Just as Landon Donovan starts his loan spell at Bayern Munich, the German champion has signed another striker. Hamburg’s Croatian forward Ivica Olic will join the Bavarian team at the end of the season. Olic is being seen as a replacement for Lukas Podolski, who has been linked with his former club FC Cologne […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
FC Dallas clings to Cooper [#30420]
Whatever Hunt Sports Group ends up doing with Kenny Cooper it is playing two very risky games. With European clubs trying to buy him, it is playing hardball. With Cooper himself, HSG is dealing low-ball. Since it holds the cards at both tables as well as the backing of MLS, HSG may win both games yet lose out in a third game, that of public opinion.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
FC Dallas clings to Cooper
“Stewart’s been frustrated since the summer, really. When he signed his new contract he was assured that there would be significant investment in the squad. He feels that the club haven’t matched those expectations. He’s also frustrated that the team is once again struggling in the Premier League.” Stewart Downing Sr. explains why his son […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Landon Donovan begins Bayern spell [#30424]
Landon Donovan arrived in Dubai, where Bayern Munich is holding its midseason training camp, on Sunday to begin his 75-day loan with the German power from the Los Angeles Galaxy. The 26-year-old said he hopes the loan leads to a long-term stay.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
European Weekend Scores [#30423]
Fourth division Romorantin produced the biggest upset in the French Cup by beating Ligue 1’s Nancy on penalty kicks on Saturday. Porto took over the lead in Portugal following Benfica’s 2-0 loss to Trofense. For all the weekend scores and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Nott. Forest embarrasses Man. City in FA Cup upset [#30422]
[ENGLAND] Nottingham Forest is a shade of its former glorious self, fourth from the bottom in the second-level League Championship, but that didn’t prevent the former European Cup champion from pulling the biggest upset of the FA Cup weekend with a 3-0 win over Manchester City. For more on the FA Cup weekend and the fourth-round draw …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Barcelona picks up where it left off [#30421]
[SPAIN] A new year began as the last left off as Barcelona extended its unbeaten streak to 16 matches in La Liga with a 3-1 home win against Mallorca on Saturday.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The FA Cup Romance Myth [#30419]
The world of commercialized soccer really doesn’t have much to say about romance. Unless you consider things like money, bank balances and profit romantic, that is. Most of us, no doubt, do not.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying [#30418]
“I have absolutely no idea how they got hold of my number but some of the calls have made me sick to my stomach.
— Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe, who has received death threats from Portmouth fans reacting to his expected move from the club to Tottenham, Manchester City or Juventus, which is reportedly offering a $29 million transfer fee. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Castillo debuts for Club America
[U.S. SOCCER] Ten games in the final round 2010 World Cup qualifying are just part of the USA’s crowded 2009 schedule, which includes two major tournaments and a Jan. 24 home friendly to kick off the year.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Convey sees FA Cup action
“When I became president of Barcelona in 2003 it was a car with three wheels … Now it is a Ferrari with five wheels.”
— FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta tries to steer an analogy. (Futboltotal.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Landon Donovan begins Bayern spell
[WORLD CUP 2010] The notion that organizing the World Cup in South Africa is like organizing it anywhere else is pure fantasy as evidenced by the news that Jimmy Mohlala, a member of the Nelspruit venue organizing committee and an outspoken critic of corruption in stadium construction contracts, was murdered at his home Sunday night.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
European Weekend Scores
Spanish referee Jose Manuel Barro Escandon sent off 19 players after a mass brawl in a game between Recreativo Linense and Saladillo de Algeciras in the Cadiz region. Linense was leading 1-0 when the fight broke out in the 54th minute. Escandon, who had already sent off one player, abandoned the game, went to his […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Nott. Forest embarrasses Man. City in FA Cup upset
“I believe we will have Kenny [Cooper] for this year. All I know, we got an O.K. to count on Kenny for the season.” FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman says that the U.S. national team striker won’t be moving abroad just yet.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Barcelona picks up where it left off
“The plan is to feature big-name stars speaking out against homophobia, in order to make anti-gay chants look as stupid, ignorant and uncool as racist ones. We also want the FA to put it on YouTube and distribute copies to every school in the country.” Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell on plans for an English […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The FA Cup Romance Myth
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has said that he will only sign players of “a special class” during the current transfer window. Arsenal is currently fifth in the Premier League, three points behind Aston Villa and Manchester United. “At the moment I feel that if we do add somebody we need to add somebody who […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
Former Watford FC chairman Sir Elton John could return to the club two months after renouncing his title of honorary life president in protest at the way the club was being run. The wealthy singer is now considering a return to the club after being critical of former chairman Graham Simpson and chief executive Mark […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bradley welcomes newcomers to camp
[U.S. SOCCER] Coach Bob Bradley invited 25 players into the first U.S. national team camp of the year, including nine uncapped players and 10 players with 10 appearances or fewer. The squad convened Jan. 4 at the Home Depot Center to prepare for a Jan. 24 friendly against Sweden and to give Bradley a look at more candidates for the final phase of 2010 World Cup qualifying.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
CHAMPIONSHIP DAY: Saturday’s Semifinals and Finals [#30416]
Teams from nine states and Ontario, Canada, won girls championships on Saturday at Disney’s Soccer Showcase. Florida led all teams with three champions: First Coast KYX Elite (Under-17 Copa White), Ponte Vedra Storm (Under-16 Copa Blue) and Lady Renegades (Under-15 Copa). For all the semifinal and final results in the Showcase, Predator and Copa divisions …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Disney’s Soccer Showcase Special Edition [#30415]
Day 8 Wrapup/by Paul Kennedy
The YOUTH SOCCER REPORTER concludes daily coverage of Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea Football Club.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Ponte Vedra takes Disney’s by Storm [#30414]
The most dominating performance by any team — boys or girls — at Disney’s Soccer Showcase was that of Florida’s Ponte Vedra Storm, which scored 28 unanswered goals in four games to reach the final in the Under-16 Copa Blue Division, where it beat Tennessee’s Brentwood Premier, 3-1.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Eclipse Select sets pace with two titles [#30413]
Eclipse Select, the top girls club in Soccer America’s national rankings for the last two years, was the only club to claim two girls championships at Disney’s Soccer Showcase, taking U-18 and U-16 titles — both in Showcase divisions.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
CHAMPIONSHIP DAY: Saturday’s Semifinals and Finals
Portsmouth and England striker Jermain Defoe revealed Sunday another charming side to English fan culture, saying he had received threats from Portsmouth fans angry that he may return to Tottenham Hotspur one year after leaving the club. “I have absolutely no idea how they got hold of my number but some of the calls […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Disney’s Soccer Showcase Special Edition
L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, currently on loan to AC Milan, is now maintaining that his move to Italy was not solely motivated by a desire to keep his place in the England squad. Apparently, it’s always been one of his ambitions to play in the country. “I didn’t join Milan just for that […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Ponte Vedra takes Disney’s by Storm
[INTERLIGA] New Mexico product Edgar Castillo played his first game for Club America in a 1-1 tie with Guadalajara in an InterLiga game in front of 30,729 fans at Houston’s Robertson Stadium. Texas product Jose Francisco Torres, 21, started for Pachuca in its 4-0 rout over UAG in front of a much smaller crowd in North Texas.