Soccer America Archives

Beckham: We’re Running Out of Games

David Beckham once famously confessed that he had difficulty helping his 6-year-old son with his math homework. But the L.A. Galaxy midfielder has worked out that there are only four games left in the MLS regular season, and that L.A. is in danger of missing the playoffs again. "Our confidence may have been too high […]

Kaka Recalled, Ronaldinho Dropped By Brazil

Brazil has recalled Kaka to its roster for next month’s World Cup qualifiers with Venezuela and Colombia, but his AC Milan teammate Ronaldinho has again been left out.

Barnes Realistic About Jamaica Challenge

“It’s going to be very difficult to qualify for [South Africa] 2010. But a job only becomes available when someone loses his job, and someone only loses his job when the team is not doing well.” New Jamaica national team coach John Barnes faces the daunting task of turning around the country’s misfired World Cup […]

Vela Under The Spotlight

“Vela has shown a tremendous awareness of what is around him and his seamless link play suggests he communicates with his teammates on an almost ethereal level.” Since Arsenal’s 19-year-old Mexican striker Carlos Vela scored a hat trick in midweek League Cup action, the UK press has been falling over itself to praise and profile […]

Newcastle Opts For … Joe Kinnear

Newcastle United has appointed former Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear as interim manager until the end of October. His last post was an unsuccessful spell as manager of Nottingham Forest in 2004. Kinnear says he thinks he will be in charge of the team for six games until the club is sold by current owner Mike […]

New Name And Format For UEFA Cup

Europe’s secondary club competition, the UEFA Cup, has long been languishing in the shadows of the Champions League. Europe’s governing body opted Friday to put lipstick on a pig by confirming that the UEFA Cup will be renamed the Europa League, at the same time as revamping its format. After qualifying rounds are done, the […]

What MLS Is Getting Right

To counter its piece earlier in the week on the 11 big issues that Major League Soccer must face, the US national team players’ association site runs another editorial pointing up 11 things that the league is getting right. Once again, there’s plenty of room for debate. The spread of ownership and the increase in […]

‘In America They Want You To Play Simple’

Attack, attack, attack, former U.S. international Phillip Gyau always taught his son Joseph. After years of attending youth soccer camps in Brazil, the 16-year-old now looks set to more than follow in his father's footsteps, writes Justin Rodriguez. Gyau Senior still shows his son videos of Diego Maradona, Pelé and Ronaldo to illustrate his philosophy […]

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

Weekend action starts Friday with men’s college ball. The MLS slate includes a clash between the league’s top two teams: New England and Columbus. International games include the Mexico’s Guadalajara derby while Spain powers Real Madrid and Barcelona feature in back-to-back games on Gol TV.

MLS TV Schedule

Toronto FC, which didn’t get a single shot on goal in last week’s 2-0 loss to Kansas City and is winless in its last five games, faces defending champ Houston. … The league’s top two teams meet when Columbus (the only team that has clinched a playoff spot) travels to New England, which lost to the Crew, 4-0, on Sept. 6. … New York, whose Juan Pablo Angel has scored eight goals in his last 10 games, hosts Colorado. … San Jose, on a nine-game unbeaten streak, hosts Real Salt Lake. … Kansas City aims to keep playoff hopes alive when it faces Chivas USA. … On Sunday, D.C. United defends its spot just inside the playoff zone when it meets FC Dallas. For all this weekend’s TV Schedule, standings and leading goalscorers …

Brazil leaves out Ronaldinho

[WORLD CUP 2010] Brazil coach Dunga, who’s clinging on to his job after poor results and dismal play in general, has named a 22-man squad for next month’s qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia that doesn’t included AC Milan’s Ronaldinho

USA convenes for Futsal World Cup

[ROSTER] U.S. coach Keith Tozer and his 14-man squad have arrived in Rio de Janeiro where the USA will compete in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Blanco outshines Beckham, so does Rolfe

[MLS] The league’s two biggest foreign stars faced off when the Los Angeles Galaxy traveled to Chicago, and in front of a sellout crowd of 20,156, Cuauhtemoc Blanco stole the show from David Beckham in a 3-1 Fire win. Blanco was involved in the passing sequences that led to both of Chris Rolfe‘s goals and the Mexican scored one himself in between.

Hoffenheim’s Hopp wants a stop to the abuse

by Ian PlenderleithSeptember 26, 2008

[GERMANY] The remarkable rise to the heights of the Bundesliga by German small-town team 1899 Hoffenheim has had its ugly side too. The team’s local benefactor Dietmar Hopp has been subject to sustained verbal abuse from opposition fans, but he’s not the kind of man to take it lying down.

Euro expansion will dilute quality

by Ian PlenderleithSeptember 26, 2008

[EUROPE] Never mind the quality, feel the breadth. Europe’s soccer governing body UEFA will vote Friday to expand the European Championships from 16 to 24 finalists, beginning 2016.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“It’s the first time in my life I’ve been sent off for clapping. I’ve been sent off for dangerous tackles, and various other things, but never for clapping my hands.”

— Toronto FC coach John Carver, who is suspended for Saturday’s game against Houston after receiving a red card last weekend for sarcastically applauding a penalty-kick call by referee Referee Baldomero Toledo. (MLSNet.com)

SCOREBOARD: Soccer America Women’s Top 25

[WEEKEND UPDATE] The number of unbeaten and untied teams are down to three following No. 17 Minnesota’s 2-0 loss to Michigan State. No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 7 LSU and No. 16 Oklahoma State all won. For this week’s Soccer America Women’s Top 25 results and schedules …

CONFERENCE WATCH: Big 12

With four teams in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25 — No. 7 Texas, No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 16 Oklahoma State and No. 19 Kansas — and two teams on the edge — Colorado and Missouri — the Big 12 is one of the strongest women’s conferences in the country. Big 12 teams have winning records against teams from such powerful conferences as the ACC (2-1-0), Big East (3-1-0), SEC (5-4-1) and WCC (3-0-0). Conference play begins in earnest Friday with Texas hosting Texas A&M before what could be a record Longhorn crowd.

MORNING BRIEFING: UCLA held by Santa Clara

by Paul KennedySeptember 26, 2008

No. 2 UCLA was held to a 0-0 tie by unranked Santa Clara on Thursday evening at Buck Shaw Stadium. ALSO: ACC upset, Tobin Heath hat trick and the rest of the Top 25 action.

SCOREBOARD: Soccer America Men’s Top 25

[WEEKEND UPDATE] No. 1 Wake Forest rallied to beat No. 3 Maryland, 4-2, Friday before 6,500 fans. No. 2 Connecticut fell at No. 6 St. John’s, 3-1. For this week’s Soccer America Men’s Top 25 results and schedules …