[OLYMPIC WOMEN] On the eve of the Olympic opener against Norway, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage spoke about the progress the team has made since she took over late last year. The Swede says the Americans, 21-0-1 in 2008, have made great strides on defense and in midfield but admitted “we have a little bit to go in the attacking third.” For all Sundhage’s remarks in Qinhuangdao …
Category: Story
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA looks past Wambach absence
The ultimate tests for an Abby Wambach-less U.S. women won’t come until later in the Olympic soccer tournament, but starting out against traditional rival Norway in Qinhuangdao on Wednesday may be a stiff enough challenge to a team abruptly deprived of its most potent weapon.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Five players to watch
[OLYMPIC WOMEN] Only five countries have won medals in Olympic women’s soccer: the USA, Brazil, Germany, Norway and China. It would be a surprise if the medalists at the Beijing Olympics don’t come from this quintet of women’s soccer powers. Here’s a look at key players from each of these five teams.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Olympic Soccer TV Schedule
Two days before the Opening Ceremonies, Olympic soccer will begin on Wednesday morning with live coverage of the USA-Norway women’s game on MSNBC and Universal HD. Soccer coverage will also be available on various NBC networks, including USA, CNBC and Telemundo. Complete soccer coverage will be available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
SuperLiga: Another Boring Revs vs. Dynamo Final?
Don’t rely on anything in soccer. Whenever you think you’ve got the sport sorted out, it strikes back with a sly sucker punch that flattens your theories. Just one year ago, the SuperLiga was a success at every level — good games, good soccer, good crowds, good atmosphere — and a good USA vs. Mexico (Galaxy vs. Pachuca) final. This year, things have been rather different. For a start the Mexicans have not exactly covered themselves with glory. Both their semifinalists — Atlante and Pachuca — turned inexcusably nasty at the end of their games. There can be no excuse for the way their players behaved in the face of defeat.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Van der Vaart signing signals end Ronaldo chase?
[TRANSFER TALK] Real Madrid’s signing of Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart from German side Hamburg SV in a $20 million transfer deal could spell the end of the Spanish champion’s protracted pursuit of Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Shape Up Or Face The Music, Leiweke Tells LA
L.A. Galaxy President Tim Leiweke has told the team to turn its season around or face the consequences, reports Jonah Freedman on his Inside Soccer blog. He quotes “a source close to Major League Soccer’s glamour franchise” as saying that Leiweke “made an unannounced visit to the team’s locker room this past week and issued […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Premier League’s World Tour Proposal
After the English Premier League’s proposal to play a 39th round of games around the world was rejected as both pointless and unfeasible by the teams, the English FA, FIFA and the fans, chief executive Richard Scudamore has gone back to the drawing board. His latest proposal foresees a winter world tour guaranteeing all the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA To Review Olympic Soccer Rules
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in Beijing Monday that the game’s world governing body will review Olympic soccer regulations before the 2012 games to avoid a repeat of the current row between clubs and country over the release of players. With just three days until the start of the Olympic soccer competition, the Court […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
European Soccer’s Bullish Market
There’s a timely pre-season primer from Tony Karon on the financial vagaries of the cut-throat European game, outlining the high-risk strategy of several top clubs as they compete to sign the highest paid players, and launch another bid for domestic and international success. Citing the “giddily bullish market” in European soccer that belies the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Noonan’s MLS Return?
Pat Noonan will likely re-sign for the New England Revolution in the next few days, and then be traded on to another MLS team, writes Steven Goff. “Four or five teams” are said to be interested.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Two Beckhams
Lowell Cohn outlines the difference between Beckham the commodity and Beckham the “ordinary” person.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
GolTV Statement On Being Pulled From Dish Network
Has GolTV suddenly disappeared from your TV channel lineup? Chances are that you’re a Dish Network subscriber. Read the broadcaster’s official statement on the move that will deprive many U.S. viewers of La Liga and the Bundesliga.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Thierry Loves New York, New York
Luis Arroyave grabbed a few minutes with Barcelona’s striker Thierry Henry, and the player reiterated not only how much he loves U.S. sports, but how he’d like to live here some day, “and it might happen pretty soon.” “I just realized recently in New York on vacation that soccer is growing,” Henry said. “I […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
New England hosts Houston in the Superliga 2008 Final on Tuesday night. Catch Copa Libertadores in the midweek. The 2008 Olympics kick off this week with men and women’s first-round games.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
How bad is the Galaxy?
The trend of recent results is good news for fans in several MLS cities, and a worrying development to those who follow the Galaxy.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
PDL Playoff Results
The defending champion Laredo Heat and Canada’s Thunder Bay Chill will meet in Saturday’s final of the Premier Development League (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 7:30 pm ET). The Heat disposed of the Reading Rage, 2-0, while the Chill beat the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, 2-1, in the first-ever all-Canadian semifinals. For the semifinal results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Pali Blues rally to win W-League Championship
Italian international Ilaria Pasqui took advantage of a mistake by former U.S. international keeper Kristen Luckenbill and scored into an empty net with diving header in the 88th minute to give the Pali Blues the 2008 W-League championship with a 2-1 win over the FC Indiana Lionesses.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. products get Mexico call-up; Friedel saves PK in Villa debut
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Sven-Goran Eriksson called up 20 players for his first training camp as Mexico’s national team coach, and they include New Mexico youth product Edgar Castillo and former California prep star Carlos Ochoa. In English preseason action, Brad Friedel made a sensational debut for Aston Villa, stopping a penalty kick in its 1-1 tie with Reading.
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USL-1 Results
The Charleston Battery got a pair of goals from Cuban Osvaldo Alonso to beat Vancouver, 2-0, on Sunday and move back into a tie with the Whitecaps for first place in the USL First Division. For all the results, goal scorers and standings …
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
SuperLiga: Another Boring Revs vs. Dynamo Final?
Don’t rely on anything in soccer. Whenever you think you’ve got the sport sorted out, it strikes back with a sly sucker punch that flattens your theories. Just one year ago, the SuperLiga was a success at every level — good games, good soccer, good crowds, good atmosphere — and a good USA vs. Mexico (Galaxy vs. Pachuca) final. This year, things have been rather different. For a start the Mexicans have not exactly covered themselves with glory. Both their semifinalists — Atlante and Pachuca — turned inexcusably nasty at the end of their games. There can be no excuse for the way their players behaved in the face of defeat.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
San Jose comes alive; D.C. gets a shutout
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS/VIDEO] The Earthquakes won their fourth game of the season, adding to the woes of the Los Angeles Galaxy, now winless in seven games despite more goals from Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle. D.C. United’s defense had its best performance of the year. Kenny Cooper showed why Dallas is so reluctant to let him go. For the weekend’s MLS highlights …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
For all the weekends MLS results, scoring leaders and this week’s schedule.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. men head to Tianjin in scoring slump
[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] The U.S. Olympic men’s team headed to China having gone scoreless in its last four games.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Image of SuperLiga Tainted
In a Q&A with comedian and Seattle Sounders FC minority owner Drew Carey, he was asked to describe SuperLiga in five words or less. He replied: “More Money for Mexican Owners,” which was clever and funny but not altogether accurate. The tournament is generating money for MLS and its marketing arm SUM, but is also reviving the ill feelings and poor sportsmanship seen before when Mexico’s national team loses to the USA.