[MLS WATCH] Coaches and players came and went, one DP dazzled while the other dallied, AEG pulled out of the Red Bulls’ operation once and for all, and at some point actual dirt was actually moved at the site of what is to be Red Bull Park. All that occurred during the first year of former U.S. international Jeff Agoos‘ tenure. His second year began this week with a new title, Sporting Director, and a much heavier workload following one season as Technical Director.
Category: Soccer America Daily
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Own goal beats Tim Howard, Everton
[U.S. ABROAD] Everton, which was eliminated from the FA Cup last weekend by third-tier Oldham in a game that American keeper Tim Howard sat out, fell in the first leg of its English League Cup semifinal series, 2-1, to Chelsea on Tuesday. Howard was beaten in the 26th minute by Shaun Wright-Phillips and on a headed own goal by Joleon Lescott in stoppage time.
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Refs in Ecuador strike against strike ban
[REF WATCH] Ecuador’s referees reacted to a measure banning strikes by referees – by going on strike.
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Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions: college coaching oportunities, positions in the pros, youth soccer, the soccer industry, even television.
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National High School Winter Rankings
Miami’s Varela High School (18-0-1) and California’s Santa Monica High School (12-0-1) share the top spot in the first NSCAA/adidas National Winter Boys High School Winter Rankings. Florida’s American Heritage (20-0-0) is first in the girls rankings.
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English clubs face mass losses
[ENGLAND WATCH] An influx of African players has poured into England in recent years, and English clubs will face a mass exodus of players headed to the African Nations Cup, beginning Jan. 20 in Ghana
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Rapids keeper Coundoul called up by Senegal
[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP] Senegal called up Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul for the 2008 African Nations Cup that begins Jan. 20 in Ghana.
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Accent on youth
[U.S. WOMEN] All seven collegians whom new U.S. women’s national team coach Pia Sundhage called up for a six-day training camp at The Home Depot Center are among the 20 players she selected to travel to Foshan, China, for the 2008 Four Nations Tournament against Canada, Finland and host China Jan. 16-20 at the Foshan Sports Center Stadium.
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English FA Cup Draw
Havant & Waterlooville, the only minor league club still alive in the FA Cup, could travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the fourth round of the English FA Cup if they both win next week’s replays. Either Oldham or Huddersfield Town, both winners over EPL teams in the third round, will reach the final 16 after they were drawn against each other in the round of 32. The two guaranteed EPL clashes are Manchester United against Tottenham or Reading and defending champion Chelsea at Wigan. For the entire fourth-round draw …
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What They’re Saying
“They’re the three people I’d trust with my wife naked. That’s how good they are as friends.”
— David Beckham on former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville, his personal manager Terry Byrne, and his pal Dave Gardner. (The Sun)
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Barbados ready to knock off USA
Paul Kennedy on the latest CONCACAF news
[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] The technical adviser to the Barbados national team, the USA’s probable opponent in the second round of World Cup qualifying, is “quietly confident” the Bajan Rockets can upset the CONCACAF giant if they meet in June. More chaos in Trinidad & Tobago, where Colombian Francisco Maturana has been named interim head coach of its national team after head coach Wim Rijsbergen was suspended for an altercation with T&T’s director of football, Lincoln Phillips — both formerly prominent figures on the U.S. soccer scene. For all the CONCACAF World Cup news …
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U.S. teen Jeffrey assists in debut with Belgian leader
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Former U.S. under-17 national team star Jared Jeffrey assisted on Belgian co-leader Club Brugge’s only goal in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Antalyaspor in Turkey.
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Stielike leaves Ivory Coast after son hospitalized
[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP] Ivory Coast, one of the favorites to win the 2008 African Nations Cup that begins next week in Ghana, has temporarily replaced Coach Uli Stielike after the German’s son, Ulrich, fell into a coma Sunday.
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Fox Soccer Channel goes broadband
[TV WATCH] Fox Soccer Channel will offer soccer programming, including its coverage of the English Premier League, online on its new FoxSoccer.tv Web site.
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U.S. captain Kristine Lilly to skip Olympics
[OLYMPICS] The most experienced member of the U.S. women’s national team has announced she won’t compete in the 2008 Olympic Games next summer should the USA succeed to qualify in April. Kristine Lilly, 36, who debuted in 1987 at age 16 and has scored 129 goals in 340 U.S. appearances, is due to give birth to her first child in July. “I’m not closing any doors as far as soccer,” said Lilly.
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Dallas dealing for boost in D from Mexico
Ridge Mahoney examines decision-making at FCD
FC Dallas, which already boasted one of the better midfields in the league and threw away more than $800,000 for the disaster that was Denilson last season, actually might be ready to shell out real money to shore up its shaky back line. FCD invited Mexican international defender Duilio Davino to attend last weekend’s InterLiga games at Pizza Hut Park as its guest.
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Pickens departure for England opens door for Cronin
[U.S. NATIONAL TEAM CAMP] Apparently, Fire keeper Matt Pickens wasn’t kidding a few months back when he hinted at trying his luck overseas. Instead of training with the U.S. national team at Home Depot Center, he’s on trial with Norwich City, a former English Premier League club now playing in the League Championship.
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Bizarre field invasion, 14-year-old debuts in InterLiga
InterLiga play on the weekend included the professional debut of a 14-year-old, a female field invasion and the passage of Club America and San Luis into the semis.
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Friedel & Blackburn embarrassed in FA Cup
[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Goalkeeper Brad Friedel was shelled by the 17th-place team in England’s second-tier league when Blackburn fell, 4-1, to Coventry in the FA Cup third round. Fulham, with Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey, was also embarrassed, but not eliminated, when the EPL club tied, 2-2, with third-tier Bristol. Keeper Tim Howard won’t have regretted sitting out Everton’s 1-0 loss to third-tier Oldham. Bobby Convey took a head-butt in Reading’s tie at Tottenham.
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Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions.
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FA Cup: Stingy Liverpool stymied by Mad Hatters
[ENGLAND WATCH] The English FA Cup lived up to its reputation for high drama as four teams from the lower half of the third level of English soccer played Premier League teams over the weekend, and none of them lost. In the biggest surprise, Liverpool got what was coming to it when bankrupt Luton Town held the Reds to a 1-1 tie. The result followed the Reds’ refusal to donate their share of the game’s gate receipts to Luton, which has not paid its players in full in more than two months.
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English FA Cup Results
Four Premier League teams fell to lower division teams in the third round of the English FA Cup on Saturday. Everton was the big loser, falling at home to third-level Oldham, 1-0. Also going down at home were Blackburn (4-1 to Coventry) and Bolton (1-0 to Sheffield United). Birmingham also lost to a third-level team, dropping a 2-1 decision at Huddersfield. For all the English FA Cup results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“If soccer in Nigeria was organized as in Germany the team would be unbeatable. Even Brazil would have to watch out for Nigeria.”
— Nigeria’s German coach Berti Vogts, who hinted that he may leave his post before the African Nations Cup kicks off in two weeks because of delays in paying salaries. Vogts took the job last March. The Super Eagles won the African Nations Cup in 1980 and 1994. They’re in Group B with Ivory Coast, Mali and Benin for the tournament that begins Jan. 20 in Ghana. (AFP)
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Casillas saves day for Real Madrid
[SPAIN] Real Madrid remained perfect at the Bernabeu Stadium with a 2-0 win over Real Zaragoza on Sunday and remained seven points ahead of Barcelona, a 2-0 winner at Real Mallorca.
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Beckham trains with Arsenal
The Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham trained with Arsenal on Friday as part of his preparations for the MLS season kickoff in March and England duty. Beckham indicated he had no interest in playing competitively for the Gunners, but wore an Arsenal No. 23 jersey at the practice. Asked why he wore the Gunners’ colors, Coach Arsene Wenger smiled and said, “You have to put some [gear] on.”