For the USA’s first game in Cuba since 1947, Coach Bob Bradley has brought in players based in Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Mexico — in addition to seven MLS-based men. The experienced squad — half of the 20 players have more than 30 caps — aims for a second straight win in the semifinal group phase of qualifying when it faces the Cubans on Saturday. Less suspenseful than whether the USA can beat a team ranked No. 71 in the world is whether the USA’s frontline finally finds its form.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“We offered 10,000-1 as he [Barack Obama] is probably more concerned with winning a slightly higher-profile job for himself at the moment. But if he loses out on that one and the position is still up for grabs, you never know.”
— Spokesperson Graham Sharpe on the 10,000-1 odds British bookmaker William Hill gave after a London-based businessman bet 10 pounds ($17.80) that Obama will replace Alan Curbishley as West Ham United manager. Obama has been a fan of the Hammers since visiting Britain five years ago. (AP)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Climbs To 29th In FIFA World Rankings
The U.S. national team climbed three places to 29th in the September world rankings. England, meanwhile, is just one spot ahead of Scotland, in 15th place.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer Agent Arrested On Fraud Charges
Yes, we know it sounds like a ‘dog bites man’ story. Ian Elliott, the former agent of England international Stewart Downing, has been arrested on charges of fraud and money-laundering. The Middlesbrough player made a formal complaint to police about the handling of his financial affairs.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Curbishley Resigns At West Ham
Jonathan Spector’s manager at West Ham United, Alan Curbishley, has resigned, reportedly unhappy at the amount of cash he had available for new players during the transfer window. He may hook up with Kevin Keegan for a beer and a mutual shoulder to cry on.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Why Keegan Fell Out With Newcastle Again
Although Kevin Keegan has not yet officially left his post as manager of Newcastle United, it seems likely that his second spell at the club is all but over. Louise Taylor chronicles the breakdown between ‘King Kev’ and the Newcastle owner Mike Ashley during Keegan’s third spell (and his second as manager) at the team. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
‘Imperial’ FIFA Angers Cape Town Councilors
South Africa is discovering one of the joys of hosting the 2010 World Cup — dealing with soccer’s world governing body, FIFA. City councilors in Cape Town have condemned as “absolutely ridiculous” a draft of the temporary bylaw that FIFA imposes on host cities during the tournament to regulate street trading, traffic, advertising and public […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Team Steps Into The Unknown
There’s an air of curiosity rather than tension in the U.S. national team camp as it prepares for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier in Cuba, its first visit to the island for 61 years. Eddie Lewis and Landon Donovan sound more like schoolboys about to go on their first student exchange. “Being in England for so […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Richardson Routs the Revs
Joe Public striker Gregory Richardson went one better than Landon Donovan Tuesday night at the Gillette Stadium. On Saturday the U.S. captain grabbed two goals against the New England Revolution, but Richardson managed the full hat trick in his side’s 4-0 victory. “I can’t explain it,” Richardson, a native of Guyana, told Monique Walker after […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Carver ‘Gobsmacked’ By MLS Refusal To Postpone Game
There are a number of scheduling reasons why Major League Soccer keeps playing through FIFA’s international calendar. But having lost nine players to World Cup qualifying duty this coming weekend, Toronto FC coach John Carver wishes that the league would be more flexible in granting him a postponement. “I’ve had some challenges in my life,” […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Hurricane Gustav hits LSU soccer complex hard
Enjoying its highest ranking ever at No. 17 in the Soccer America Top 25, the LSU women returned home from Chicago to discover that the LSU Soccer Complex took a hard hit in Hurricane Gustav. ALSO: Penn State regroups, and Denver wins again.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
CONFERENCE WATCH: Big Ten teams start quickly
Men’s teams from the Big Ten got off to the best start of teams from any conference on the Labor Day weekend that marked the start of the 2008 season. Perhaps the biggest surprise was last year’s national runner-up Ohio State, which was hit hard by graduation losses and struggled in preseason.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: New program ETSU’s big win
ETSU, the first Division I school to add men’s soccer since 2000, won its first game on Sunday when it defeated Wofford, 2-0. ALSO: New England showdown.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: Soccer America Women’s Top 25
This week’s action in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25 begins on Wednesday with the Milwaukee derby between No. 24 Wisconsin-Milwaukee and No. 25 Marquette. For all the Top 25 results and schedules …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SMALL COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas Women’s Rankings
Irie Dennis‘ goal gave Grand Valley State a 1-0 win over Tampa and took over the Spartans’ top spot in the NCAA Division II women’s rankings. In Division II, Wheaton (Ill.) extended its winning streak to 47 games and remained No. 1 thanks to wins over Cal Baptist (5-1) and Eastern (6-1 with four goals by All-American Taryne Lee). For all the NSCAA/adidas Women’s D2 and D3 rankings …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SMALL COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas Men’s Rankings
Lincoln Memorial took over the top spot in the NCAA Division II rankings following defending champion Franklin Pierce’s 2-0 loss to Dominican (N.Y.). In Division III, the highest-ranked team to lose was No. 6 Washington (Mo.), which fell to University of the South, 3-1, at the Birmingham Southern Labor Day Classic. For the NSCAA/adidas Men’s D2 and D3 rankings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The last three months, we’ve played every four days with a roster of 18. You’re traveling, that’s what you get, you get a team that’s getting no juice. So we’ll maybe manage a training session or two in the next couple of weeks and get some strength back and get on with MLS.”
— New England coach Steve Nicol, not sounding too disappointed after a 4-0 loss to Trinidad & Tobago’s Joe Public eliminated the Revs from the Concacaf Champions League. (Boston Globe)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MAKING A LIST: Americans in Europe
With the close of the summer transfer market, it’s time to take account of Americans playing in Europe. There are 73 Americans — U.S. citizens who were raised in the United States or have played for U.S. national teams — listed on the first teams of first or second division clubs. There are 23 players who arrived from the USA for the new season, whether the spring-fall season in Scandinavia or the fall-spring season that just began in most of Europe. Nine came from MLS teams — including U.S. Olympians Jozy Altidore, Brad Guzan and Maurice Edu, who were sold in multi-million dollar deals — and seven played college soccer in 2007. For all the Americans in Europe …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Teen star Bojan set to play for Spain
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Euro ’08 hero Fernando Torres is out of the Spain squad for its upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Armenia due to a hamstring injury, opening the door for Coach Vicente Del Bosque to select teen sensation Bojan Krkic.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USL’s Impact reaches group stage
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] In contrast to MLS failures by New England and Chivas USA, the USL-1’s Montreal Impact reached the group stage of the Concacaf Champions League Tuesday night thanks to a 0-0 tie with Nicaraguan club Real Esteli in a game played in Comayagua, Honduras.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
World Cup 2010 Qualifying TV Schedule
The first double date in World Cup 2010 qualifying begins Friday with the first three of 62 matches to be played over the weekend. Saturday’s Cuba-USA game is one of 13 games to be televised on cable or pay-per-view. The weekend schedule includes Day 2 of the Concacaf semifinal round and Day 1 of European group play. For all the matches …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They also include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
EPL’s heaviest hitter from Abu Dhabi
[MONEY MATTERS] Eight of the English Premier League’s 20 teams are owned by foreigners, none a heavier hitter than the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment that has signed a memorandum of understanding with former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra for the sale of Manchester City. Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment is a holding company worth almost a trillion dollars and controlled by Sheik Mansur bin Zayed al-Nahyan. It’s first order of business was to sign Robinho for a British record $65 million from Real Madrid.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Galaxy headed back to New Zealand
Players and coaches come and go but the offseason exploitation of David Beckham isn’t likely to abate just because Bruce Arena has effectively replaced former head coach Ruud Gullit and ex-president/general manager Alexi Lalas..
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Shorthanded MLS teams collapse
Needing goals and wins to advance in the Concacaf Champions League, New England and Chivas USA – both shorthanded because of injuries and other causes – came up short. Way short.