Category: Section 2 Around the Net

“I could not be more proud of my players and how we did in this competition.  Before this tournament nobody had ever heard of the Puerto Rico Islanders, and we made it to the semifinal. I’m disappointed with the performance in the penalties but I don’t think the elimination was a failure. Nobody could have […]

Two faces stared out at the media following MLS matches at The Home Depot Center this weekend, each encompassing the state of his team early in the long 30-game season, but their expressions and words (and fortunes?) were as “different as night and day,” points out LA Times’ Grahame Jones of Bruce Arena‘s troubled scowl […]

There have been a lot of promising young Brazilian strikers to come through and grab worldwide headlines, but one name has been all but forgotten amid happier tales of Romarios, Ronaldos, Ronaldinhos and Robinhos.  Goal.com’s Sulmaan Ahmad digs up memories of a star that shown bright before fading away into obscurity (Jardel) in relating the […]

It wasn’t too long ago when Wayne Rooney made a name at age 16 by scoring “to end Arsenal’s 30-match unbeaten run and make him the Premier League’s youngest scorer.” Nor was it long ago that a 17-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo “also made a dazzling United debut off the bench against Bolton Wanderers six years ago.”  […]

Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease while still in high school, defender Devon McTavish has been living with the illness for eight years, but it “hasn’t stopped him from becoming an established member of both D.C. United and the greater Washington, D.C. community.” Building on a “quiet,” “under the radar” college career at West Virginia to a […]

“All these players are robbed as a matter of course by this club. They are always outside what is normal in terms of etiquette. They go to the parents and give them money and important jobs. These are boys who come from poor families. The families base their choices on economic interests.  It’s not moral. […]

“We’ve always produced outstanding players, but for whatever reason, we’ve only once come up with a truly great team. And let’s not forget how small we are compared to the habitual winners, the Brazils, Italys, Germanys and even the Argentinas of this world. Looking at it from this perspective, our record of two runners-up finishes […]

“It is not mind games. I think it maybe is that he is a little bit scared [of us]. I do not have a problem with United. Clearly one of us, either Chelsea or us, will end up focusing just on the Premier League after this.  I think Sir Alex [Ferguson] will be supporting Liverpool […]

“Perez has not been elected president of Real and cannot therefore make any moves.  In any case, I’m certain that if one day Florentino wanted to sign Kaka he would come directly to me. Hence, I am calm.  Kaka is not for sale and Florentino will eventually realize this.”  AC Milan VP Adriano Galliani, dismissing […]

Coming out of Toronto and the fortress that is BMO Field with a 2-0 win and another three points illustrates more than the team’s two previous victories that the Seattle Sounders FC are “for real,” writes Goal.com’s Kyle McCarthy.  Sure, Toronto FC might not have played all that well in its home opener, but Seattle […]

Reaching into Hispanic homes hasn’t been easy for MLS, but through marketing arm Soccer United Marketing, that has changed dramatically over the past few years. In order to capture the attention and loyalty of first-generation Latinos living in the U.S., SUM sponsorship guru Kathy Carter focused on traditional things like food, family, religion and music […]

Missing Brazilian striker Adriano has apparently been found, with his agent assuring worried parties that he’s safe in the care of family in Rio de Janeiro, but a statement from the Brazilian soccer federation referred to the 27-year-old going through a “difficult time” that most likely means he won’t be returning to Inter Milan and […]

While he admits to have had six great years while playing for fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, midfielder Robert Pires is looking to erase a bitter Champions League memory with a better one, this time for Spanish side Villarreal, which hosts the Gunners on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the 2008-09 competition. Stung by […]

I’ve heard of gamesmanship surrounding World Cup qualifiers, from hotel fire alarms being pulled, to the team bus’ route to the stadium being blocked, to late-night phone calls meant to keep opposing players from getting any sleep.  But mass food poisoning? That’s a new one, and that’s what North Korea officials are accusing their neighbors […]

“I got a bit of stick in Europe that I came too early.  They still have the view that I should’ve come in a couple of years, that I should have kept on playing at the top and then come here.   For me at least, my decision was if I should come I should still […]

“In those situations, I gamble. Winning is the name of the game at this club. Risks are part of football and this club has been that way for a long time.  I love to see that kind of adventure. Yes, there are times when we don’t defend properly – and we didn’t defend well today […]

“Franck’s current deal expires June 30, 2011, and he’s going nowhere until then. Not even for all the money in the world.” Bayern technical director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, echoing the sentiments of coach Juergen Klinsmann regarding the team’s recent decision to hold on to French striker Franck Ribery for the next two years rather than collect […]

No charges have been filed, but Seattle Sounders FC newcomer and MLS March Player of the Month Fredy Montero is the subject of a police investigation after being accused of stalking, according to the Seattle P-I, which cites two law enforcement sources. The 21-year-old Colombian had been the league's best and brightest on-field story so […]

After the exit of Ricardo Lavolpe following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, there was supposed to be something of a new dawn in Mexico, with long-campaigning and hugely popular Hugo Sanchez finally given the reigns for “what was supposed to be a successful and memorable time for himself and El Tricolor,” writes SI.com’s Luis Bueno. […]

The underdog story of little Stevie Ralston, one of meager beginnings that include not even starting most of his high school soccer games and then playing for a local community college, won’t quite be complete unless the now New England Revolution midfield motor and MLS Mr. Reliable wins a championship. Sure, he’s won a pair […]

Even if Chelsea were able to pull off an incredible year-end run and somehow take home the EPL, FA Cup and Champions League trophies, interim coach Guus Hiddink still plans to exit England and relegate himself to watching the team from Russia, with love. "It would be a beautiful scenario to win both cups,” stated […]

Who knew that the state of Chinese soccer was such a disaster? The Chinese Super League is mired in an ongoing mess that league officials are desperate to fix. So CSL  midfielder Cui Peng was handed a record fine of $4,391 along with a five-match ban for elbowing an opposing player during a recent game, […]

"After two consecutive losses, everybody thinks we have dropped out. It is true that we feel a little tired at this stage of the season, but we will fight for the championship and the Champions League until the end. This team is very strong and I think we still have room for mistakes. Liverpool is […]

"It’s very painful, we knew that we would lose at some stage but we didn’t think it would be like this. It’s impossible to play there. Everyone struggled. You sprint a bit and it’s difficult to get your breath back and you could see that they were faster. They also played at a very fast […]

“It’s a little bit risky given Alan’s lack of managerial experience, but I think it’s the right decision. I’ve spoken to a number of senior players at Newcastle United and they felt that Alan Shearer was the right appointment and had been feeling so for quite some time. He definitely has the makings of a […]