[REF WATCH] The first point to be made about Marcelo Gallardo‘s elbowing of Landon Donovan in the face Sunday at RFK Stadium during D.C. United’s 4-1 beatdown of Los Angeles is that it didn’t happen, at least not in the manner that so many reporters and broadcasters have described.
Category: Story
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
US Youth Region I Championships
Kortney Rhodes was the star of the final day of the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships, scoring four goals for the FC Delco Fury II in a 5-0 win over the McLean MPS Freedom Elite in the under-18 girls final in Brunswick, Maine. FC Delco also won the under-17 boys title, the third straight regional crown for the Hammerheads. The New Jersey Soccer Academy won boys titles in the U-12 and U14 divisions. Its U-14 Gunners are coached by former U.S. national team star Tab Ramos. For all the final scores …
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Daniel Alves part of new-look Barcelona
[TRANFSER TALK] Barcelona is set to unveil its newest signing, Brazilian right back Daniel Alves. The defender, who can also play in midfield, joins the Catalan side from La Liga rival Sevilla in a transfer deal valued at $46 million, the third-highest in club history.
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Regulars, reserves, and reversals
[U.S. OPEN CUP] It’s nothing new for an MLS team to be bounced out of the U.S. Open Cup by an eager upstart from the lower divisions; it’s quite something else for two teams to stumble on the same night while up a man. Or two. Reigning MLS champion Houston and never-champion New York Red Bull not only went out in the third round Tuesday, out they went against shorthanded opposition.
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Brazilian coach guarantees win
[LIBERTADORES CUP] Brazilian club Fluminense believes overturning a two-goal deficit won’t be a problem when it hosts Ecuador’s LDU Quito in the second leg of the Libertadores Cup final on Wedesday (TV: Fox Sports en Espanol, 8:30 pm ET).
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
And The UEFA Cup Too
As if that’s not excitement enough, it’s Shakhtyor Karagandy against Debreceni VCS in the CL’s sister competition, the UEFA Cup.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Can Soccer Really Unite A Nation?
During and after every major international soccer tournament, the same facile clichés are peddled about the sport being a great unifier of people. And with ethnically fractured Spain taking the Euro 2008 title on Sunday, there has been plenty of talk about soccer having brought the divided country together under one flag. But as the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Inconsistent Galaxy Just Like MLS
One of Major League Soccer’s selling points is its unpredictability, but the L.A. Galaxy are taking that point to new extremes, writes Nick Green. Not only does it feature the league’s most potent attack and its most porous defense, but it’s impossible to tell if a player performing well one minute will even bother showing […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Scottish Premier League Doubles Its TV Money
The Scottish Premier League has signed a new four-year deal with Setanta Sports worth $250 million, over twice the amount of the current deal, due to expire in 2010. The extent of the game’s coverage will remain the same, with 60 games per season screened live across the UK and Ireland. It marks “the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Joy Of Transfer Rumors
With the Euros over, the UK sports media can now indulge in its favorite summer pastime of inventing, stoking or speculating upon the transfer market, an activity that’s no longer the exclusive domain of the country’s notoriously truth-shy tabloid press. In Tuesday’s “quality” papers, writes Josh Widdicombe, “you will find news of 20-plus transfers, only […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Platini Heads East
In Monday’s newsletter we wrote about FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s back-up plan should South Africa be unable to host the 2010 World Cup. This week UEFA boss Michel Platini heads to Poland and Ukraine to see how they are shaping up to co-host the next European Championships in four years time, amid continued speculation that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Costa Rica Names Rodrigo Kenton As New Coach
Former assistant coach takes over the Ticos from Hernan Medford, sacked last week.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Champions League Is Here Again
Wondering who Buducnost Podgorica will play in the first round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions league? The draw took place Tuesday.
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US Youth Region I Championships
For the second time in three years, a local team has reached the finals of the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships in Brunswick, Maine. The Coastal Thunder beat the TSF Academy Celtic, 3-1, to reach the finals of the U-16 division. Two years ago, the Thunder also reached the final. For all the semifinal scores …
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U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finalists
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy wrapped up its first regular season with its Summer Showcase June 27-30 in Greensboro, N.C. Heading into the final day of competition, nine spots were still up for grabs in the U-15/16 and U-17/18 divisions, and by the end of Monday only one position in the finals remained undecided. The Sockers FC lead the Mid-America U-17/18 division, but the Magic and Fire both have makeup games. For all the teams that booked their place in the Finals Week to be held July 12-19 at The Home Depot Center ..
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UEFA’s baffling plan to expand the Euro
[EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP] During the final weekend of Euro 2008, the 53 member nations of UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, unanimously agreed to expand the European Championship by eight teams, taking the total number of participating countries to 24.
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Deco follows Scolari to Chelsea
[TRANSFER TALK] Portuguese midfielder Deco is making his way from Barcelona to Chelsea in a $16 million move. The Brazilian-born playmaker made the switch after new Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola informed him his services were no longer needed at the Camp Nou.
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Soccer America’s All-Euro Team
[BEST XI] Spain dominated the All-Euro ’08 Team, as selected by Soccer America’s editorial staff. Six Spaniards made the first 11 and a seventh was one of three reserves selected. For all the picks …
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Foreign players no longer untouchable
Franco Neill: formerly of D.C. United. Rafael Gomes: signed in preseason, cut by the Rapids before the Fourth of July. Eloy Colombano, acquired in the summer of 2007, dumped by Kansas City less than a year later. Guilherme So and Nicolas Hernandez — one an MLS newcomer, the other an MLS veteran in his third season — set free by Columbus. The era of expanded opportunities for MLS foreign players is also a new age of vulnerability.
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Wolff to share, not bear, goalscoring burden
[MLS] Disregard those who believe Kansas City coach Curt Onalfo expects returnee Josh Wolff to solve his team’s goalscoring woes single-handedly.
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The Beckham Effect
All but one of the Los Angeles Galaxy’s six road games this season have drawn more than 20,000 fans. The exception was the Galaxy’s opener at Colorado’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, which was sold out at 18,713. For more on the David Beckham crowd pull and MLS attendance. …
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Another boost for revived D.C. United
One of the topics that Santino Quaranta wanted to emphasize while talking about his recovery from drug addiction and 90-day stay at a clinic in Southern California was the support of his teammates, notably midfielders Jaime Moreno and Ben Olsen.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sublime Spain The Worthy Winner
There’s barely a soccer journalist alive who doesn’t think that Spain deserved to win the European Championship Sunday, its first title for 44 years. The Spanish won the final with a moment of brilliance that epitomized their “flair, panache and style,” writes Sam Wallace. Fernando Torres’ sweet winning goal “was the moment when their brightest […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Refs Share Credit For Tournament’s Success
Paul Wilson’s only quibble with Euro 2008 is that too few people saw the games live because of the relatively small capacity of all but two of the stadiums. But the tournament should be remembered not just for the entertaining games and some unexpected results, but also for “an uncommonly low number of referee’s whistles.” […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Goalkeepers Shine In Muggy Midday Match-Up
Sunday’s game between D.C. United and the L.A. Galaxy promised rich entertainment thanks to the array of storied offensive talent on display. Not only that, writes Pat Walsh, it was going to feature United’s Zach Wells and L.A.’s Steve Cronin, “the worst two goalkeepers in MLS.” But the weekend’s highest scoring Major League Soccer […]