Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 4-2 loss to Brazil on Sunday.
Category: Story
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Five reasons why the USA will win the Women’s World Cup
[THE FAVORITES] Soccer America continues its examination of the favorites with a look at the USA, which heads into the 2007 Women’s World Cup as the odds-on favorite. After all, they are undefeated in their last 47 games and have yet to lose under their rigorous coach, Greg Ryan. The U.S. women believe they may be the best women’s team ever assembled. They are surely “The Greatest Team You’ve Never Heard Of,” as they have been billed by team sponsor Nike. They take to the field for the first time on Tuesday when they face North Korea in Chengdu (TV: ESPN2, live, 4:55 am ET). Here are five reasons why the USA will win the Womens World Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Women: All In A Day’s Work
They don’t want to talk about it, but the U.S. women’s national team has been unbeaten since Coach Greg Ryan took charge in early 2005. The secret? Practice and more practice. Ryan has insisted the player do hundreds of repetitions, and the work has paid off at both the ends of the field. Sixteen years […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: U.S. Soccer Development Academy
The U.S. Soccer Federation has integrated the country’s top youth clubs into the national team program. This fall marks the launch of a youth league in which every game will be an audition for the national team program. By creating the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, for U-16 and U-18 boys, the Federation is in effect […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
MLS’s Latin American Connection
A splash of millionaire-salaried players under the Designated Player rule may not be the most important factor in the efforts of MLS teams to upgrade their quality. A stream of South Americans has changed the talent level and flavor this season. League officials are adamantly repeating that the 2007 season is about far more than […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Julie Foudy Finds Another Forum
Hall of Famer has taken to new roles as ESPN sports reporter and first-time mother. She’s co-hosting MLS games, she’s working on ESPN programs such as “Outside the Lines” and during the Women’s World Cup in September she’ll be in the Bristol studios as well as China. She’s on the air, everywhere. It’s Julie Foudy, […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Wambach Seeks Redemption
Abby Wambach blames herself for the loss to Germany in the semifinals of the 2003 Women's World Cup. She's also quick to point out she missed her penalty kick in the only U.S. setback of the last two and a half years, a shootout loss to Germany at the 2006 Algarve Cup. No player has […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
The Soccer Life: Soccer Smoothes the Path
Soccer helped cure homesickness and eased the challenge of adjusting to a new land for a group of young stars we met at this summer’s adidas ESP scouting and development camp for the nation’s top teen players. Enzo Martinez (Rock Hill, S.C.)‘HOW LUCKY I AM’ When Uruguay played Australia for a spot in the 2006 […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
How Come Nobody Supports Chivas?
Another conspicuous absence was on exhibit last night at the Home Depot Center, says Ian Plenderleith of USSoccerPlayers, as Chivas USA battled D.C. United to a 2-2 draw. Granted, it was a weeknight game, but 9,306 pales badly in comparison with the crowds drawn by the Galaxy, L.A.’s other team — and even without David […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
How Long Before Bradley Calls Up Altidore?
Jozy Altidore’s name was conspicuous by its absence when U.S. coach Bob Bradley announced his squad list for tomorrow’s friendly against Brazil. Maybe it was the calf injury the 17-year-old Altidore picked up playing against the New England Revolution two weeks ago. But ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle says that had Altidore been healthy, he probably wouldn’t […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Israel Smells Blood; Heskey Recalled for England
It’s no secret that England is taking a depleted squad into Saturday’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley, and Israel knows it. The complete list of unavailable England players is as follows: David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Ben Foster, Ledley King, Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Jonathan Woodgate, Wayne Bridge, Kieron Dyer, Aaron […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hooliganism Plagues Argentine Game
Hooliganism, once a rampant problem in England, is threatening to undermine soccer in Argentina, says SI.com’s Gregory Saha, who says that Argentine gangs have never had so much influence over the sport. “Futbol,” he says, “has taken a back seat to violence and corruption” — which is a shame, because the Argentine league has the […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
In addition to the USA’s friendly with Brazil on Sunday, this weekend’s action includes Euro 2008 qualifiers, six MLS clashes, the U-17 World Cup final — and the Women’s World Cup kicks off Monday.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Rocky Mountain powers BYU and Colorado triumph
[THURSDAY ACTION] No. 19 BYU and No. 20 Colorado prepared for their Rocky Mountain showdown on Saturday in Boulder with wins over Kansas, 1-0, and Utah, 4-2, respectively.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Penn State’s mastery of UConn continues
[THURSDAY ACTION] Penn State continued its domination of Connecticut with a 1-0 victory on the NSCAA’s first Women’s College Match of the Week on Fox Soccer Channel. Aubrey Aden-Buie and Alyssa Naeher were the heroes for the Nittany Lions, who are now 6-0-1 against UConn.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Resurgent Akron takes aim at No. 1 Wake Forest
Akron is back in the national picture and looks to knock off No. 1 Wake Forest when the experience-laden Zips travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday for the Wake Forest University Tournament. Akron, ranked No. 1 in the final Soccer America Top 25 of the 2005 regular season but univited to the 2006 NCAA Division I Tournament, opened with a 2-0 win over ranked New Mexico and a 1-0 victory over tough UAB to move into the Soccer America Top 25 this week at No. 16.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Goal Patrol, UConn’s secret weapon
Who has the best fans in men’s college soccer? In recent years, Maryland’s Ludwig Field has been a happening place. UC Santa Barbara’s supporters are the best on the West Coast. But for a quarter century, the atmosphere at UConn games has been unsurpassed. The No. 6 Huskies’ Goal Patrol will be at work this weekend for their matches against South Carolina and FIU at the UConn/adidas Classic.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Men’s Top 25 Results & Schedules
[FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE] No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Virginia. No. 4 Maryland and No. 5 Santa Clara all fell. Maryland’s 1-0 loss to No. 21 West Virginia was the only loss to a ranked team.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Women’s Top 25 Results & Schedules
[FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE] No. 3 Santa Clara crushed No. 2 Notre Dame, 7-1, at its annual adidas Classic. No. 6 North Carolina edged No. 4 Texas A&M, 2-1, at its Nike Classic.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Next time, we’ll use our Beetles
After VfL Wolfsburg lost to Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath blamed the train service provided by the Deutsche Bahn, which turned a 60-minute journey into a three-hour trip. “I have to congratulate Hertha for its main sponsor,” said Magath. While Hertha is sponsored by the Deutsche Bahn, Wolfsburg is bankrolled by Volkswagen.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Euro 2008 Qualifying TV Schedule
More than half of Saturday’s Euro 2008 qualifiers will be available, live or delay, on American television. For the complete Euro 2008 schedule and TV listings (live unless noted) …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
TV PREVIEW: Four Euro ’08 Qualifiers to Watch
The first of three double fixture weekends to conclude Euro 2008 qualifying takes place on Saturday. It’s highlighted by a Group A match between Italy and France, the 2006 World Cup finalists, in Milan. Also on tab are England-Israel, Portugal-Poland and the Netherlands-Bulgaria — all matches critical to the campaigns of the home teams.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
AEG’s MLS Sales
[MAKING A LIST] Anschutz Entertainment Group, which once owned six of MLS’s 10 clubs, now owns just two (of 13 clubs) following Thursday’s announcement it had sold the Chicago Fire to Andell Holdings, a Los Angeles-based private investment firm with global business and investment interests controlled by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hauptman.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Young midfield holds key to Germany’s Women’s World Cup chances
[THE FAVORITES] Soccer America begins its examination of the favorites to win the Women’s World Cup with a look at defending Women’s World Cup champion Germany, which starts its title defense Monday when it faces Argentina in the opening game of the 2007 finals at the 34,000-seat Shanghai Hongkou Football in China. Three-time Women’s World Player of the Year Birgit Prinz leads the German attack, but a young midfield featuring highly touted Kosovo-born Fatmire Bajramaj could hold the key to success.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chivas USA executive Leon resigns
Javier Leon, the young Mexican executive who oversaw the launch of MLS’s Chivas USA, is leaving his post to pursue other endeavors, including the prospect of outside projects with Antonio Cue, Chivas USA President and Co-Owner.