[UEFA CUP] Nothing — not a midnight prank that robbed them of a good night’s sleep, the specter of Glasgow Rangers’ manager Walter Smith‘s past close calls or the relatively unknown reputation of their club – could prevent Zenit St. Petersburg players from completing a remarkable run in the UEFA Cup by lifting the trophy.
Category: Story
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Twellman Injury: How Bad This Time?
After being sidelined for seven games with a knee injury, it took barely 14 minutes for New England Revolution striker Taylor Twellman to score his first goal of the MLS season. But then, four minutes later, he got injured again, his ankle this time. Revs coach Steve Nicol was prepared to have Twellman replaced before […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rock-Bottom Barcelona
FC Barcelona hit rock bottom on Sunday, surrendering a 2-0 lead in its last home game of the season in front of a nearly-empty Estadio Camp Nou, to lose, 3-2, to Real Mallorca. Even the usually expressionless coach Frank Rijkaard couldn’t suppress a look of utter helplessness as the Barca supporters threw projectiles onto the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Former Revs Captain Turns the Page in L.A.
It’s been nearly a month since Joe Franchino was traded from the New England Revolution to the Los Angeles Galaxy. But more than a chance to return to his roots — Franchino grew up in Southern California and started his MLS career with the Galaxy — he says the trade gave him the opportunity to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rocky Mountain Derby: Round 1
Round one of the Rocky Mountain derby between the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake is this week’s feature on “MLS Primetime Thursday” (ESPN2: 9:30 PM ET). Despite being just three years old, the rivalry is marked by “megawatt intensity,”says ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, fondly recalling Pablo Mastroeni’s infamous on-field tirade in 2005 that drew the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham’s Galaxy falls to USL team
[MLS] With David Beckham in tow, the Los Angeles Galaxy headed back on the exhibition circuit, and it had no more luck Tuesday night than it has had in MLS, where it’s again playing below .500 almost two months into the 2008 season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rapids pull out stops to attack midweek malaise
[MLS] You have to give the Colorado Rapids some credit; they’re throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their ESPN2 Thursday night clash against Rocky Mountain rival Real Salt Lake. Midweek attendances for MLS games remain problematic, especially those played before summer vacations commence, but Colorado is attacking the midweek malaise in several manners.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer is a joy to recalled Larsson
[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] Sweden recalled veteran striker Henrik Larsson in a surprise move for the European Championship. Larsson, who retired from international play after the 2006 World Cup, did not play in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign but has scored six goals in 11 games for his club, Helsingborg. His return to international soccer is the third of his career. For the complete Sweden roster …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beasley ready for Rangers’ duty
[UEFA CUP] American DaMarcus Beasley traveled with Rangers to Manchester, but he is not expected to be included in the Scottish club’s squad for Wednesday’s UEFA Cup final against Zenit St. Petersburg (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 2:30 pm ET) that would make him the first American to play in a European cup final.
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U.S. under-20 women’s national team roster
[YOUTH] The U.S. under-20 women’s national team is in Clemson, S.C. for a two-week training camp as Coach Tony DiCicco puts the team through some final preparations before next month’s CONCACAF Qualifying in Puebla, Mexico. For the complete under-20 women’s roster …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[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.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Midweek matches include Copa Libertadores quarterfinals and the UEFA Cup final. In MLS’s Thursday night game, Colorado hosts Real Salt Lake. Mexican league playoffs go from Wednesday through Sunday.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Is Columbus the Best Team in MLS?
The team that SI.com’s Greg Lalas calls “The Milwaukee Bucks of Major League Soccer” (non basketball fans note: this is not a good thing), the Columbus Crew, has surprised just about everyone this year in assuming top spot in the league’s loaded Eastern Conference. Sure, it’s only seven games into the season, but when you […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Early Season MLS Revelations
Robbie Rogers is this year’s Juan Toja, says Steve Davis, writing for MLSNet — which is to say the Columbus Crew winger is off to a fast start in 2008, scoring five goals in his first seven games. It remains to be seen whether he can keep up the momentum (Toja in the second half […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sexy Football, Horrid Defending
It may not be all that effective, considering the team’s record, but at least the L.A. Galaxy is attempting to play Ruud Gullit’s brand of “sexy football,” says ESPN’s Steve Davis, for which the team should be commended. Under the Dutch legend’s direction, the Galaxy midfielders are settling into their roles, moving the ball quickly […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The East-West Rapprochement
Part one of what Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune calls the “East-West rapprochement” begins tomorrow, although it should really be called the “Russia-Great Britain rapprochement” considering the teams and cities involved. Wednesday’s UEFA Cup final pits Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers against Russia’s Zenit St. Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Nowak names 22 players for Toulon Tournament
[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] For what will be the most important test for players seeking to make their way on to the U.S. Olympic men’s team, U-23 head coach Peter Nowak has named 22 players who will participate in the Festival Espoirs International in the region of Toulon, France, beginning May 23.
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Getting it right
[REFEREE WATCH] So many borderline handball decisions arise during an MLS season that it’s somewhat disconcerting when a stone-cold violation becomes “controversial.” Such was the case Saturday when Ugo Ihemelu brought down a ball — expertly it must be said — with his left arm in the 87th minute of a game tied 1-1 between Colorado and Houston.
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Bradley’s Heerenveen return to UEFA Cup
[AMERICANS ABROAD] In what could be Michael Bradley‘s last game in the Netherlands, Heerenveen earned a place in the 2008-09 UEFA Cup thanks a 2-2 tie with NAC on Monday.
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Monmouth’s Wilson lands at promoted Austrian Bundesliga club
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Monmouth University forward Damon Wilson signed a three-year contract to play with Kapfenberg SV of Austria’s T-Mobile Bundesliga. Kapfenberg SV recently won the Second Division championship, earning the club promotion to the First Division.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Portugal’s Scolari names experienced squad
[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari named 11 players from his Euro ’04 runner-up team to the squad he will take to the European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland next month. For the complete Portugal roster …
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Beckham’s call-up could delay Toronto debut
[ENGLAND] David Beckham, who was injured and missed the Los Angeles Galaxy’s game at Toronto FC last season, will likely miss the Galaxy’s trip to Toronto again this year. He was among the 30 players named to England’s squad for games against the USA May 28 at Wembley and at Trinidad & Tobago on June 1. TFC and the Galaxy are scheduled to meet May 31.
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CORRECTION: MLS playoff berths
Contrary to what was reported on Monday’s SoccerAmericaDaily, the top three teams in each of Major League Soccer’s two conferences are assured berths in the playoffs. Last season only the top two teams in the two conferences were guaranteed spots in the eight-team playoffs.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Donovan, Becks, Disappoint Against New York
L.A. Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit had serious questions to ask of his more experienced players following Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls. Gullit didn’t name names, but David Beckham and Landon Donovan were both conspicuous by their lack of influence. Poor individual performances notwithstanding, what the Galaxy was missing, Gullit said, was […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fulham Headed for Europe?
Amazingly, the day after Fulham pulled off a relegation escape of epic proportions, it emerged that the Cottagers might now be in line for a spot in Europe thanks to their performance in the so-called European Fair Play League. England has already secured an extra UEFA Cup slot thanks to their position in this table, […]