Category: Story

[OFF THE POST] South Korea indicted 92 current and former soccer players — including 15 K-League professionals — who are accused of dodging military service by intentionally dislocating their shoulders to receive medical exemptions.

[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING-ASIA] Reigning Asian champion Iraq’s World Cup 2010 campaign got off to a disappointing start when it was held to a 1-1 tie with China in its opening group game played Wednesday in Dubai. For all the Asian qualifying news …

[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING-CONCACAF] Potential U.S. World Cup opponents Dominica and Barbados played to a 1-1 tie in the first leg of their first-round CONCACAF series on Wednesday in Roseau. San Jose Earthquakes forward Gavin Glinton scored what proved to be the winning goal to lead the tiny Turks & Caicaos Islands to a shock 2-1 victory over St. Lucia for their first win ever in World Cup qualifying. El Salvador got five goals from Rudis Corrales and three from former MLS star Ronald Cerritos to beat Anguilla, 12-0. For all the CONCACAF qualifying news …

England won its first game under new coach Fabio Capello with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland Wednesday at Wembley. In matches involving Euro ’08 finalists, Italy was impressive in a 3-1 win over Portugal. A late goal gave Spain a 1-0 win over France. Germany and the Netherlands rolled to 3-0 wins at Austria and Croatia, respectively. MLS players of the past (Honduran Amado Guevara), present (Toronto FC’s Jamaican Tyrone Marshall and Welshman Carl Fletcher) and possibly the future (Costa Rica’s Dominican-born Victor Nunez) found the mark. Argentina’s team of Olympic hopefuls drew 25,000 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum for its 5-0 win over Guatemala. For all the friendly results and goalscorers …

[MLS TEAM PREVIEWS] With its front line shored up by trading for Alecko Eskandarian and Atiba Harris, another experienced defender on board in Jim Curtin and Brad Guzan back in the fold after an aborted transfer to Aston Villa, Chivas USA is looking pretty good as preseason gets underway.

Mike Woitalla reports from Houston
Mexico’s El Tri failed for the 10th straight time to beat the USA on U.S. soil, but this time the dominating contingent of Mexican supporters in the Houston crowd of 70,103 wasn’t left as disappointed as usual. Mexico twice rallied from a goal down to earn a 2-2 tie and leave the legendary Jorge Campos, now Mexico’s goalkeeper coach, to proclaim, “Next time we’ll win,” before cracking a smile and sticking his tongue out to reveal he wasn’t so sure …

[USA-MEXICO GRADES] Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

[USA-MEXICO REACTION] Jozy Altidore, who scored the second U.S. goal, admitted he was surprised to get the start, but he said he was very excited. U.S. coach Bob Bradley was so confident in Altidore’s “presence” that the 18-year-old striker went 90 minutes in his first U.S. start. For the reaction from Bradley, Altidore and other U.S. players …

[MLS TEAM PREVIEWS] Reaching the playoffs for the first time in three seasons in 2007 masked these sobering facts: Kansas City stumbled down the stretch – losing three of four before beating Dallas in the season finale — and edged into the playoffs as the eighth overall seed with a 11-12-7 record. Following a busy offseason, the Wizards will probably look much different in 2008.

[MLS] Many pro athletes take it easy during the offseason, indulging in amusements and luxuries or just chilling out. Not Chicago Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez, who, along with his wife, Ginna, traveled to Mali in the fight against malaria as part of the Nothing But Nets program that he himself founded. Back home, Gutierrez signed up for one more year of MLS play with the Fire, for whom he should see plenty of playing time in 2008.

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. This week’s listings include openings at several high-profile college program.

Fabio Capello‘s reign as England national team coach begins with a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley. Televised Euro ’08 tuneups include Italy-Portugal, Croatia-Netherlands, Turkey-Sweden and Czech Republic-Poland. Ireland hosts Brazil in another friendly of note. For all the televised friendlies …

[DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY] The Colorado Rapids’ youth teams made their U.S. Soccer Development Academy debut with a win and tie against teams from Southern California power Pateadores on the road. The Rapids tied, 2-2, in U-15/16 play and won, 2-1, in U-17/18 action. Real Colorado began its Development Academy with four wins in four games at the Pateadores and Irvine Strikers. South Charlotte improved to 5-0-3 with a 3-2 win over Empire United on Sunday. For all the Development Academy results …

The USA called in 12 European-based players for Wednesday’s match against Mexico in Houston. The Tri was left with six foreign-based players after midfielder Andres Guardado was injured playing for Spanish club Deportivo Coruna last weekend. U.S. coach Bob Bradley called up two teenagers, Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore, while Mexico’s Hugo Sanchez has three teens — Cesar Villaluz, Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela — in his squad. For the complete rosters …

U.S. fans can get in the mood for Wednesday night’s USA-Mexico with a replay of last year’s 2-0 U.S. win Glendale, Ariz. For all the coverage of the Border Showdown …

USA-Mexico is one of the biggest games of the year for American soccer fans. They will be outnumbered at Reliant Stadium, but they will be out in force at bars and pubs across the country. For information on viewing parties near you …

Mike Woitalla reports from Houston
Both coaches agree that controlling midfield play is likely to decide Wednesday’s USA-Mexico game (TV: ESPN2 and Univision, live, 9 pm ET). For 20-year-old Michael Bradley, currently the USA’s hottest commodity thanks to a scoring streak in the Netherlands, it means testing himself against veteran Mexican midfielders Pavel Pardo and Gerardo Torrado.