[ENGLAND] Is the Premier League race over? Last week Sir Alex Ferguson said the chase was between his Manchester United and Liverpool, dismissing struggling Chelsea. Then Liverpool was held to a 1-1 tie at home with Manchester City on Sunday, leaving Manchester United with a seven-point lead.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend Scores
With a host of scouts from top European clubs on hand, Anderlecht opened up a four-point lead in Belgium with a 4-2 win over Oguchi Onyewu‘s Standard Liege. Lyon, winner of the last seven French titles, is pulling away in Ligue 1. Sporting won the Lisbon derby with a 3-2 win over Benfica. For all the weekend results and current standings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Donovan disappoints in Bayern debacle
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Landon Donovan had a big chance to prove himself dear to Bayern Munich, coming on as a halftime sub with Bayern struggling against newly promoted, 11th-place FC Cologne. Reviews of Donovan’s performance in a game that launched “Bayern Crisis” headlines in Germany didn’t favor the 26-year-old American’s chances to land a long-term deal with Bayern, but it still has four more games before the loan ends.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Guardiola Denies Team is Barca’s Best Ever
"We are not the best team in the history of Barcelona. Those [teams] that won five trophies or the team of [Johan] Cruyff are the best in history, but I thank Juande for saying that we have done things well up until now." Coach Josep Guardiola and former Barca midfielder, responding to recent comments made […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Russians Protest Chelsea’s Poaching of Guus
I’m sure there have been less important protests in the world, but perhaps not many. According to the Daily Mail, groups of Russian fans have taken to the streets of Moscow in recent days to oppose Guus Hiddink‘s double duty as Chelsea coach in fears that it will adversely affect his main role as director […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Seven Sent Off in Bitter Brasil Brawl
In a scene that lasted more than 15 minutes, a whopping seven players were shown red cards after a scuffle stemmed from an Ulbra player’s post-goal celebration in a 5-2 win over Brasil in the country’s Rio Grande de Sul championship. According to Brazilian newspaper O Globo, Brasil’s goalkeeper Danrlei said Rogerio Pereira made a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arshavin to Make Arsenal Debut Saturday
At long last, Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin is expected to make his English Premier League debut for Arsenal this Saturday against Sunderland (TV Setanta Sports USA, 9:40 am ET). AFP reports that Gunners coach Arsene Wenger expects Arshavin “to provide the ammunition to fire Arsenal back into the Premier League’s top four” and “make a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hull City: America’s Underdog in England?
ESPN The Magazine writer Jeff Bradley makes a strong case for EPL underdog Hull City as America’s Team away from America, highlighting loyal but “long-suffering” fans that despite dismal results continue to simply celebrate that the team’s “fairy tale journey” has led them to their first Premier League season since being founded in 1902. “Not […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Modest Messi: One Player Doesn’t Make a Team
In a welcome display of modesty in an increasingly “me-first” world, Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi made his point clear in talking with UEFA.com that “Any team that depends on just one player can’t be a true soccer team.” Despite that selfless shunning of the spotlight, the fact remains that Messi has played a major role […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Leiweke Warns Milan: ‘Not Close’ to Beckham Deal
While AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani spent the last couple days suggesting that the team and MLS were getting closer and closer to keeping David Beckham bound in Italy, AEG chief executive Tim Leiweke was quietly left wondering how this could be the case when the two sides hadn’t spoken in some two weeks’ […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Landon Donovan is expected to see action for Bayern Munich on Saturday. Catch the L.A. Galaxy and the Suwon Bluewings in the Pan-Pacific Championship on Saturday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Cup Results
Dutch clubs Ajax and Marseille pulled upsets with 1-0 wins on the road at Fiorentina and Marseille, respectively, in the first leg of their UEFA Cup round-of-32 series. For all of Thursday’s results and goal scorers …
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MLS Imports
[MAKING A LIST] D.C. United’s signing of Congolese forward Ange N’Silu from Swiss third division club Le Mont-sur-Lausanne is the latest in a group of MLS imports, 16 in all. Seven of them are Americans returning from abroad, most notably Bobby Convey to San Jose and Kasey Keller to Seattle. For the complete list …
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Late goal leaves Fire tied in Mexico
[MLS] Chicago led until the final minute of its exhibition match against Mexican second division club Queretaro FC Wednesday but was left with a 1-1 tie at the final whistle.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Red Bulls’ Osorio scouting in El Salvador
[MLS] With a month to go before New York opens the 2009 season in Seattle, head coach Juan Carlos Osorio took the time to scout talent in El Salvador.
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Ticket sales begin today
[WORLD CUP 2010] The sale of the approximately 3 million tickets available for the 2010 World Cup begins Friday. For information on how fans can purchase tickets …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I’d be a very stupid person to say there will not be any effect on the World Cup from the global recession. The problem is we don’t know just how big an impact it will have on the World Cup. Early completion of stadiums will allow us to determine the exact number of tickets to be made available. For now, we have approximately three million tickets available.”
— David Will, chairman of FIFA’s World Cup ticketing committee, on World Cup 2010 ticket sales, which begin Friday. (BBC Sport)
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Big chance for Donovan?
[AMERICANS ABROAD] With both its regular forwards injured, Landon Donovan could get his first start for Bayern Munich when it faces Cologne on Saturday (GolTV 11:30 am ET). Earlier this week, Bayern chairman Karlheinz Rummenigge downplayed the American’s chances of staying past the loan deal, but the injuries and a crowded schedule should give Donovan a chance to make his case.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
South African Stadium Delayed Due to Strike
While tickets might be ready to fly off the shelves, completion of South African stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is still a concern, with the AP reporting Thursday that construction on Mbomela Stadium “will miss its completion deadline after hundreds of workers were fired for going on an illegal strike.”
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Long Live King George
“Weah was a real surprise. For me it was like a child discovering a chocolate bunny in his garden at Easter. I have never seen any player explode on to the scene like he did.” Arsene Wenger on bringing the Liberian living legend to French club Monaco when he was just 21.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
6-year-old ‘Junior Zidane’ Already Drawing Interest?
According to The Sun’s Derek Brown, officials from world powers Real Madrid and Chelsea are already keeping tabs on the skills of 6-year-old, Algerian-born Madin Mohammed, who is drawing comparisons with countryman Zinedine Zidane after a highlight video has circulated on French TV.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hull’s Bullard Out for Season
Hull City officials had their worst fears confirmed Wednesday, as marquee mid-season transfer pickup Jimmy Bullard was found to need ACL reconstruction and will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 Premier League season. The 30-year-old midfielder just signed a 4½ -year, $7.5 million deal after coming over from Fulham, but only appeared in 37 minutes […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Internet Fan-Run Club Needs Boost
The future of the phenomenon of online-owned soccer teams is in jeopardy, as the owners of the world’s first Internet-run team, Ebbsfleet United, need at least 3,000 investors to pay up on Thursday in order to retain rights to the English Conference team, writes ESPN Soccernet. Ebbsfleet was originally purchased on Feb. 19, 2008 by […]
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More Support For Scolari; Chelsea Chastised
Joining a growing choir of EPL peers in support of recently sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari, Bolton Wanderers coach Gary Megson took his turn Wednesday to state “it didn’t need changing at Chelsea.” Quick to point out that Scolari’s time with the team was reduced to “two or three results that didn’t go their way,” he […]
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Eriksson Endorsed By FMF Jefe
At least for now, it appears Sven Goran Eriksson is still the best man for the job in Mexico, receiving a strong endorsement Thursday in comments made by Mexican Futbol Federation (FMF) President Justin Compean, who reminded restless fans and media alike that they “hired Sven so we could go to the World Cup together.” […]