Category: Soccer America Site

With Bruce Arena's honesty comes some tactlessness, with his sharp wit comes a dose of acidic sarcasm and with his confidence comes a bit of arrogance: qualities that have elevated Arena to the top of soccer in this country on several levels. It was in 1998, Bruce Arena's last year at D.C. United, that the […]

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 […]

MLS Leading Scorers Player (team) Games Goals Assists Pts Carlos Ruiz (LA) 9 8 0 16 Ante Razov (CHI) 9 6 3 15 Taylor Twellman (NE) 8 7 0 14 Chris Henderson (COL) 9 6 2 14 Jason Kreis (DAL) 9 6 1 13 John Spencer (COLO) 8 4 3 11 Preki (KC) 8 3 […]

Ronaldo is back, and so is Bora, but only one of them will matter much when Group C kicks off June 3 in Ulsan. It's a quartet with a distinct top (BRAZIL) and bottom (CHINA), promising an intriguing battle for the second sweet-16 spot. Brazil is, no matter its struggles since France '98, among the […]

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 […]

Rank. Team (home games) Average Attendance 1. New England (3) 24,643 2. Colorado (5) 23,390 3. MetroStars (6) 21,014 4. D.C. United (5) 18,015 5. Los Angeles (4) 15,676 6. Columbus (6) 14,588 7. Kansas City (4) 13,396 8. Dallas (5) 13,165 9. Chicago (3) 10,714 10. San Jose (4) 8,264

Standing between the UNITED STATES and the second round are three opponents, two of which are seeking to reclaim past glories and one desperate to save face. PORTUGAL could be poised for its best World Cup showing in 36 years or set up for a great fall. The talent is unquestioned. Midfielder Luis Figo is […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

France star Zinedine Zidane has been ruled out at least through the opener on Friday against Senegal. … England's David Beckham was a full participant in training for the first time since suffering a broken bone in his foot a month ago. … Sweden officials have said the severity of attacking midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg's hip […]

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 […]