Category: Soccer America Daily

[OFF THE POST] Clubs could be facing a rash of psychological lawsuits after Inter Milan was ordered to pay $2,300 dollars to an opposing fan because of "existential damages."

[REF WATCH/VIDEO] The English FA has released a video as part of its new "Respect" campaign, aimed at reducing dissent toward officials. A number of high profile names appear in the film – including English referee Howard Webb and England national team manager Fabio Capello

[OFF THE POST] Foreigners are no longer welcome in Malaysia’s pro leagues. In an effort to improve the national team’s standard of play and reduce clubs’ burgeoning debt, the Football Association of Malaysia has decided to make its Super League a strictly domestic organization. FA Deputy President Khairy Jamaluddin explained the decision:

[WPSL] Ajax America won the 2008 Women’s Premier Soccer League championship with a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Rush in Sunday’s final in Natomas, Calif. For more on the WPSL final four and its all-league teams …

[OLYMPIC WOMEN] On the eve of the Olympic opener against Norway, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage spoke about the progress the team has made since she took over late last year. The Swede says the Americans, 21-0-1 in 2008, have made great strides on defense and in midfield but admitted “we have a little bit to go in the attacking third.” For all Sundhage’s remarks in Qinhuangdao …

The ultimate tests for an Abby Wambach-less U.S. women won’t come until later in the Olympic soccer tournament, but starting out against traditional rival Norway in Qinhuangdao on Wednesday may be a stiff enough challenge to a team abruptly deprived of its most potent weapon.

[OLYMPIC WOMEN] Only five countries have won medals in Olympic women’s soccer: the USA, Brazil, Germany, Norway and China. It would be a surprise if the medalists at the Beijing Olympics don’t come from this quintet of women’s soccer powers. Here’s a look at key players from each of these five teams.

Two days before the Opening Ceremonies, Olympic soccer will begin on Wednesday morning with live coverage of the USA-Norway women’s game on MSNBC and Universal HD. Soccer coverage will also be available on various NBC networks, including USA, CNBC and Telemundo. Complete soccer coverage will be available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.

[TRANSFER TALK] Real Madrid’s signing of Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart from German side Hamburg SV in a $20 million transfer deal could spell the end of the Spanish champion’s protracted pursuit of Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Northern California product Jesus Padilla, 21, scored Chivas Guadalajara’s first goal in a 5-2 loss to Spain’s Barcelona in a friendly Sunday in front of 40,717 fans at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Italian international Ilaria Pasqui took advantage of a mistake by former U.S. international keeper Kristen Luckenbill and scored into an empty net with diving header in the 88th minute to give the Pali Blues the 2008 W-League championship with a 2-1 win over the FC Indiana Lionesses.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Sven-Goran Eriksson called up 20 players for his first training camp as Mexico’s national team coach, and they include New Mexico youth product Edgar Castillo and former California prep star Carlos Ochoa. In English preseason action, Brad Friedel made a sensational debut for Aston Villa, stopping a penalty kick in its 1-1 tie with Reading.

The Charleston Battery got a pair of goals from Cuban Osvaldo Alonso to beat Vancouver, 2-0, on Sunday and move back into a tie with the Whitecaps for first place in the USL First Division. For all the results, goal scorers and standings …

The defending champion Laredo Heat and Canada’s Thunder Bay Chill will meet in Saturday’s final of the Premier Development League (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 7:30 pm ET). The Heat disposed of the Reading Rage, 2-0, while the Chill beat the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, 2-1, in the first-ever all-Canadian semifinals. For the semifinal results and goal scorers …

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] The U.S. Olympic men’s team headed to China having gone scoreless in its last four games.

Kansas City defends a six-game unbeaten streak (2-0-4) at D.C. United, which is tied with the Wizards in fourth place of the East. … Chicago will be without suspended Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Diego Gutierrez when it hosts Chivas USA. … Columbus travels to defending champ Houston. … San Jose host Sunday’s game against Los Angeles in Oakland, where 39,872 watched David Beckham and Co., against the Quakes in June. The Galaxy is 0-3-3 in its last six games and the Quakes are 0-3-4 in their last seven. … Also on Sunday, Toronto FC and FC Dallas meet for the first time this season. For all of this weekend’s MLS action on TV and the standings. …

The regular-season champion Pali Blues and the 2007 WPSL champion FC Indiana moved into Saturday’s W-League championship game (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Saturday, 11 pm ET) with semifinal wins on Thursday in Virginia Beach, Va.

[TRANSFER TALK] Tottenham has completed the signing of England international David Bentley, whose move from Blackburn will net Spurs’ biggest rival, Arsenal, a tidy profit.

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] Chinese star Ma Xiaoxu, dubbed the “female Wayne Rooney,” reinjured her left knee in a scrimmage against the USA on Wednesday in Qinhuangdao and will likely miss the Olympic women’s tournament that begins on Wednesday.