Category: Story

After opening with Argentina (June 28), the USA will face Paraguay (July 2) and Colombia (July 5) in group play at the Venezuela-hosted 2007 Copa America. “I think quite obviously we have been put in a very competitive group,” said U.S. coach Bob Bradley. “When we decided that we wanted to enter Copa America, we […]

1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“He was complaining I elbowed him in the head. So I said: ‘Look at where your head is, I can’t help it if you’re so short you only come up to my elbow.’ He smiled and said ‘You’ve got a point there’.” — Newcastle’s 6-foot-4 America defender Oguchi Onyewu on his clash with Liverpool’s 5-9 […]

UEFA CUP: Blackburn falls on Schneider gem

American goalie Brad Freidel could do nothing about a sublime finish by German international Bernd Schneider that gave German club Bayer Leverkusen a 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Cup round-of-32 series in Leverkusen. Schneider back-heeled a cross from Gonzalo Castro to give Leverkusen the win after […]

FA CUP: Arsenal survives two missed penalties

Arsenal was given a scare at Bolton Wanderers before prevailing, 3-1, in overtime Wednesday to advance to the round of 16 of the English FA Cup. Swedish sub Fredrik Ljungberg scored the winning early in the second overtime after Bolton had tied the score on a 90th-minute equalizer from defender Abdoulaye Meite. Togolese striker Emmanuel […]

4. UEFA CUP: Blackburn falls on Schneider gem

5. FA CUP: Arsenal survives two missed penalties

2. U.S. ABROAD: Howard opts for Everton

By Ridge Mahoney American keeper Tim Howard has made the same determination as American teammate Kenny Cooper: Manchester United is one of the world’s greatest clubs, but it isn’t the right place for him. Everton has reached an agreement to convert Howard’s loan from Manchester United into a transfer, effective in the summer. The club’s […]

Howard Makes Everton Move Permanent

American goalkeeper Tim Howard signed a five-year contract with Everton on Wednesday. The Merseyside club is believed to have paid nearly $6 million to Manchester United for his services. The 27-year old has been on loan at Everton all season. Apparently, United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson tried to convince the big American to come back […]

Champions League Preview

They might be fighting like siblings, but Luis Arroye of the Chicago Tribune believes Barcelona’s players are once again playing like European Champions. Ronaldinho showed he’s back to his best this weekend against Racing Santander, as did Portuguese midfielder Deco. Striker Javier Saviola has been on a goal-scoring tear since the beginning of the year, […]

Platini Suggests Adding Two More Referees

UEFA’s new president Michel Platini has laid out new measures to cut back on referee mistakes, but they don’t include video technology. Instead, the former France and Juventus legend advocates upping the number of officials on the field from three to five. The idea is that an extra official on either side would make all […]

Portugal Teammate Says Ronaldo Will Leave Man United

The rumor mill this week paints a broader picture of disquiet at Europe’s top clubs. Real Madrid and Chelsea’s woes are well-documented, but reports in the Spanish media indicate that all is not well at Manchester United and Barcelona. Valencia midfielder Hugo Viana revealed that Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo definitely wants out of Manchester United […]

Barca Striker Eto’o Hits Out at Rijkaard, Ronaldinho

You can believe Real Madrid was happy to see infighting at another club steal headlines on Tuesday, especially because that club was Spanish league leader and bitter rival Barcelona. An incensed Samuel Eto’o, who’s missed most of the season through a knee injury, called Coach Franck Rijkaard “a bad person” for telling reporters he didn’t […]

MLS CONFIDENTIAL: Money to be made in stadium game

WHAT'S IN A NAME? Credit Colorado for jumping on the lucrative academy bandwagon and dressing it up with a prestigious name, as done in Los Angeles (David Beckham Academy) and Real Salt Lake (the Real Madrid Something-or-Other.) The Arsenal Centre of Excellence (note the clever ''English'' spelling) will be housed at Dick's Sporting Goods Park […]

Soccer America Confidential, Story

Money to be made in stadium game

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Credit Colorado for jumping on the lucrative academy bandwagon and dressing it up with a prestigious name, as done in Los Angeles (David Beckham Academy) and Real Salt Lake (the Real Madrid Something-or-Other.) The Arsenal Centre of Excellence (note the clever “English” spelling) will be housed at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park […]

U.S. ABROAD: Howard opts for Everton

By Ridge Mahoney American keeper Tim Howard has made the same determination as American teammate Kenny Cooper: Manchester United is one of the world's greatest clubs, but it isn't the right place for him. Everton has reached an agreement to convert Howard's loan from Manchester United into a transfer, effective in the summer. The club's […]

COPA AMERICA: USA to open against Argentina

The USA will face Argentina June 28 in its opening game at the 2007 Copa America. It will learn its other two group opponents when the draw for the the South American championship is staged Wednesday at 6 pm ET in Caracas. The first phase of the tournament consists of three groups of four teams […]

UNCAF DIGICEL CUP: Panama books ticket to Gold Cup

Panama claimed the fourth spot from Central America in the 2007 Gold Cup when the Canaleros beat Costa Rica, 1-0, on Tuesday night and took first place in Group 2 at the UNCAF Digicel Cup being played in San Salvador, El Salvador. Alberto Blanco scored the late goal to give Panama the win over Costa […]

MAKING A LIST: MLS Goalscorers (2002-06)

Taylor Twellman, who re-signed Monday with the New England Revolution for four years, has been MLS's leading goalscorer (regular season) since entering the league in 2002 from German club 1860 Munich's amateur team. Twellman shared the scoring title in 2005 and won it outright in 2005. PLAYER (GOALS) 1. Taylor Twellman (75) 2. Carlos Ruiz […]

EUROPE: League contenders face UEFA Cup tests

Contenders in several major league races will be in action this week as European action resumes with the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. Defending UEFA Cup champion Sevilla, which is in second place in Spain's La Liga, travels to Steaua Bucharest, and Werder Bremen, which is second in the German Bundesliga, faces Dutch […]

5. UNCAF DIGICEL CUP: Panama books ticket to Gold Cup

3. MAKING A LIST: MLS Goalscorers (2002-06)

Taylor Twellman, who re-signed Monday with the New England Revolution for four years, has been MLS’s leading goalscorer (regular season) since entering the league in 2002 from German club 1860 Munich’s amateur team. Twellman shared the scoring title in 2005 and won it outright in 2005. PLAYER (GOALS) 1. Taylor Twellman (75) 2. Carlos Ruiz […]

2. COPA AMERICA: USA to open against Argentina

1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“When you play here, back in Mexico they think you are on vacation and that it’s very easy to come play here in the United States. They don’t know this league or these players, and that’s why I think the Mexican players were surprised by the American players because they hadn’t seen them before and […]

4. EUROPE: League contenders face UEFA Cup tests

Contenders in several major league races will be in action this week as European action resumes with the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. Defending UEFA Cup champion Sevilla, which is in second place in Spain’s La Liga, travels to Steaua Bucharest, and Werder Bremen, which is second in the German Bundesliga, faces Dutch […]

American Investors Ride Soccer’s Globalization Wave