Three European teams joined the USA as winners on Wednesday in the round of 16 at the Under-20 World Cup. European champion Spain knocked out South American champion Brazil, 4-2, in overtime, while the Czech Republic and Austria both moved into the final eight.
Category: Story
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Harrisburg knocks D.C. United out of Open Cup
D.C. United became the third MLS entrant in the SuperLiga to be spared the distraction of competing in the U.S. Open Cup when it fell to the USL First Division’s Harrisburg City Islanders, 1-0.
Steve Fisher‘s goal in the 44th minute was the difference in the game.
On Tuesday, the USL’s Charleston Battery eliminated the Houston Dynamo, and the Los Angeles Galaxy fell to the Richmond Kickers of the USL-2.
Dallas FC, the fourth MLS team in this summer’s SuperLiga, went through to the quarterfinals on penalty kicks.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Late heroics send USA to U-20 World Cup quarters
Coaches rhapsodize about talent, and sing the praises of the skillful, but what they relish above all else is toughness. If not for ample doses of resolve, the USA wouldn’t be among the eight survivors that play in the U-20 World Cup quarterfinals this weekend. Misfortune and circumstance piled up against the Americans, yet still they beat Uruguay, 2-1, in Toronto Wednesday night with an own goal and an overtime winner by Michael Bradley. Of obstacles there were plenty. A charley horse sidelined its stud goalkeeper. A central defender returned to the lineup sporting a gash under his left eye suffered in the first game of the tournament. A wild tackle knocked its specimen of a striker out of the game early in the second half.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Web site goes bilingual
Upon being elected U.S. Soccer Federation president last year, Sunil Gulati promised to create a greater link to the U.S. Hispanic community. This month, the Federation’s Web site went bilingual, offering a Spanish version at http://ussoccer.com/es/index.jsp.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Osorio’s first MLS test is a stern one
[MLS TV PREVIEW] Juan Carlos Osorio, presented just a few days ago as the Fire’s new head coach, admits that he needs some time to get back up to speed on MLS and its teams. Since no MLS opponent has been able to defeat the Dynamo in its last eight games, perhaps a fresh approach will help. And since the Fire is 1-9-1 since it beat Houston, 1-0, April 29, maybe the less he knows about his own team, the better. The Fire hosts Houston Thursday night (9 pm ET, ESPN2).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Top California legislator added to USSF Board of Directors
Fabian Nunez, the California State Assembly Speaker, has been added to the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. Nunez takes the second of three Independent Director positions created at U.S. Soccer’s 2006 AGM, when the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Board of Directors was reduced from 40 to 15. Longtime Goldman Sachs Group partner, Carlos Cordeiro, became the first Independent Director in February and the third will be elected at the 2008 AGM. Nunez (D-46th District) was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002 and sworn in as the State’s 66th Speaker in February 2004. For the complete Board of Directors roster and more on Nunez …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS ALL-STAR GAME: The 18-man roster set
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol named the remaining seven players to complete the roster for the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game between the MLS All-Stars and Celtic FC on July 19 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. Garber selected Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake) and Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy). The five players selected by Nicol were: Kevin Hartman (Kansas City Wizards), Ronnie O’Brien (Toronto FC), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) and Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo). For complete MLS All-Star roster …
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 inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Becks Calms Expectations Ahead of Chelsea Clash
David Beckham is worried about unrealistic expectations on the eve of his arrival in MLS with the L.A. Galaxy. “People probably do think they’re going to see me turn out, and we’ll win our first game 10-0. That’s one thing I’m worried about,” he said, adding, “I’m not a player who will run past 10 […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Transfer Roundup: Busy Week for Real, Liverpool and Chelsea
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster revealed that the club has signed Argentine striker Javier Saviola on a free transfer from Barcelona. In an interview with Spanish radio, Schuster said, “He is young, can score goals and can give us a lot more. These are small details that are also good for us. The fans and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Tevez Deal Could Send Man United, EPL to Court
Things tend to get complicated when Carlos Tevez and his owners are involved, a lesson Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United are learning now that the English Premier League has stepped in to block the player’s transfer from West Ham United. The story goes like this: Manchester United refused to pay West Ham a transfer […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Lalas’ Galaxy in ‘Chaos’
“It’s mostly chaos in L.A.,” new New York Red Bulls midfielder Santino Quaranta says in an interview with the Newark Star Ledger’s Frank Giase. And he would know: Quaranta had been at the Galaxy 11 months before he was traded to the Red Bulls two weeks ago. Quaranta arrived in L.A. last August, right […]
Posted inSoccer Business Insider, Story
Styles Of Play Build Brand Success
What do Manchester United, AFC Ajax and the University of North Carolina women’s soccer teams have in common? They have each developed a distinctive, entertaining and successful style of play for which they are famous.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. SOCCER ACADEMY: FC Westchester
[YOUTH CLUB PROFILE SERIES] FC Westchester, which was founded by Al Pastore in 1984, is among the first 31 clubs accepted to the U.S. Soccer Player Development Academy for its inaugural season this fall. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla profiles one of New York’s most prestigious clubs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-20 scouting report — what makes Freddy and the boys go
The U.S. under-20s have made only two changes in the starting lineup after opening with an unimpressive 1-1 tie with South Korea. It recovered in its next two games to hammer Poland, 6-1, and stun Brazil, 2-1. Coach Thomas Rongen has used 14 field players but has yet to summon forwards Gabriel Ferrari and Andre Akpan, thanks to the excellent play of wingers Robbie Rogers and Sal Zizzo, and striker Jozy Altidore. Midfielder Dax McCarty and defender Amaechi Igwe have been used as subs. Tim Ward started the first game and has also come on as a sub. Barring any unforeseen changes, this is a rundown on the expected starters who face Uruguay Wednesday (7:45 p.m. ET, ESPNU, Galavision) …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazil moves into Copa America final with shootout victory
Defending champion Brazil was spared being eliminated by Uruguay in the semifinals of the Copa America when Pablo Garcia missed his penalty kick with a chance to put the Celeste into the final. Instead, Brazil prevailed, 5-4, in the shootout after their game ended, 2-2.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Galaxy and Dynamo fall in Open Cup to USL clubs
We won’t be seeing David Beckham in the U.S. Open Cup this year. The Richmond Kickers of the USL Second Division cleared room on the Los Angeles Galaxy’s crowded summer-fall schedule, pulling off the biggest upset in their franchise history with a 1-0 win over the MLS club. The Charleston Battery eliminated the defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo, 1-0, in overtime on a rebound of a penalty kick by former MLS player Stephen Armstrong. The New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids were the only MLS winners on Tuesday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer planning to hire technical director
U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati told Reuters that the USSF is set to hire a technical director next year and that it’s likely the position will be filled by a Latin coach. “We will bring on a technical director to work with [national team coach] Bob [Bradley],” Gulati said. “There’s a reasonable chance that would be an international coach, not because I necessarily think they’re better but because he’ll bring something different to the mix. Everything else being equal, if we could have it be a Latin coach that would be ideal. The Hispanic community is a huge part of our future in the United States.” The technical director would oversee player development and youth teams. Speaking at a gathering hosted by Spanish-language Univision TV network, Gulati also offered his opinions on the arrival of David Beckham to MLS.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Under-20 World Cup TV Schedule
[VIDEO] The USA hopes to advance to the semifinals of the U-20 World Cup when it faces Uruguay Wednesday (7:45 p.m. ET, ESPNU, Galavision). For highlights of the first three U.S. U-20 World Cup games, click HERE for the the 1-1 tie with South Korea, HERE for the 6-1 win over Poland; and HERE for the 2-1 win over Brazil
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Copa America TV Schedule
Argentina and Mexico meet in a repeat of their classic 2006 World Cup showdown when they face off Wednesday in the semifinals of the Copa America. For the complete Copa America TV schedule …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Freddy Adu May Not Stick Around for Long in MLS
The Salt Lake Tribune fears that Freddy Adu’s spectacular performances at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup could hasten his departure from Real Salt Lake. Freddy has been one of the tournament’s best performers, recording three goals and an assist in three games. And while he did not score in the Americans’ 2-1 victory against Brazil, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Italian Powerhouses Fight for American Rossi
The pending arrival of Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford looks to have sparked a bidding war across Italy for Manchester United’s young Italian-American striker Giuseppe Rossi. The 19-year-old, loaned out to Serie A’s Parma in January, played integral part in the Italian club’s campaign to stave off relegation, scoring nine goals in 19 appearances. Parma […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Will Becks Save Soccer? Don’t Count on It …
Associated Press columnist Tim Dahlberg serves up a humorous (if short-sighted) denigration of David Beckham’s Great American Adventure. Here’s the gist: Beckham is more celebrity than soccer star, and while the American public will no doubt be transfixed by the arrival of Becks and his celebrity wife to the Hollywood Hills, but they will not […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Missed Copa Opportunity Not Bradley’s Fault
ESPN Soccernet’s Jeff Carlisle offers his take on the U.S. in Venezuela, expressing his disappointment that the 2007 Copa America turned into an experiment. In an interview with the Associated Press, CONMEBOL (the South American soccer federation) general secretary Eduardo Deluca also said he was displeased with the weak roster (although he said nothing about […]
Posted inGrassroots Soccer Biz, Story
Getting more out of your brand
When people start talking about “brand,” the talk immediately turns to logo design. While a good logo is part of your brand, it is not “THE BRAND.” The brand is how people feel about and view your soccer organization (league, club or tournament). Your brand is what you can leverage to sponsors, advertisers, guest teams, potential players, potential coaches and the media.