Category: Soccer America Site

The 2002 World Cup kicked off in Seoul with a result that will go down as one of the greatest upsets in the World Cup history. Senegal, a World Cup debutant and a 300-1 shot to lift the trophy, beat title holder France, 1-0. After nearly a half hour of play, El Hadji Diouf beat […]

According to World Cup tradition, the opening game of the 2002 tournament featured the defending champion. Senegal's 1-0 win over France resembled the 1990 opener. At Italy 90, title-holder Argentina also faced an African opponent, Cameroon, and fell 1-0. Cameroon went on to the best World Cup showing by an Africa nation, reaching the quarterfinals, […]

Saturday, June 1 in Niigata (2:30 am ET) Group D: IRELAND (0-0-0, 0 pts.) vs. CAMEROON (0-0-0, 0 pts.) (TV: Live, Univision, 2:30 am ET; Delay, ABC, 3:30 pm ET/PT; Tape, Telefutura, 10 am ET/PT) The pressure will be on Irish coach Mick McCarthy, who kicked star Roy Keane off the team on the eve […]

As World Cup openers go, the France-Senegal match lacked in terms of notable dignitaries. There was the Korean President Kim Dae Jung and the president of East Timor. There were prime ministers from Japan, Namibia, the Dominican Republic and St. Kitts & Nevis. Those pushing for a harmonization of Korean-Japanese relations hoped that Japan's Emperor […]

Saturday, June 1 (4:00 pm ET) LOS ANGELES (4-3-2, 14 points) at COLORADO (5-3-1, 16 points) (TV: ESPN2) Key Players Out: Los Angeles – M Cobi Jones (U.S. National Team), F Chris Albright (broken foot-R), F Isaias Bardales (knee sprain-R); F John Spencer (knee arthroscopy-L), M Pablo Mastroeni (U.S. National Team). Saturday, June 1 (6:30 […]

Friday, May 31 in Seoul (7:30 am ET) Group A: FRANCE (0-0-0, 0 pts.) vs. SENEGAL (0-0-0, 0 pts.) (TV: Live, ESPN2, Univision, 7:30 am ET; Tape, Telefutura, 10 am ET/PT, Galavision, 7:30 p.m. ET/PT) First, Robert Pires. Now, Zinedine Zidane. France opens its defense of the World Cup without its two playmakers. Pires was […]

By Paul Kennedy In Seoul France's hopes of repeating as World Cup champion may depend on the magic hands of 44-year-old osteopath Philippe Boixel. Boixel's job is to get star Zinedine Zidane back in shape after the French playmaker suffered a thigh injury in last Sunday's friendly with South Korea in Suwon. Boixel was a […]

The elbow injury suffered by Kasey Keller in WednesdayÆs practice during non-contact training drill kept him out of training on Thursday. ''He suffered a contusion on his left elbow and he is day-to-day,'' said U.S. Soccer spokesman Jim Moorhouse. The Federation said tests conducted at a Korean hospital on Wednesday night came back negative and […]

MERCY. Senegal winger Khalilou Fadiga admitted shoplifting a $500 gold necklace from a Korean jewelry store, according to Nikkan Sports, which reported that the store owner asked police not to arrest the player. Fadiga is scheduled to start in the opener against France. ''I want our players to have much more discipline,'' said Senegal coach […]

U.S. coach Bruce Arena and defender Eddie Pope met the press on Thursday in Seoul, Korea — six days before the USA meets Portugal in its World Cup 2002 opener. BRUCE ARENA, U.S. coach On the injury of status Kasey Keller, listed as day-to-day after suffering a bruised left elbow: ''I have not spoken to […]

The World Cup is supposed to be a time of celebration. However the United States fares in Korea, we should celebrate the continued progress of American soccer and the ongoing effort by U.S. Soccer and MLS to bolster player development. The last two World Cups have been better than the tournaments that preceded them ù […]

Rank. Team: Goals per game average 1. New England: 1.75 2. Colorado: 1.56 3. Chicago: 1.56 4. Los Angeles: 1.33 5. MetroStars: 1.30 6. San Jose: 1.30 7. D.C. United: 1.22 8. Dallas: 1.22 9. Kansas City: 1.13 10. Columbus: 1.00 League-wide goals per game average: 2.67

''Six-foot-two, eyes of blue, Mick McCarthy's after you!'' sang the Irish fans at the 1990 World Cup, IRELAND's first appearance in the finals. McCarthy captained that team, which reached the quarterfinals, marking the zenith of Irish soccer. (Their USA '94 run would end in the round of 16.) McCarthy turned coach in 1996. Although failing […]

The U.S. World Cup Defenders By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor Jeff Agoos Pos.: Defender. Club: San Jose Earthquakes. Age: 34. GP: 130. G: 4. Strong tackler reads the game well and attempts to pass the ball. Fiercely competitive and leader of the back. Won't win many footraces or aerial duels; sometimes can compensate by positioning, […]

A lot must go right for the USA to reach the second round at the World Cup. Here's a look at reasons for optimism and areas of concern. Whatever well-laid plans Bruce Arena had in mind for the 2002 World Cup went out the window at RFK Stadium May 12. In the many scenarios and […]

Those teams thrown into this pit must navigate treacherous territory, then face a probable meeting with defending champion France in either the round of 16 or the semifinals. ARGENTINA is stocked deeply and richly at every position and has adapted so well to Coach Marcelo Bielsa's basic 3-3-1-3 formation that it is the strongest challenger […]

The U.S. World Cup Midfielders By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor DaMarcus Beasley Pos.: Midfielder. Club: Chicago Fire. Age: 20. GP: 12. G: 3. Once more of a winger. Now is maturing into a two-way midfielder or emergency left back. Recovers and closes down players quickly. First U.S. goal was a stoppage-time volley that downed South […]

Incumbent Sepp Blatter defeated Issa Hayatou 139 votes to 56 to win another four-year term as FIFA president. ''I register your deep trust, your deep trust in FIFA and in me,'' said Blatter, whose opponents had accused him of financial mismanagement and corruption. ''I have to install peace in this family here and I will […]

ITALY may have the best selection of forwards. But can they take penalty kicks? It's been three straight World Cups in which the Italians went home after a tiebreaker from the spot: quarterfinals against France in 1998; final against Brazil in 1994; and semifinal against Argentina in 1990. Such a record should have Coach Giovanni […]

The U.S. World Cup Goalkeepers By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor Brad Friedel Pos.: Goalkeeper. Club: Blackburn (ENG). Age: 31. GP: 76. G: 0. Size (6-foot-4, 202 pounds) and incredible wing span enable him to reach shots and crosses many keepers miss. Excellent with feet and has a powerful throw. Tough on breakaways and has a […]

Conflicting reports are coming out of South Korea regarding the severity of an elbow injury suffered by U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller. Korean news agency Yonhap cited sources from the Asan Medical Center suggesting that the injury could force Keller to miss World Cup games. The sources said X-rays revealed no broken bones, but that Keller […]

Consider Group H the World Cup's gift to JAPAN. The host with the most is in the group with the least, and passage to second round – and perhaps the quarterfinals – looks well within grasp. Experienced RUSSIA will have plenty to say about this, and so might BELGIUM. If the pressure of playing at […]

The U.S. World Cup Goalkeepers By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor Brad Friedel Pos.: Goalkeeper. Club: Blackburn (ENG). Age: 31. GP: 76. G: 0. Size (6-foot-4, 202 pounds) and incredible wing span enable him to reach shots and crosses many keepers miss. Excellent with feet and has a powerful throw. Tough on breakaways and has a […]

Juninho appears to have claimed a starting spot in Brazil's midfield. The dynamic, diminutive playmaker was left off of Brazil's 1998 squad because of injury, though he claimed to have recovered in time for the tournament in which the Brazilians finished runner-up. … The Republic of San Marino has issued a series of stamps commemorating […]

Consider Group H the World Cup's gift to JAPAN. The host with the most is in the group with the least, and passage to second round – and perhaps the quarterfinals – looks well within grasp. Experienced RUSSIA will have plenty to say about this, and so might BELGIUM. If the pressure of playing at […]