Category: Story

[OFF THE POST/EURO 2008] Spain’s coach Luis Aragones dismissed questions about his players’ off-field behavior after a journalist showed him a photo of his right back in a disco two days before Spain’s 2-1 win over Sweden: "It’s Sergio Ramos on his day off. What’s wrong with that? It was a miracle you didn’t catch me in a disco that night.” The 69-year-old Aragones explained that he expects players to take a break during training camp. …

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] For the third time this year, the U.S. women’s national team edged Australia by one goal, winning, 2-1, in their opening match of the Peace Queen Cup in Suwon, South Korea.

Paraguay extended its lead in the South American zone of 2010 World Cup qualifying when it beat Brazil, 2-0, on Sunday and second-place Argentina had to settle for a 1-1 tie at home to Ecuador. China was eliminated from contention in Asia, while upsets abounded in Africa. For all the results and goal scorers …

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Long-time indoor star John Barry Nusum scored two goals to lead Bermuda to a 2-1 win at Trinidad & Tobago in the biggest upset of the first leg of second-round qualifying in the Concacaf zone. Coached by American Ian Mork, Belize held Mexico scoreless for more than an hour before the Tri won, 2-0, before more than 50,000 fans in Houston.

The USA had prepared with friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina – three matches in which the Americans failed to score. Meeting Barbados on Sunday, for their first game of 2010 World Cup qualifying, must have felt like a clash against a Sunday league pub team – and it sure looked like it. Within a minute, Clint Dempsey scored the first goal of a 8-0 rout. A walk in the park next Sunday in the second leg will send the USA into the semifinal group stage of Concacaf qualifying for South Africa 2010. The first-leg win set a couple of U.S. records and included some unique moments. …

Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 8-0 win over Barbados on Sunday. …

[GROUP C REPORT CARDS] The Netherlands, 3-0 winner over Italy in its opening game, outdid itself with a 4-1 win over France. Romania moved into second place in Group C and has a shot at reaching the quarterfinals after it held Italy to a 1-1 tie. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla and Paul Kennedy grade the players.

[GROUP D REPORT CARDS] Spain recorded a 2-1 victory over Sweden on a dramatic stoppage-time goal to move into the quarterfinals. Russia eliminated defending champion Greece with a 1-0 win. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla and Paul Kennedy grade the players.

[GROUP A REPORT CARDS] Turkey came back from two goals down with three goals in the last 15 minutes to beat the Czech Republic and move into the quarterfinals at Euro ’08 along with Portugal, which had already clinched a berth in the final eight and fielded a weakened team in its 2-0 loss to Switzerland. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla and Paul Kennedy grade the players.

Montreal won for the first time — and scored its first goal — since moving into its new Saputo Stadium, beating Charleston, 1-0, Friday on Rocco Placentino‘s goal. The game drew more than 13,000 fans. For all the results and goal scorers …

[AUSTRIA-POLAND REPORT CARD] Co-host Austria replied to a controversial goal with one of its own in stoppage-time to tie Poland, 1-1, and retain slim hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals. Substitute Ivica Vastic stepped to the penalty spot after Polish midfielder Mariusz Ledwandowski allegedly pulled down Sebastian Proedl as they grappled for position awaiting a free kick. He drove the ball past keeper Artur Boruc, whose spectacular saves frustrated Austria during a furious onslaught during the first 30 minutes, after which Poland took a 1-0 lead when Roger Guerreiro, who looked to be a shade offside, tucked away a pass from Marek Saganowski. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the players.