Category: Soccer America Daily

A song about Zinedine Zidane‘s World Cup head-butt, written by three upset fans shortly after the incident, is on course to becoming France’s biggest hit of the summer. The tune, “Coup de Boule” (head-butt in French) was downloaded 80,000 times in the last 20 days and distributor Warner Music says the CD, which also pokes […]

D.C. United, which has a 20-point lead on second-place New England in the Eastern Conference, puts its 14-game undefeated streak on the line when it travels to Real Salt Lake, which is winless in its last four games at home. D.C. United has lost just once this season, May 6 at Colorado. Last season’s San […]

"It feels like our home field now. but we’ve got to protect it a little better." — Chicago Fire striker Nate Jaqua, whose team got off to a 3-0-1 start at its new Toyota Park stadium before losing twice and tying once in its latest three games. Chicago hosts Columbus, which is on a 10-game […]

For all the week’s MLS and Libertadores Cup action: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137424

The U-18 Eclipse Select girls and the U-17 Arsenal FC boys, both seeking their third straight national titles, were held to ties on the opening day of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. The Dallas Texans Red North tied Eclipse Select, 3-3. The Eclipse Select’s four girls finalists were 2-0-2 on […]

Aly Wagner will become the 18th women to play 100 or more times for her national team if she plays against Canada on Sunday in Cary, N.C. (live on ESPN2, 1 pm. ET). The USA has won seven of its last eight games against Canada and is 29-3-3 over against the Canadians. U.S. Women’s roster […]

When Vasco da Gama forward Valdir Papel came toward the bench his own coach, Renato Portaluppi, shoved him down the sideline. Papel had been ejected in the 17th minute of the Copa Brasil final after receiving his second yellow card for his second brutal tackle from behind. "It’s unacceptable that you give a player a […]

Brazil’s Sao Paulo, which had lost twice to Chivas Guadalajara in the group stage, downed the Mexican club, 1-0, in the first leg of their Libertadores Cup semifinal in Mexico. Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scored the game’s only goal on a penalty kick. It was Ceni’s 63rd career goal, tying Paraguayan Jose Luis Chilavert […]

The exodus of Mexican World Cup stars to Europe continued when striker Francisco Fonseca joined Portugal’s Benfica. The Cruz Azul player, nicknamed "Kikin," is the fourth member of Mexico’s World Cup squad to move to Europe in the last month. Defender Ricardo Osorio and captain Pavel Pardo joined Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, and defender Carlos […]

Landon Donovan suffered a strained hamstring that could sideline him for at least a week while warming up for Los Angeles’ friendly against Cruz Azul on Wednesday. The Mexican club won, 4-1, in front of 7,980 fans at UC Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium.

In an MLS season in danger of being the lowest scoring in the league’s 11-year history, Chivas USA is providing the relief for soccer fans who also had to suffer through a goal-deprived World Cup. For the second week in a row, Chivas USA played a midweek road-game that ended in a 3-3 tie. Last […]

“Above all it’s a lifestyle choice. Me and my family are happy here in Turin. But I also owe a debt of gratitude to the Agnelli family [Juventus owners], for the faith they have shown in me. For me, Serie A or Serie B, it’s the same. It’s still soccer, even if it’s played in […]

For all the week’s MLS and Libertadores Cup action: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137424

California club Slammers FC became the first team in the history of U.S. Club Soccer’s National Cup to win back-to-back titles when it won the 2006 U-16 Super Group title with a shootout victory over the Chicago Magic in the final. Two other California clubs — San Juan SC Spirits (U-17 Super Group) and Capital […]

Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who coached Australia to the second round of the 2006 World Cup, has been charged with tax fraud by the Dutch public prosecutor. Hiddink, now coach of Russia, is reportedly accused of evading Dutch taxes by claiming residency and paying taxes in Belgium, where income tax rates are lower. Investigators are trying […]

Here’s how an Italian soccer appeal court adjusted and confirmed the penalties for teams involved in the Italian League game-mixing scandals: JUVENTUS UPHELD: Relegated to Serie B for 2006-07 season. CHANGED: 30-point deduction from their 2006-07 Serie B total REDUCED TO 17 POINTS. UPHELD: Stripped of 2004-05 and 2005-06 Serie A titles. UPHELD: Five-year bans […]

45 D.C. United‘s league-leading number of points, from a 13-1-6 record 16 Fewest number of points: Real Salt Lake, from a 4-10-4 record. 19,729 Highest MLS attendance average (Los Angeles). 10,614 Lowest attendance average (New England). 37 D.C. United‘s league-leading number of goals scored (1.85 goals per game average). 16 Fewest goals scored, Columbus and […]

“Brian [McBride] brought a fierce competitiveness and professionalism to the national team that really set the standard for the modern U.S. player. When I look back at his impact on the team and the sport, I think it is easy to say that his legacy will be that of a true ironman on the field […]

For all the week’s MLS and Libertadores Cup action: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137424

The PDL and W-League move into the playoffs with conference champions decided this weekend. Among the PDL contenders is Brigham Young University, the only varsity college program playing in the PDL. The defending W-League champion New Jersey Wildcats host the women’s league’s Eastern Conference finals. For complete PDL and W-League pairings: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137425

U.S. under-20 men’s national team coach Thomas Rongen released the 18-player roster he will take to Northern Ireland for the 2006 Milk Cup. Rongen included seven pro players, five of whom ply their trade in MLS — Josmer Altidore (N.Y. Red Bulls), Carlos Borja (Chivas USA), Rodrigo Lopez (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas) and […]

After British jockey Paul O’Neill was caught by TV replays head-butting his horse, City Affair, London’s Evening Standard‘s headline read: "Angry jockey does a ‘Zidane’ to his horse." The Horseracing Regulatory Authority is investigating the incident as the sporting world speculates on what the pony could have said to provoke O’Neill’s attack. For more on […]

Dunga, who captained Brazil to the World Cup title in 1994, has replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira as head coach of Brazil, which exited in the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup. Dunga, 42, who also represented Brazil at the 1990 and 1998 World Cups, has no previous coaching experience, which has drawn comparisons to Germany’s […]

“I also cut my hair for a different reason, because I want to push my kid to do the same. And it was hot. Training two times a day, I have no time to spend with long hair. I also want to push the young players on my team to have a proper haircut, not […]

For all the week’s MLS and Libertadores Cup action: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137424