Category: Story

[SPAIN-RUSSIA REPORT CARD] David Villa became the first player to score a European Championship hat trick since 2000 when he led Spain to a 4-1 win over Russia. Villa also set up Cesc Fabregas‘ first goal for Spain – its fourth of the game – when he dribbled downfield before chipping a sublime pass to Xavi, whose shot was parried by Russian Igor Akinfeyev for Fabregas to hit home with a diving header. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla grades the players.

In the eyes of most American soccer fans, playing Barbados in a qualifying round is a formality, yet U.S. Soccer has named a 21-man roster stocked with players who’ve just faced England, Spain and Argentina in preparation games. The U.S. hosts Barbados Sunday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2 & Galavision) at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., in the first leg, with the second leg scheduled for June 22.

Brentwood, winner of the Tennessee Class AAA, is the top-ranked boys team in the Final NSCAA/adidas High School Boys Spring Rankings. Parkview, which repeated as Georgia’s Class 5A state champion, is No. 1 in the Final NSCAA/adidas High School Girls Spring Rankings. For all the boys and girls rankings …

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.

[OFF THE POST] After European Championship host Austria opened with a 1-0 loss to Croatia, Vienna brewery Ottakringer offered a life-time supply of beer to any Austria player who scores in its next two group games, against Poland and Germany.

[SWEDEN-GREECE REPORT CARD] Defending champion Greece and Sweden appeared to be headed to a 0-0 tie when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first international goal for more than two and a half years with a brilliant individual effort and minutes later Petter Hansson added a second goal on a scramble on the Greek goal line to give the Swedes a 2-0 win. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the players.

First-round play began Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup. For all the results and goal scorers …

[FRANCE-ROMANIA REPORT CARD] Group C, the requisite “Group of Death,” kicked off with a barely a heart murmur, as a resilient Romanian eight-man phalanx blunted just about everything the French could muster. Romanian catalyst Cristian Chivu played a cagier game than counterpart Franck Ribery, and left back Razvan Rat highlighted an excellent match for the back line with a few daring runs. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the players.

[MAKING A LIST] Landon Donovan, 26, made his 100th appearance for the U.S. national team when he played against Argentina in Sunday’s scoreless tie. Donovan debuted for the USA in October of 2000. For the USA’s 100-cap men …

[NETHERLANDS-ITALY REPORT CARD] Spurred by a controversial Ruud van Nistelrooy goal scored while opposing defender Christian Panucci lay just off the field after a collision, the Netherlands added breathtaking counterattack goals by Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst while thrashing four-time world champion Italy, 3-0. The Dutch thus take control of Group C. The Italians must climb out of the basement with no points and a minus-3 goal difference. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the players.

[EURO ’08 PREVIEW] The first day of group play concludes on Tuesday with two games in Group D. Spain is the favorite in the group that also includes defending champion Greece, Russia and Sweden. For a look at the Group D teams and their rosters …

[REF WATCH] Did Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt and his officiating crew blow it Monday night in Berne by not disallowing Ruud van Nistelrooy‘s goal for offside in a spectacular 3-0 Dutch defeat of Italy, or did he properly interpret the nuances of what he should do when a defending player, in this case Christian Panucci, leaves the field of play?

[ARGENTINA] River Plate clinched the Argentine Clausura championship last weekend on the penultimate game day with 2-1 win over Olimpo on two goals by 20-year-old midfielder Diego Buonanotte. It gives River Plate its first title after an eight-season drought, during which archrival Boca Juniors lifted two titles.

Goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, the captain of the Mexican national team, was arrested and detained for two hours after guests at the Chicago hotel where the Mexican players stayed after their 4-0 win on Sunday complained about noise, according to media reports.