[MLS WATCH] Twas a time San Antonio occasionally popped up on the radar screen of possible MLS expansion sites, as an ambitious mayor tried to broker a partnership with Mexican club Monterrey.
Category: Soccer America Daily
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“If it had been one or two balloons then it would not have been a problem. But the point is that there were 20 or 30 balloons, all more or less in the same place, and the referee should have stopped the game to sort it out.”
— Manchester City coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who is protesting his team’s 2-1 FA Cup loss to Sheffield United because its first goal came after the ball evaded defender Michael Ball when it deflected off a balloon. (The Guardian/VIDEO)
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L.A. preview of potential gold-medalists
[OLYMPIC WATCH] Argentina barely qualified for the 2008 Olympics when it beat Uruguay, 1-0, on a 92nd-minute goal dubbed a “miracle” on the final day of qualifying at the Sudamericano 2007, but it heads into 2008 favored to defend its gold medal in men’s soccer. Los Angeles soccer fans will get a chance to watch Argentina’s Olympic hopefuls when they face Guatemala next Wednesday at the Coliseum. Among the players in the squad arriving on Friday is national team star Juan Roman Riquelme, whose presence in the squad for the Guatemala is an indication that he should be one of Argentina’s three overage players at this summer’s finals.
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Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions: college coaching opportunities, positions in the pros, youth soccer, the soccer industry, even television.
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African Nations Cup Results
Ivory Coast and Nigeria clinched berths in the quarterfinals of the African Nations Cup with wins on Tuesday. Ivory Coast won its third straight game with a 3-0 win over Mali. Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Benin gave the Eagles second place behind Ivory Coast and set up a date with host Ghana on Sunday. For all the African Nations Cup results …
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Arguez’s transfer confirms growing attraction of Americans
[AMERICANS ABROAD] German Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin’s acquisition of 19-year-old Bryan Arguez from D.C. United is an indication of the growing interest of foreign clubs in American players. Arguez never played an MLS game in his one season at D.C. United, but Hertha agreed to pay a fee of approximately $300,000 for Arguez in a deal finalized on Tuesday.
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Guzan’s $4 million deal hinges on appeal
Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains the process.
U.S. keeper Brad Guzan has again left the U.S. training camp in Southern California and this time, it’s not to train and talk, but to take the next step in his career.
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Why U.S. investors are jumping at EPL clubs
Paul Kennedy on the EPL’s U.S. owners
[ENGLAND WATCH] Less startling than the news that yet another American group is buying an English Premier League club is the club it’s buying. With only seven points in its first 23 games, Derby County is doomed to relegation, yet Detroit-based sports management firm General Sports Entertainment purchased the Rams in a deal reported to be in the range of $100 million. Why would anyone pay $100 million for a last-place team? The explanation says a lot about why English soccer clubs are attractive to foreign investors …
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Sundhage’s talent search continues
[U.S. WOMEN] Pia Sundhage is organizing a mega-camp beginning Friday at the Home Depot Center, the last chance for players to impress the new U.S. women’s national team coach before she gets down to the task of picking a squad to prepare for Olympic qualifying in the CONCACAF region to be held April 2-13 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
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African Nations Cup Results
Chelsea’s Michael Essien scored one goal and set up the other to lead host Ghana to a 2-0 victory over Morocco Monday that gave the Black Stars first place in Group A at the African Nations Cup and knocked the Lions of Atlas out of the competition. Guinea tied Namibia, 1-1, in the other Group A finale to finish in second place and move into the quarterfinals along with Ghana.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Throughout his career, Gallardo has been a dynamic attacking midfielder known for remarkable technique, impressive speed and quickness, and an uncanny knack for providing service to his teammates. He has led teams to major championships in Argentina and France, and has been a star at every level for the national team of Argentina, including playing in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. We are thrilled to have a player of his caliber joining D.C. United.”
— D.C. United President Kevin Payne on the club’s acquisition of 32-year-old Marcelo Gallardo. (MLSnet.com)
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MLS clubs get a Champions League
CONCACAF yesterday made official what had been known for months, that starting next August, a 24-team Champions League tournament will replace the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains the format.
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D.C. United ups its foreign quota
[MLS WATCH] If any team figured to take quick advantage of the greater liberty granted by MLS teams to sign international players, it would figure to be D.C. United. In his series examining MLS clubs’ preseason maneuvers and preparations, Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney examines D.C. United’s South American shopping spree, which included the landing of Argentine World Cup veteran Marcelo Gallardo
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Clubs bid, keeper Brad Guzan waits
Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan is in back in the U.S. training camp, but for how long?
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Hugo Perez gets another shot at Hall of Fame
Hugo Perez, perhaps the most accomplished U.S. soccer player who is not in the National Soccer Hall of Fame, is among 15 players in the Hall’s 2008 Veteran Ballot. Perez, who 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. The Hall also announced its 2008 Builders Ballot.
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Michael Bradley sets scoring record; Rossi strikes against Real Madrid
[AMERICANS ABROAD/VIDEO]. Michael Bradley scored in his fourth straight game for Dutch club Heerenveen, striking twice in a 3-0 win over De Graafschap. The double strike gives the 20-year-old Bradley 11 league goals this season, breaking the record for goals in a season by an American-born and -bred player in a European first division, which had been set by Eric Wynalda at German club Saarbruecken in 1992-93 and Brian McBride at Fulham last season.
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Houston’s Nate Jaqua set for Austrian league
[MLS MOVES] MLS champion Houston is set to lose another attacker to the Austrian league. Following Joseph Ngwenya‘s move to SK Austria Karnten, Nate Jaqua is set to join SCR Altach pending what its coach Heinz Fuchsbichler calls settling some minor contract details.
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Expanding ‘Sueno’ gives MLS ‘Republica’ exposure
Registration began Sunday for the 2008 version of what is in essence an open tryout to earn a spot on an MLS team, and this year, it will be conducted by two MLS teams rather than just one.
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DiCicco returns as U-20 women’s coach
[U.S. WOMEN] Tony DiCicco, who coached the USA to the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics and first place at the 1999 Women’s World Cup, has rejoined the U.S. women’s national team program as head coach of the under-20 team.
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Thieves add to City’s misery
[OFF THE POST] Sunday was a bad day for Manchester City and its players. Not only did the Premier League club lose to second-level Sheffield United, 2-1, in the English FA Cup, but its players and staff returned to their locker room at United’s Bramall Lane to discover it had been ransacked.
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Only six EPL teams left in FA Cup
[ENGLAND] A day after its American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, completed a re-financing deal that should allow them to remain as owners and go ahead with their plans to build of a new stadium, Liverpool avoided embarrassment in in the English FA Cup when the Reds twice rallied from one goal down and beat sixth-level Havant & Waterlooville at Anfield. Other Premier League teams weren’t so lucky. Only six EPL teams advanced to the final 16.
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Threat of match-fixing hits African Nations Cup
[AFRICA WATCH] One of the unfortunate consequences of the increased popularity in the African Nations Cup is the interest of Asian betting syndicates. Twice in the last week low-profiles team revealed they were approached to throw games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Pato is very young and we, the team and the coaching staff, need to look after him to keep him relaxed. He’s an intelligent kid, but it can be very dangerous to be that famous at his age.”
— Dutch player Clarence Seedorf, trying to downplay 18-year-old Pato‘s impact after the Brazilian scored two goals in AC Milan’s 2-0 win over Genoa on Sunday to give him three goals in his first four Serie A games. (AFP)
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Players galore picked in Supplemental Draft
[MLS WATCH] Most of the players expected to be picked in the SuperDraft who weren’t selected did get snagged in the Supplemental Draft held Thursday by conference call, and they weren’t alone. The 14 teams picked 51 players, with only Toronto FC showing restraint.
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International Weekend TV Schedule
The English FA Cup moves into the fourth round. The top matchup features Manchester United against Tottenham on Sunday. In Spain, leader Real Madrid hosts third-place Villarreal with Italian-American Giuseppe Rossi on Sunday. For all the weekend international action …