Category: Soccer America Daily

[OFF THE POST] Before Euro 2008 started, Viennese government officials saw the tournament as a chance to showcase the city’s high culture. Soccer fans could wander amongst the famous artwork hanging in the Albertina or maybe catch a performance at the Vienna Opera House before watching the evening’s games. But museum officials are lamenting low crowds and a ballet scheduled on the day of the final was canceled.

[REF WATCH] The English Premier League will feature a collection of new faces when the 2008/2009 season begins in August. At age 25, Stuart Attwell is set to be the youngest referee in the history of the league.

[EURO 2008 HISTORY] On Sunday, Germany makes its record sixth European Championship final appearance with the aim of lifting the title a fourth time. Germany faces Spain, which has reached its third final after one title and one runner-up finish. For European Championship final history …

[ITALY] Marcello Lippi has said he at times regretted quitting as Italy national team coach after leading the Azzurri to the 2006 World Cup title. He’ll now get the chance to lead Italy again after being reappointed as national team coach following the dismissal of Roberto Donadoni.

[TRANSFER TALK] Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor appears to have more than one foot in Italy, as his agent, Vincenzo Morabito, has claimed that his proposed move to AC Milan is “70-80 percent done.”

MLS’s Kansas City Wizards (U-19 boys), Chicago Fire (U-15 boys) and Columbus Crew (its Grand Rapids affiliate in U-14 boys) became the first MLS teams to send teams to the US Youth Soccer National Championships thanks to victories at Wednesday’s Region II Championships in Rockford, Ill. Minnesota boarding school Shattuck-St. Mary won the U-18 boys title. On the girls side, Eclipse Select, the No. 1 team in the 2008 Soccer America Girls Top 25, won the U-16, U-17 and U-18 girls championships. Toro Bravo (U-14 girls) is the first girls team from Nebraska to advance to the national finals. For all the Region III results …

[YOUTH] The USA earned a berth to the 2008 Under-20 Women’s World Cup thanks to a 4-0 win over Costa Rica in the semifinal of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament at Estadio Cuauhtemoc in Puebla, Mexico.

[TRANSFER TALK] Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes may move to Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League in a $20 million dollar move.

[GERMANY-TURKEY REPORT CARD] With a squad depleted by injuries and suspensions, Turkey managed to outshoot Germany, 20-9 and had more possession. But the Germans prevailed, 3-2, in the Euro 2008 semifinal. Left back Philipp Lahm scorched a shot past Turkish keeper in the 90th minute to send the Germans into the final against the winner of Thursday’s Spain-Russia semifinal. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla grades the players.

[SOUTH AMERICA] LDU Quito moved a step closer to becoming the first Ecuadorian club to win the Copa Libertadores when it downed Brazil’s Fluminense, 4-2, in first leg final on Wednesday.

[EURO 2008] The second semifinal in Euro 2008 (ESPN2, 2:30 pm ET) offers an intriguing rematch between two teams that met in group play 16 days ago. In that clash, David Villa scored the tournament’s only hat trick as Spain defeated the Russians, 4-1. But Russia bounced back in a big way, thanks much to the return of its star playmaker.

Dallas area clubs Andromeda, Texans Red and Sting each won two titles at the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships in Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday. The Andromeda U-18 boys and Texans Red U-17 girls are both defending national champions. North Texas won eight titles, while South Texas and North Carolina captured two apiece. For all the Region III results …

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. This week’s positions include U.S. Soccer’s Director of Coaching Education. They also include college coaching and youth soccer opportunities.

Distracted, perhaps, by the spectacular show that is Euro 2008 and the required, if rudimentary, U.S. World Cup qualifiers against Barbados, little notice has been paid to the fact that season 13 of MLS is nearly halfway done. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney examines the chances of teams rebuilding in midseason with big-name transfers — Thierry Henry? Luis Figo?