at a press conference ahead of the biggest match in his career – the Confederations Cup final against Brazil (Sunday, 2:30 pm ET; ESPN & Univision). Bradley got the media laughing before the first question. He sat down at the dais with US captain […]

Even the most talented MLS rookies have to learn the ropes, pay their dues and win the respect of veteran teammates. This season, however, several newcomers around the league have vaulted the traditional learning curve, as the likes of Steve Zakuani, Stefan Frei, Kevin Alston and Rodney Wallace have made notable contributions and even won […]

Tony Beltran quickly became the fall guy following Real Salt Lake's season-opening loss at Seattle. The second-year player seemed overwhelmed by the moment of playing in front of over 30,000 fans, struggling in the opening half of a 2-0 loss in which a defensive miscue contributed to the first goal. But RSL coach Jason Kreis […]

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 […]

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 […]