Category: Soccer America Daily

The spate of trouble on the field and off at major European games continued Tuesday night when Valencia’s Champions League aggregate victory over Inter Milan was marred by a mass brawl at the final whistle in which Inter’s Argentine midfielder, Nicolas Burdisso, suffered a broken nose. The brawl had begun on the field when David […]

It was too little, too late for Barcelona, which beat Liverpool, 1-0, at Anfield Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League but could not make up for its 2-1 loss to the Reds two weeks earlier in Barcelona. Liverpool knocked out the defending champions on the away goals after their round-of-16 series ended in a […]

GUATEMALA. The Chapines remain the only major Central American soccer nation to have never reached the World Cup finals, and their national team coach says that won’t change any time soon. They came close in qualifying for the 2006 finals, mounting a strong campaign to finish fifth in the Hexagonal, but they have since slipped. […]

Once again, the USA looks to have an easy draw in group play at the Gold Cup. It’s 7-0-0 against Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador, its Group B foes at the 2007 the Gold Cup, and they all three are in turmoil. El Salvador only recently ended a 29-month winless streak. Like El […]

“We live in a violent world today and, unfortunately, this violent world is transferred to within our preferred sport. We have policing organisms for the internet and music, for example, but not for sport, which carries great importance in the world. It is time something was done. We cannot continue like this.” — Newly elected […]

Dean Duerst, the former Wisconsin coach, took over for Erica Walsh as the head coach of the U.S. under-17 girls national team for its current camp at the Home Depot Center. Walsh was recently the new women’s head coach at Penn State after her predecessor, Paula Wilkins, took Duerst’s job in Madison. Duerst is also […]

The U.S. under-17 boys national team is headed to Central America, where it continues its preparations for this spring’s CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2007 Under-17 World Cup in South Korea. The U-17s will leave Thursday for a 10-day trip to Honduras and Guatemala that includes two matches against Honduras U-17s and matches against the […]

Barcelona can take hope from Manchester United that Liverpool is beatable at Anfield. The Spanish club will put its UEFA Champions League title on the line Tuesday night when it faces Liverpool, which takes a 2-1 lead into the game. The Reds are coming off Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Manchester United that ended their 30-game […]

David Beckham will be sidelined for at least a month after damaging the lateral ligament in his right knee on Saturday in Real Madrid’s Spanish league game against Getafe. A spokesman for Beckham said the former England captain would be out for 4-6 weeks after suffering a strain to the ligament. Beckham will not only […]

By Ridge Mahoney Senior Editor With 27 players and a few staff members, Kansas City coach Curt Onalfo and technical director Peter Vermes left Monday night for a two-week training stint in Argentina. Missing the trip is forward Yura Movsisyan, who because of his legal status and pending issuance of a visa cannot leave the […]

“If an alien came to earth, the first things I would want them to know would be Coca-Cola, Disney and Barca, but there is work to be done.” — Barcelona president Joan Laporta, telling German weekly Der Spiegel that the Spanish champion hopes to boost the club’s revenues and overhaul rival Real Madrid as soccer’s […]

The U.S. Soccer Foundation announced the distribution of $2 million in funds to 52 groups in 24 states and the District of Columbia as part of its 12th annual grants program. This year’s program was highlighted by the establishment of “Mooch” Myernick Fund to honor the life, career and years of distinguished service of coach […]

Chad O’Donnell of Sioux Falls, S.D., and George Jardine of Wilmington, Del., were named the 2006 US Youth Soccer adidas Coaches of the Year at the awards gala held Friday night in conjunction with the 2007 US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop and Coaches Convention in St. Louis. Donnell coaches in the Sioux Falls Soccer Association. […]

The USA will face South Korea, Poland and Brazil in the Under-20 World Cup this summer in Canada. The Americans opens against Korea on June 30, then faces Poland on July 3 at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium before concluding group play on July 6 against four-time U-20 world champion Brazil at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa. […]

ENGLAND. Manchester United continued its strong play away from home, beating Liverpool, 1-0, with a goal by substitute John O’Shea in stoppage time, to maintain its nine-point lead over Chelsea in the Premier League. The loss snapped Liverpool’s 30-match unbeaten home league record, stretching back to October 2005. Hours after the stunning United win, Chelsea […]

Sevilla took over first place from Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga, coming from behind to beat Barca, 2-1, in a wild match on Saturday. Barcelona was cruising in the first half thanks to Ronaldinho‘s goal in the 13th minute and looked to add a second when Sevilla defender Aitor Ocio was sent off for bringing […]

Real Madrid star David Beckham suffered what his coach, Fabio Capello, described Sunday as a “serious” injury in the Merengues’ 1-1 tie with Getafe on Saturday night. Beckham looked certain to miss Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League match at Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The injury probably killed any chance of his returning to the England […]

“I’d be stupid to think I can make it as big as baseball, basketball and American football. That’s not going to happen. I’m not going there thinking I will change everything. My aim is to help the kids in America enjoy football. I’ll be involved at the grassroots with kids from eight to 15, then […]

In the English Premier League, Fulham (14th place) ended a run of three straight losses in all competitions with a 1-1 tie with Aston Villa thanks Carlos Bocanegra‘s headed goal. It was Bocanegra’s third goal of the season. Brian McBride played 80 minutes for Fulham; Clint Dempsey stayed on the bench. American keeper Marcus Hahnemann […]

Sports daily Ole reported that the Argentina’s hard-core hooligans have gone into the consulting business. They’ve organized conferences in other countries and hosted wannabe thugs, charging U.S. dollars to share their expertise on stadium chants, weapon use and how to extort players and club officials. Said the leader of Boca Juniors’ notorious “fan club” La […]

Peter Kay, the chief executive of England’s Sporting Chance Clinic, which provides athletes with counseling and treatment to combat addictions such as alcoholism, drug abuse and gambling, says another growing problem has arisen among English Premier League players – Internet porn obsession. “It becomes a problem when he is doing it 14, 15, 16 times,” […]

Goalkeeper Diego Fernando of Colombian club Deportivo Pasto reacted to news that he’d be on the bench by punching Coach Alvaro de Jesus Gomez in the face. “This type of indiscipline cannot be tolerated, especially in an institution characterized by unity and solidarity,” said the club in a statement after suspending Fernando. In southern Serbia, […]

Referee-turned-politician Philippe Leuba of Switzerland used as part of his campaign material a shot of him shaking hands with David Beckham before the England-Argentina friendly he reffed in 2005. In the photo, Beckham’s speech bubble had him saying, “I hope you are just as impartial in the state parliament as you were on the soccer […]

Marin Levidzhev fought for two years in Bulgarian courts to change his name legally to Manchester United. Local magistrates refused to allow a surname change, but are permitting him to from now on be known as Manchester Levidzhev. Yet Levidzhev remains determined, declaring that he’ll take his quest to become Mr. United to a higher […]

By Ridge Mahoney Kevin Nowak (Real Salt Lake) and Jon Busch and Chris Leitch (both Columbus) were among the notable players placed on waivers as MLS teams trimmed their rosters to meet the March 1 compliance date for roster sizes and salary-cap restrictions. Teams are required to carry no more than 18 players on the […]