Chelsea has entered into a four-year partnership with the Walt Disney Company in which the English Premier League club becomes the official professional soccer club of Disney’s Wide World of Sports and presenting sponsor of the Disney Soccer Showcase Series youth tournament.
Category: Story
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New York plunges with loss to Revs
[MLS WEEKEND REPORT] In not many leagues can a team fall from first to fourth just by losing a game, but that’s what befell Red Bull New York when beaten, 1-0, at home by New England, which leapfrogged to the top spot. Also bypassing NYRB were Kansas City, a 1-0 winner over Real Salt Lake, and D.C. United, which squandered a 3-0 lead at home to end up tied at 3-3 with FC Dallas. Out West, Chivas USA tightened its grip on third place by ending the Crew’s six-game unbeaten streak, 2-1. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reviews all the MLS weekend action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Japan coach brings interpreter to tears; befuddles press
After Japan played Qatar to a disappointing 1-1 tie in the Asian Cup, Japan’s Bosnian coach Ivica Osim railed into his players, calling them a bunch of amateurs, and so on. But just some of the rant got through to the team, because translator Zen Chida broke into tears midway through the tirade. Then on the eve of Japan’s game against Vietnam, Osim told the members of the media, “Stop asking me about rabbits!”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Luck and fatigue finally catch up to Americans
[U-20 WORLD CUP] Two consecutive overtime matches took a severe toll on the U.S. under-20 team, which battled all the way but couldn’t summon the moment of magic or the ounce of luck they needed to stay alive in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. An early goal by Jozy Altidore, his fourth of the tournament, brought the USA a 1-0 lead Saturday but it conceded an equalizer just before halftime and in overtime, down to 10 men, succumbed to a second goal that swept Austria into the semifinals with a 2-1 win.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Red card theft backfires
[VIDEO] In the U-20 World Cup, as referee Mohd Salleh prepared to eject Portugal’s Mano for bowling over Chilean Christian Sepulveda, Mano’s teammate’s Zequinha thought he was coming to the rescue by snatching the red card out of Salleh’s hand. But Salleh quickly took it back and showed to Zequinha and Mano. Click HERE for video.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fire Takeover Imminent
After another poor showing on prime time television, it emerged on Friday that Chicago Fire owner Anschutz Entertainment Group may be on the verge of selling the team. Fire GM John Guppy confirmed Thursday night that L.A. investment firm Andell Holdings made an offer to buy the club, making it sound like the deal was […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Argentina-Brazil: Overshadowed by the U-20s?
Argentina-Brazil is always a special final, says the Guardian’s Marcela Mora y Araujo, but this one runs the risk of being overshadowed — in Argentina anyway — by the Under-20 World Cup quarterfinal clash between Argentina and Mexico’s youngsters. Indeed, previews of the Copa America final have been pushed to the margins in Argentina in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Tevez Manager a Wanted Man, Too
While Carlos Tevez reaches for Argentina’s first Copa America title in 14 years, the situation regarding his future just keeps getting stranger. According to the London Times, Tevez’s manager, Kia Joorabchian, was issued an arrest order a few hours before it was announced that Tevez was once again close to joining Manchester United. A federal […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Becks: ‘One of the Biggest Challenges I’ve Ever Taken On’
When Cuauhtemoc Blanco signed with the Chicago Fire, some 5,000 Chicago-area fans showed up at Toyota Park simply hoping to catch a glimpse of the Mexico and Club America legend. “Can you think of another athlete that if they signed for a Chicago team,” Guppy said, “more than 5,000 people would show up on less […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
American Idol
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated has written what has to be the de facto David Beckham Coming to America story. A few of the particulars are already familiar to us: his Galaxy contract guarantees up to $250 million over five years; he and wife Victoria have bought a $22 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Weekend action kicks off with a USL-1 clash between Portland and California. The USA faces Austria in the U-20 World Cup on Saturday, which also features four MLS games. The World Cup-bound U.S. women face Norway in a friendly on Saturday. Sunday’s highlight: the Brazil-Argentina Copa America final.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico and Argentina set to meet after wins at Under-20 World Cup
Mexico and Argentina meet again. Four days after Argentina’s 3-0 win in the semifinals of the Copa America, Argentina and Mexico will meet at the U-20 level. Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria and Chile advanced to the quarterfinals of the Under-20 World Cup with victories on Thursday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Under-20 World Cup TV Schedule
Play at the Under-20 World Cup continues with four quarterfinal games over the weekend, including the USA-Austria quarterfinal. For the complete Under-20 World Cup schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
With new coach, Chicago thumped by Houston
Teams change coaches, and coaches trade players, and still Houston rolls over all comers. Juan Carlos Osorio debuted as Chicago’s head coach Thursday night on national television and fortunately has more than a week to shrug off a 4-0 thumping inflicted by the defending champion before his team plays again. Houston’s rout include a brilliant goal by Joseph Ngwenya (video HERE). By the time Scottish club Glasgow Celtic lines up for a friendly July 22, Osorio will have Cuauhtemoc Blanco in uniform and perhaps a few answers to the harsh lessons taught by Houston. He might also have observed how a team that won the league title last year has further strengthened itself by intelligent tweaking.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Beckham has Landed
David Beckham, his wife, Victoria, and their three young children landed at Los Angeles International Airport just after 8 p.m. on Thursday to begin their life in the USA. The introduction of Beckham by the Los Angeles Galaxy at a Home Depot Center press conference on Friday at 1 pm ET will be telecast live on ESPNEWS channel and on MLSnet.com. The Los Angeles Galaxy has reported that it has already received orders for 250,000 replica jerseys. Beckham’s arrival has already been greeted with an avalanche of media coverage, including a Sports Illustrated cover and a risqué photo shoot of David and Victoria in W Magazine.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA aims for U-20 World Cup semifinals
One win stands between the U.S. under-20 national team and only the second semifinal appearance by an American team in the 30-year history of this world championship. The USA meets Austria in Toronto Saturday at 2:15 pm ET (ESPNU, Galavision) and that last semifinal appearance might as well be ancient history. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller helped the USA to a fourth-place finish in 1989, the same year the youngest members of the current squad were born.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS WEEKEND: New York faces Revolution threat
[TV PREVIEWS] Can Red Bull New York hold onto first place with the Revs in town? Will defender Adrian Serioux solidify the FC Dallas back line as it takes on D.C. United? Can Kansas City break its five-game winless skid at home against Real Salt Lake? Will anyone in Beckham-obsessed LA take notice that Chivas USA and Columbus meet at Home Depot with both teams above .500? Will Houston break the league’s all-time shutout streak by blanking Toronto? Ridge Mahoney previews this weekend’s MLS action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
French players go for big money
[TRANSFER TALK] A year after the 2006 World Cup, at which France finished second, three Bleus starters have been sold by French clubs for big money. Indeed, French players continue to command a premium on the transfer market. The top seven transfers of French players from French clubs to foreign clubs have commanded fees of almost $150 million. For a rundown on the French stars moving abroad …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A meaningful version of ‘Soccer Dad’
The expression “Soccer Mom” has become a cliché. Sadly, some moms can be obnoxious spectators, too. Often, they learn that behavior observing men. Imagine the good that would come from being a highly visible and meaningful version of “Soccer Dad?”
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Argentina Humbles Mexico
For the second game in a row, the coach of the opposing team bested by Argentina has been forced to admit: “We tried but the opponents were superior.” So said Mexico’s Hugo Sanchez Wednesday after his men were handily beaten 3-0 in the Copa America semifinal. And there can be little doubt that this Argentina, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Becks in the Center of Everything
The David Beckham stories are coming fast and furious again, as MLS, ESPN, adidas and everyone else with a vested interest in American soccer prepare for his official unveiling tomorrow. Behind the glitz, glam and buzz lies the question of how Becks will fit in soccer-wise to the struggling L.A. Galaxy team. The 32-year-old tells […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Inheriting a Team on Shaky Ground
It’s a fact not lost on the British press: David Beckham isn’t just joining a lesser league; he’s also joining one of that league’s worst teams in the L.A. Galaxy. This point was painfully driven home Tuesday night as Becks’ new teammates crashed out of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup at the hands of second-division […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
An Impressive, if Ugly U.S. Victory
As Coach Thomas Rongen said, it took “grandes, grandes cojones,” for the U.S. U-20s to beat Uruguay, 2-1, in their second-round match Wednesday night (extended video highlights). Conceding a goal with about 15 minutes to go, the Americans did not lie down and roll over, rather, they stuck to their guns, focusing instead on what […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Argentina moves into Copa America final with 3-0 win over Mexico
Argentina beat Mexico, 3-0, to move into the final of the Copa America against Brazil on Sunday. Juan Roman Riquelme and Lionel Messi were the stars for Argentina, which improved its tally to 16 goals in five games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA sends three teams to Pan-American Games
The USA is sending three soccer teams to 2007 Pan-American Games July 13-28 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: the U-18 men’s national team, U-20 women’s national team and futsal national team. For complete rosters …