Category: Soccer America Daily
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

USA stumbles on Olympic quest

by Ridge Mahoney

A disappointing 1-1 tie with Cuba in the opening game of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers leaves the Americans tied with the Cubans in second place and pondering changes borne by practicality more than necessity. Freddy Adu marked an opening period of USA dominance by curling home a shot in the 14th minute but a Cuban revival and a moment of laxity in the American defense enabled Yordany Alvarez to drive a low ball that Roberto Linares redirected past keeper Chris Seitz three minutes before halftime.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Name That Tune

by Soccer America

[OFF THE POST] FIFA has moved the World Cup qualifier between North Korea and South Korea from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang to Shanghai after North Korea objected to the playing of the South Korean anthem, instead demanding that a folk song popular in both countries be played. FIFA stipulates that each national anthem must be played.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

USA favored against Cuba, Honduras and Panama

by Paul Kennedy

[SCOUTING REPORT] It’s been more than 20 years since the USA has lost a game in Olympic men’s qualifying to a team other than Mexico with a berth still at stake. The Americans will be heavily favored in Group A of the 2008 CONCACAF qualifying tournament that begins Tuesday in Tampa. A first-place finish in the group will set up a date against the runner-up from Group B with an Olympic berth on the line March 20 at Nashville’s LP Field. Here’s a look at Group A opponents Cuba, Honduras and Panama.

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The Benfica coaching carousel

by Soccer America

[MAKING A LIST] For his first foray into European soccer, Freddy Adu certainly didn’t pick the most stable club. Despite a succession of famous coaches — Tomislav Ivic, Artur Jorge, Graeme Souness, Jupp Heynckes, Jose Mourinho, Giovanni Trapattoni and Ronald Koeman, among others — it’s been more than 15 years since a coach lasted two full seasons at Benfica. Adu’s first coach, Fernando Santos, was gone after one league game, and his replacement, Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho, quit on Sunday after Benfica was tied by the last-place team, Leiria. Former Portuguese great Fernando Chalana was promoted from assistant coach and will replace Camacho.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Perez & Dorrance elected to Hall of Fame

by Soccer America

Hugo Perez starred in the NASL and MISL, represented the USA at the 1984 Olympics and 1994 World Cup, and played a key role in successful qualifying campaigns for the 1988 Olympics and 1990 World Cup. He has been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame on the Veteran Player ballot, while Anson Dorrance, the nation’s most successful women’s college coach and a world championship winner, was elected on the Builder Ballot. However, in the 2008 Player election no individual exceeded the required 75 percent of ballots cast to gain entrance into the Hall of Fame.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Argentine World Cup striker ups ante in KC

by Ridge Mahoney

[MLS] When Kansas City hired Curt Onalfo as head coach a year and a half ago, he promised to implement at least two elements not always present in past Wizards’ teams: a commitment to attack and score goals, and Latin flair. Kansas City scored 45 goals last year, fifth-best in MLS, and unveiled Argentine playmaker Carlos Marinelli and Colombian winger Eloy Colombano. Long before the move of Eddie Johnson to English Premier League club Fulham became official in January, Onalfo and technical director Peter Vermes had begun work on landing replacements. They officially announced the signing of Colombian striker Ivan Trujillo last week but for months had been chasing a much bigger prize.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Nowak picks his Olympic hopefuls

by Ridge Mahoney

[ROSTER] For much of the past year, players have flipped back and forth between the U.S. national team and the Olympic team, which makes for some interesting dynamics when it comes time to select squads for competitions, as Olympic/under-23 Coach Peter Nowak did yesterday. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney checks out the U.S. roster for Olympic qualifying.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Upset FC Dallas sees positives

by Ridge Mahoney

The preseason has yet to end, but FC Dallas Coach Steve Morrow is already in midseason form, at least in regards to the officiating. He’s not happy. Good fields, good weather and good competition are the elements most sought for proper preseason training, yet a fair shake from the officials doesn’t hurt, and Morrow felt so strongly his team was wronged in a 3-1 loss to Brazilian club Avai FC Sunday in Florianoplis he nearly pulled his players off the field Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“Refs don’t protect skillful players. I think about the Arsenal player [Eduardo] and I’m scared sometimes to do skills because some players do unbelievable fouls and the ref protects the defender, not the skilled player! It’s very disappointing and I’m thinking a lot about changing my game. When referees don’t give penalties, yellow cards or reds, it’s difficult to play.”

— Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo after a 1-0 loss to Portsmouth in the FA Cup in which he suffered repeated fouls and was denied a penalty kick call on one of them. Arsenal forward Eduardo suffered multiple leg fractures two weeks ago from a foul by Birmingham’s Martin Taylor. (ManU Website)

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