Category: Story

Could it be that the face of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is that of Cameroonian player Samuel Eto’o? That’s what FIFA President Sepp Blatter implied at the unveiling of the tournament’s official poster, stating that the profile imposed onto an African map was that of a very popular European-based player from Cameroon.

As South Africa’s World Cup organizers made their case that the crime-ridden nation would be safe for tourists in 2010, Austrian Pieter Burgstaller was shot to death Friday at a golf resort an hour-drive from where the World Cup Preliminary Draw was held two days later in Durban — a resort Coach Bob Bradley visited last week on an inspection tour of potential World Cup 2010 facilities at which to base the U.S. national team if its qualifies

Mike Woitalla reporting from South Africa
“Africa is ready, Africa’s time has come. Africa is calling, come to Africa in 2010,” said South Africa President Thabo Mbeki to launch the 90-minute gala that sorted out the qualifying competition for the next World Cup while celebrating the arrival of the world’s biggest sporting event to the continent for the first time.

[INTERNATIONAL HEADLINERS] Liverpool’s version of Family Feud continued as Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez blasted his American owners for what he perceived to be a lack of knowledge of Europe’s transfer system. Manchester United’s coaching staff tried to deflect attention for its shock loss at Bolton Wanderers, while goalie Scott Carson, the goat in England’s loss to Croatia, returned to action with a shutout win on the road for Aston Villa. In Mexico, the playoffs moved into the semifinals with American Edgar Castillo still in the hunt for the Torneo Apertura championship.

[AMERICANS ABROAD/VIDEO] Freddy Adu added to his growing reputation as a goal scorer with a goal on the final touch of the game in Benfica’s 3-1 comeback win at Academica Coimbra on Sunday.

Ridge Mahoney analyzes the expansion draft
San Jose head coach Frank Yallop has assembled the first 10 pieces of the Earthquakes expansion puzzle, and he has some history with most of the players selected.

[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING] Paraguay is the surprise leader after four games in South America’s World Cup 2010 qualifying competition ahead of Argentina, which lost for the first time on Tuesday, and Brazil, which was lucky to beat Uruguay at home.

Steve McClaren pulled a Greg Ryan Wednesday night. But unlike the Ryan, who lasted 25 days as U.S. women’s coach after his team’s 4-0 loss to Brazil following his decision to switch goalies, McClaren lasted all of about 12 hours after England’s shocking 3-2 loss to Croatia at Wembley before the FA dumped him as coach. Like Ryan, McClaren switched goalies with disastrous effect. But similarities between Ryan’s U.S. women and McClaren’s England don’t end there.

England’s national team and English soccer came under attack following England’s 3-2 loss to Croatia that knocked it out of Euro ’08. Overrated. Arrogant. Egotistical. Those were some the charges leveled.

Pots for the 2008 European Championship draw Dec. 2 in Lucerne, Switzerland, are set. How does a Netherlands-Italy-Germany-France group sound? Or Austria-Sweden-Romania-Poland? Both are possible.

Besides Russia, Portugal, Turkey and Sweden clinched berths at Euro ’08 on the final day of qualifying.

Six of the eight top seeds are still alive in the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament, which moves into the round of 16, beginning Friday. For all the post-Thanksgiving schedules …

Play begins in the 48-team NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament with 16 games Friday and Saturday. For the first- and second-round matchups …